Another option for you is to post a question in the behavior forum in the Ask A Vet Expert section here at MedHelp. We have veterinary and animal behaviorists that can help you with ideas for training your little Aussie.
Although they are very appreciative of the focus Mr. Millan adds to behavior issues, most veterinary behaviorists and animal behaviorists are not in agreement with all of his methods. So, please, use good judgement when following some of his techniques. The walking at night is an example of a good technique while the "alpha roll" he has demonstrated is not.
It sure sounds like you are doing everything you can to give this little pup a GREAT home!
Thank you to both of you for your comments. I will try the eat now or wait idea on her. She does have a vet appointment this Saturday just to get a check up and make sure she is completely healthy.
I thought that she was herding the kids. Thank you, you are right it is in her blood and I have been wearing her out by playing fetch and teaching her to sit and stay. The pound says she is aproximatly 4 months old so I figured now is the best time to start working on training her. She is very smart so it has been a lot of fun working with her.
I also thought I would try some of the techniques I saw on Dog Whisperer and see if I start walking her at night if that helps with some of her hyperness.
Ghilly, as usual, is right on with her comments!! Aussies are well known for herding the kids throughout the backyard. Just monitor her so that she doesn't take it any further!!
Besides canned food...consider adding warm water to her food to make a gravy, you can also try a small amount of honey or lite Karo syrup. Believe it or not, some dogs like their kibble better cold!! So, try keeping some in the freezer to add to her bowl.
Ghilly's comment about scheduling is very good too. "Eat now or you have to wait" is the message you will send to her. Plus, portion control feeding 2 or 3 times daily has many health benefits over free feeding.
Congratulations!!
She's a herding dog. She's herding the kids! Aussies have EXTREMELY strong instincts for herding, and this is something that is going to be very difficult to ever completely break her of because it is so deeply ingrained in her genetic make-up. When herding dogs work, they nip at the heels of the sheep, cattle, goats, whatever it is they are herding, so her behavior with the kids is perfectly normal for her breed. To her, kids are just sheep with sneakers!
It's difficult to say why she isn't eating a lot at a time. I would have her completely vetted to make sure there is no underlying physical cause that is behind it, and barring something like that, it's probably just her personal taste to eat little nibbles here and there. You CAN break her of that by putting the food down for about 30 minutes, and then pick it up and don't put it down again until it's time to eat again. She will learn that if she doesn't eat it when it's there, she'll miss out, kind of like you snooze, you lose, and she'll start eating what you put down when you put it down for her. You can try mixing a tablespoon or two of canned food with her kibble to make it more attractive to her. Many dogs don't like just plain dry food, and adding the canned food entices them to eat up.
Ghilly