at what age will Nova be trainable. She is so energetic and ignores anything I try to teach her. She is smart I know but I don't know how to slow her down to teach her.

It's so common to feel this way with a puppy like Nova — and honestly, the fact that you can already see her intelligence is a great sign! Australian Cattle Dogs are famously bright and driven, but that energy can make early training feel like trying to teach someone who's had three espressos. Here's the good news: she is absolutely trainable right now, at 5 months old. In fact, you're in a really important window.

The "too energetic to learn" feeling is super common with this breed. Cattle Dogs were bred to work all day herding livestock — their brains and bodies are wired for constant stimulation. When that drive has nowhere to go, it can look like chaos. The trick isn't slowing her down first — it's using that energy as a training tool.

A few things that tend to help with high-drive puppies:

• Train when she's slightly tired, not exhausted. A 10–15 minute play session before a training session can take the edge off without draining her completely.
• Keep sessions very short. 3–5 minutes, several times a day, beats one long frustrated session every time. Puppies — especially busy ones — lose focus fast.
• Make training feel like a game. Cattle Dogs respond really well when learning feels like an activity, not a lesson. Fast rewards, enthusiasm, and movement work better than slow, repetitive drills.
• Use high-value treats. If she's ignoring you, the reward might not be exciting enough. Small pieces of something she goes crazy for can make a huge difference.
• Teach one thing at a time. Pick one cue — like "sit" — and only work on that for a few days before adding anything new.
• Mental exercise counts. Puzzle feeders, sniff games, and short training bursts can tire a Cattle Dog out faster than physical play alone.

Puppy classes are also worth considering — a good trainer who knows working breeds can give you hands-on guidance tailored to Nova's personality, and the structured environment helps puppies learn to focus around distractions.

You're not doing anything wrong. This breed just asks a lot of its owners early on, and it pays off enormously once the connection clicks.

When to see your vet: Training challenges on their own don't usually require a vet visit. However, if Nova seems unable to focus even in calm, quiet moments, is showing signs of anxiety (like destructive behavior, excessive barking, or inability to settle at all), or if you notice anything unusual in her health or development, it's worth a conversation with your vet. They can also refer you to a certified trainer or veterinary behaviorist if needed.