Your previous content has been restored. And as everyone has said these are noise sensitive dogs, weird things make them uncomfortable. I sure hope you were joking about rubbing his nose in it. My advice is for you to chill. Focus and control. Even better if they show you how to do some clicker type training. That's something I've been working on is not using his name when I tell him no or something. Now, when I leave the office, I'll often ask him to "go say hi to the monster" and he runs right over to the drain. puts WAY TOO MUCH PRESSURE on the pup. This is a nightmare for a dog owner. While youre walking, you may notice that your dog gets into the Border Collie crouch when a car arrives. When you see problems, ask yourself why your dog might be doing these things. By The past two days it seems he found his bark/growl when the trash truck comes by or a noise he doesn't know perks his interest. I've never done that to him . 1 in particular is scared of lots of noises and can change what she is scared of daily. Between your knowledge of your Border Collies specific quirks and a trainers experience and wealth of knowledge, you should be able to quickly sort out the issue and fix it. Here's a question to ponder: what have you done to make him want to do those things? Something scared him. To break your dog of this inclination, you must teach your dog that there is more reward in walking nicely than in chasing cars. Do whatever you can to get your dogs attention off the car and onto you. Some behaviors are a result of fear, usually stemming from poor socialization. Thanks. If you can promptly seek help, you have a better chance of correcting the bad behavior before it gets out of hand. So what can you do to get your dog back? Usually if you ignore a behavior, it will tend to go away. Will look into that and puzzles! She has also never been really into toys (she gets bored of them really fast) so she only enjoys playing fetch. It's a comment that you'll see fairly often around here--we have the big brains and so need to figure out how to communicate with our dogs. It's a really good idea to take a puppy kindergarten or foundation type class anyway, especially with a trainer with experience with border collies or herding type breeds. Your dog might think its her time to chase you, in which case, you can run right back into your yard and shut the gate. Frustration often comes from a lack of understanding. But accidents can happen before your dog has perfected her recall. I have one that when he hears the shower from another room, he seems to think it is a scary person/thing, but if you walk him in there he realizes it's just the shower. BCs can find the funniest things to be disturbed by and sometimes it takes detective work to figure out what the problem is. I know Rocky is a smart fellow but very thick headed. Positive energy and enthusiasm go a long way with a Border Collie. Scolding a dog for submissive urination only gives the dog reason to fear and will cause *more* submissive urination. There are tons of collars and harnesses in pet stores to choose from, but the flat, buckle collar is best. He can't help it, and you just reinforce his feelings that he should be afraid. Does she do well with other dogs? Think like your dog and never expect them to know something they werent taught. Its been a few weeks of her doing this kind of stuff, but she gets in the corner of our fridge, looking at the corner of the wall as if she was trying to get a mouse or something. Clear editor. I'm not going to stop chopping up things (or making popcorn) and he's not going to stop being afraid of the sound, so if he wants to leave the room while I do it because that's what makes him feel better, so be it. Your Border Collie is likely much faster than you and will disappear. Someone once suggested to me that whenever there was a loud or scary noise around a pup, that I should learn to immediately say "stress test!" Once your dog is walking better, you can try to return to the places you once walked. Practice this until you can trust your dog to the point where they can be off their leash. Corrections can be done in a kind way that wont create lasting wounds to your dogs psyche. Its frustrating when your dog is being naughty, but you cannot expect them to act like anything other than a wild animal until they are taught how to behave properly. Is he acting distracted and too busy? This will only cause more negative behaviors from your dog. Then, call your dog towards you. Always practice proper walking behavior so they never find reward in doing what they want to do. I've noticed he's been whining a lot lately too which I take as I want attention or I need to go out which is usually the case. Being so tuned into body language is what allows them to do their jobs as herders - reading the reactions of the stock constantly. I generally just ignore him. I wasn't really mad it was more of a..gee I got to reprimand him for nervous peeing. First, call attention to your dogs bad behavior. He seemed to spazz out, when I started to hear it on myself. I apprectaie the feedback, even though your last sentence seemed harsh torwards me ha ha. I open the door when it is over and he can come out whenever he wants. Turns out my friend had started making some fairly loud verbal corrections a few days earlier, and the dog was simply overwhelmed as a pup. I think he was just going through a weird funk for a couple of days. First, practice the Come command constantly if you have a wandering dog. Now if he didn't like me I'd say he was scared, but this dog is up my butt 24/7 when my wife is around and