Border Collie Help needed

Question:

Hello Rachel,

> Hi I have a 6 month old bc bitch, my 5th bc so far, so im not new to > the breed and its demands BUT i have a couple of problems with > this one.  She has badly torn the ligaments in her shoulder and is on > 6 weeks rest ( slow lead walking only and supervision in the garden) > I still take her out in the car so give her a change of scenery and > spend quality time with her, playing mind games!  She has begun to > show nervous aggression towards humans, mainly women and > children.  I have never had this problem with my other bc’s although > i know it can be common, ive always felt lucky to have such > freindly happy dogs, but ginny is causing me some concern.

There could be several things you are doing to contribute to the aggression. Properly handling the lead will help prevent you overstimulating the dog by trying to restrict her from making any aggressive moves… learning to interrupt her thoughts using sound distraction and praise techniques will extinguish her aggressive behavior. > As she is on rest, i cannot take her out for socialisation, so she is not > gaining the expreience my other dogs had

If she’s able to walk, she’s able to go out to be socialized. There are no aspects of obedience and behavior modification that cannot be addressed due to minor physical limitations… unless thinking about the behavior causes undue physical stress. > characteristic of the breed, but im worried that this will develop into > an obsession.

You’d better work on it. > In every other way she is the typical bc that attracts me to the > breed in the first place.  I want to get this in hand before it develops > into a major problem.  I would appreciate any advice from owners > who have had similar expriences. )

I suspect your dilemma is more the methods you depend on for training your dogs, rather than the dog’s infirmity. It is rare that a physical impairment interferes with training, if it’s done properly. You can get all the information you need to properly handle and train your dog from the Wits’ End Dog Training Method manual available for free at http://www.doggydoright.com > Thanks > Rachel B

                                            caveat If you have to do things to your dog to train him, that you would rather not have to do, then you shouldn’t be doing them. If you have a dog trainer that tells you to jerk your dog around, choke him, pinch his ears, or twist his toes, shock, shake, slap, scold, hit, or punish him in any manner, that corrections are appropriate, that the dog won’t think of you as the punisher, or that corrections are not harmful, or if they can’t train your dog to do what you want, look for a trainer that knows Howe. Sincerely, Jerry Howe, Wits’ End Dog Training http://www.doggydoright.com Nature, to be mastered, must be obeyed.                       -Francis Bacon- There are terrible people who, instead of solving a problem, bungle it and make it more difficult for all who come after.  Who ever can’t hit the nail on the head should, please, not hit at all.                      -Nietzsche- The abilities to think, rationalize and solve problems are learned qualities. The Wits’ End Dog Training Method challenges the learning centers in the dogs brain. These centers, once challenged, develop and continue to grow exponentially, to make him smarter. The Wits’ End Dog Training method capitalizes on praising split seconds of canine thought, strategy, and timing, not mindless hours of forced repetition, constant corrections, and scolding.                   -Jerry Howe-

Response:

: I have a 6 month old bc bitch, my 5th bc so far, so im not new to the breed : and its demands BUT i have a couple of problems with this one.  She has : badly torn the ligaments in her shoulder and is on 6 weeks rest ( slow lead : walking only and supervision in the garden)  I still take her out in the car : so give her a change of scenery and spend quality time with her, playing : mind games!  She has begun to show nervous aggression towards humans, mainly : women and children.   By "nervous aggression," what do you mean? Is she growling? Snapping? Biting? And under what circumstances? Is the pain of the injury perhaps making her grumpy? Or perhaps just the fact that she’s not being allowed to exercise, and is building up a lot of nervous energy? Enforced rest can be very hard on a BC’s state of mind. Did she start doing that before she was on enforced rest? I have never had this problem with my other bc’s : although i know it can be common, ive always felt lucky to have such : freindly happy dogs, but ginny is causing me some concern.  As she is on : rest, i cannot take her out for socialisation, so she is not gaining the : expreience my other dogs had.   How much socialization did she get *before* the injury – especially with women and children? BCs aren’t normally great kids’ dogs – as I’m sure you know, they’re too stimulated by quick movements and loud noises. To be good with kids, BCs need