normally 1 on 1. Try to think like a dog and see if you can find a solution to your dogs problem. This article may give you some ideas about the unique qualities of a BC - especially some of the various sensitivities: http://www.agilitynet.co.uk/training/bordercollie_suekitchen_leewindeatt.html. Chasing them around the yard after theyve dug up your flower garden is a fun game to them and will ultimately give them a reason to dig again. Don't call him only to DO something - like put him on leash or put him back inside. If yours won't look at you, what might you be doing that prevents him doing that? A dog can sense your anger and it will only make the situation worse. Compared to a lab, a border collie is a much softer and more sensitive dog. Something scared him (and yes, many border collies are noise sensitive and/or sensitive in general) and he just needed time to get over it. As someone else noted, making yourself exciting and the best thing ever as far as your pup is concerned will work really well at teaching him to recall. But, if you get out some food, you can teach them super elaborate tricks. If youre unsure about which harness or collar to use, talk to a trainer or a vet. I walked over to try and pet him etc and he just peed himselfWhich got me a little worried and mad but I took him to it said no etc but didn't rub his face in it. Dont reward a jumping dog with attention. As mentioned before, the best way to avoid these bad habits is to teach good walking behaviors from Day One. When they are sitting, reward them for not jumping. Or if you dont mind your dog snuggling up next to you on the couch, its not a big deal if your dog jumps up on furniture. But do relax over the random weird scared thing. You may have to start from scratch and re-train your dogs walking skills. She has now been doing the same thing but with her bowl (as if something was underneath) and a bookshelf. As mentioned in the chapter about reinforcement, its never a good idea to punish your dog. To get the leash on and go for a walk, to get a frisbee session, to get treats, to get anything she wants, etc., she needs to follow several commands. Looking all pretty after a long overdue groom. There is no real cut-and-dry list of what is bad behavior in a Border Collie it can vary from household to household and from dog to dog. And as I stated before, if you get frustrated, your pups knows that as well, and your frustrations is even more intimidating to him. Then progress to a familiar place close to home with few distractions. When it comes to issues with your dog, youll want to get them taken care of as soon as possible. You might also want to buy a long lead, like a twenty-foot lead, for advanced practice. Harnesses might alleviate some of the throat pressure from a pulling dog, but it may teach them that its okay to pull because it doesnt hurt with a harness. It worked tonight: I started up the vacuum sealer, realized how LOUD it was, and said "stress test!". and bring out a treat. It applies to all of us and all of our dogs, no matter what we're trying to do with them! Most border collies are not thick headed. Some Brittanies have been described as "drama queens" because they squeal or act submissive at even the sniff of a physical correction - because it works for them. If he's peeing because he's afraid, don't tell him off for it. Let him drag that and when you want him, quietly go over and pick up the long line, call him and tug him gently and offer him a treat. While the prongs dont allow for extreme pressure to be placed on the neck and throat, they can be uncomfortable for a dog that pulls really hard. The moment they stop and look at you, praise them for being quiet. If you make a big deal about it & especially try to correct for a fear type behavior, it'll usually get way worse. If theyre not chasing cars, theyre launching towards squirrels and rabbits. But another owner may want their dog to stay on the floor at all times. If your pup/young dog is shy or submissive around you, you might need to dial back your lab-pup energy. I heard it was much like a wasp or bad bee sting, not much more. If youve taken training courses, then you should have a trusted trainer you can contact with questions about your dog. There are tons of great web pages on the basics or take a class. If not, you need to read up on modern, non-violent training methods. Take it slowly, and easily. The BC pup on the other hand is much more in tune with your body language, voice, etc., much more sensitive. Paste as plain text instead, Not only do you have to train them to behave properly, but you have to fix behaviors that they already have! A little bit of smoke but I had long stopped grilling, and he watched me the whole time and was fine so I don't think it was the smoke. Stop being impatient/frustrated/whatever that he's not a lab. As for the BC versus Lab pup comparison - it's almost like they are different species of animals at opposite ends of the spectrum - after having a lab you may almost have to unlearn some of your interaction style or the BC will be overwhelmed. Figure out what triggers your dog to be naughty and try to avoid those factors until the skills are down. For me labs were a much more hands on type breed. The smell of smoke could have made the dog feel as if there was danger. While one might have no interest in barking, another will bark right in their owners face. An attachment in the back only encourages their sled-dog behavior. Border Collies are known to nip at ankles and chase cars because their herding brain tells them to. I guess I'd sum it up that you can be matter-of-fact, calm, kind, non-reactive (but still expecting good manners and respect); allowing your dog to learn about new things at his own pace; and avoiding your own behaviors that encourage fearful or submission reactions from your dog. She has recently lost two of her balls (I sent one over a neighbors house and then she flew the other one herself when making a pirouette mid-air lol). Another thing to consider, given all that you've described, is that your pup is reluctant to come to you because you (your presence, voice, behavior, etc.) If your dog gnaws on your shoes, keep them out of reach and supply appropriate chew toys in accessible areas. She still has other balls to play with, tho. Still a work in progress, but these dogs really are Eddie waits patiently while I hide his ball at the anyone else's collie like to sit on the bottom step? Labs are bold, physical beasts that seem to feel no pain. It is important to remember this peeing is in response to how the dog is feeling and has nothing to do with house training. Other bad behaviors are instinctual. The Watch me command is useful here. Next, praise good behavior. Mine does the same but under the couch.. it won't even be under there and I'll crouch down to shine the light and look and she'll get excited. What could have caused him to be like this? My mom has moved the fridge several times for her to see theres nothing there but the moment the fridge gets back in place, she continues to do it. For more information visit the books Amazon Page. To correct unwanted behaviors, you must look for the root of the issue. A Border Collie wants to please, but their fears and weird ideas can sometimes overshadow that. I am sure others will be able to help you better then myself though. Your link has been automatically embedded. If your Border Collie snaps at other dogs at the park, figure out if theres a way to slowly work on your dogs socialization skills. Sorry, didn't mean for you to take my comments as harsh toward you. . You could physically put them in a sit and they seemed to understand that direction better. Choke chains are not appropriate for this breed. Wife went upstairs to shower and I was cutting the steak in kitchen so I figured he was laying down for a bit. In short, you cant expect your dog to think in the same rational manner as an adult human would. You need to have a marker that lets your dog know that you dont like their behavior. So I went to him and he was hiding under the table which has stuff around it like a little den and he is backed up way in there with his back legs open showing me his crotch etc like I'm the boss. Many times, Border Collies are abandoned by their previous owners because their owner couldnt handle their unwanted behaviors. Hopefully, you can pick up on these quirks and deal with them before they get worse. Anyhow, just some thoughts, as you of course know your situation best. If theyre growling at strangers, maybe they had a bad experience that made them wary of people they dont know. Sounds like she's getting fixated on something which is fairly common for the breed. You may have more luck switching directions and running back home. These dogs are not necessarily bad but rather misunderstood, or the owner didnt have the knowledge or patience to deal with them. He has gained a lot of confidence actually. After that incident she had a huge fear of dust bunnies, the little hair balls that collect and blow across the hard floor. Are you giving her attention every time she does it? He also about a year ago decided that there was a monster that lived under the drain on the ground floor of my office building, until I put treats on it. It's in the work's with him but very frustrating. Or your dog might want to be in charge of the walk and lead the way at her desired speed. He will come out when he feels safe. Digging and chewing are common practices of the bored Border Collie. So when we go camping I make sure he is in the tent/cabin/car when wood is being chopped. I saw once a BC who kept staring any reflections and the owners were super worried. This is considered self-correction and might break your dog of her annoying habit. You can say Good no bark! and give them a treat. A naughty dog jumps up on people, leaving muddy paw prints and claw marks on their clothes. Let him eat but he was super scared the whole time. You can condition your dog, but you cannot reason with them. Some will clap loudly when they catch bad behavior, while others like to shake a can filled with rocks. . If your dog becomes aggressive towards visitors, its not safe to have anyone come to your home if your Border Collie cannot be trusted. Runs right under the table and doesn't listen to calls or anything. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. On the other hand, if you live in a densely-populated neighborhood, its not polite to have a dog barking at all hours of the day. But that doesnt mean that you cannot correct your dog, either. Getting annoyed because he's not one will NOT help you - or him. These habits are hard to break because they are hardwired into their brain. You'll actually find that they are way smarter & way more willing to please than a lab, but it's in a very different package. As my dogs eat a raw food diet and therefore every evening of his blessed life involves me chopping up meat for his dinner, one would think he'd have gotten over it by now, but he continues to slink out of the room every night when the chopping begins. This can create a ton of frustration if you dont know how to remedy the situation. Maybe you need to spend more time re-socializing your dog in a safe environment. Some trainers swear by prong collars for training purposes, but they are somewhat controversial. The water noise through the house/shower noise. Submissive urination is also something most dogs grow out of, my young dog when he was a puppy would pee when someone came in the house and numerous other little triggers, and now he is almost 4 I can not remember the last time it happened. Not only is it irritating to be on the other end of the leash when a dog goes crazy, but its downright dangerous. There is one other thing a dog can learn by having its nose rubbed in feces or urine. For reference, shes four years old and my parents takes her on a four mile walk every morning and I play fetch with her for 15 minutes twice a day (in the afternoon and at night, shes exhausted at the end of both). If your dog gives chase, they can seriously injure their neck and throat because the chain can put so much pressure against their throat. Welcome to the best place to learn about Border Collies and share about them. In bird dog comparisons, the BC pup is more like a setter or a Brittany than a lab. He's doing that because, as you pointed out, he is upset about *something* and raising your voice or being negative in any way just encourages that behavior - he is (by submissively urinating) already "telling" you he's sorry, he's worried, etc. My dog runs from the sound of wood being chopped with an ax. ..He has a major problem giving me his attention to listen outside as well as recall inside and out. It doesn't help and can make it worse. A polite dog waits until the human notices them and gives them a pet. If your dog is persistent with her jumping, attach her leash to her collar when shell be in a situation where shell want to jump. The first time we took him camping, the first whack sent him running to the car for safety. Your dog is exhibiting fear and submission. It's in the work's with him but very frustrating. Sometimes I might call her back and then to show her its OK but that usually doesn't work so we just go about getting the scary noise over. Next time, just ignore him. Sometimes, a certain level of just ignoring the behavior helps - not pushing the dog towards something that worries him/her or pressing the issue. If your dog likes car rides, a good way to catch your dog is to slowly drive up beside her and open the door for her to jump in. These dogs, that can be very sound and motion sensitive, can easily pick up a "sensitivity" to a certain sound or body movement, particularly during a fear period. Ross immediately came up and sat attentively in front of me, licking his lips while he awaited his treat. So, he doesn't listen well or recall easily? He was better when I came home, got a bath to clean off the pee and went out for a run at the local obstacle course area and stuff. Many Border Collies try to chase cars or run away from their humans because it looks like fun. It can learn that you are uptight about feces and urine. If he doesnt come, you can always give a quick tug on the leash to remind your dog what hes supposed to do. Then you might consider doing more training time with him. One of my border collies is generally pretty afraid of the sound of me chopping up things, or making popcorn on the stove. A strong (possibly loud) male human presence is the most likely to bring out the submissive behavior in a more sensitive dog. First word of advice - never scold a dog that submissively urinates because it will make the problem worse. First thing I would check would be any toys that have gotten lodged behind there. Also, it should only be used for training and only as long as it is necessary. Theres something about a speeding car that must remind Border Collies of cattle, because this breed commonly chases vehicles. Border Collies are very strong and can easily pull you forward. P.S I thought he could have smelt the steak and was scared, I even gave him a piece and he ate it fine so I don't think it was that. If you get the chance, try to grab onto your dogs collar and secure her. But if you look out your window and see your dog digging like mad, you can call attention to the behavior and hopefully stop it in the moment. I have found that, with a dog/pup that is being fearful, one of the best things I can do is *carry on normally* - that doesn't give him/her the message that there's something to be worried about (me being mad, some thing being scary). Have a backup plan in case your dog doesnt listen to your calls to come back. If you're doing whatever you did with lab pups but it's not quite going the way you'd hoped, it's time to re-think what you have to do. Only you know how dangerous this situation is. Every BC I've had - 5 to date - has always looked me in the eye when I inituated a situation that called for them to look at me. He doesn't make eye contact? Turn around and freeze until your Border Collie waits patiently for attention. June 20, 2013 in General Border Collie Discussion. Hey USAF, you are getting good info on this thread. While you might not care if your dog jumps on you, other people might. Perhaps most importantly, you need to watch out for bad behaviors that can cause harm to you, your dog, or others. Owners because their owner couldnt handle their unwanted behaviors it applies to all of dogs. Super scared the whole time does n't listen to calls or anything training and only as long it! Frustration if you ignore a behavior, while others like to shake a can filled with rocks find! Doing what they want to do their jobs as herders - reading reactions. 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Silver State Labradoodles,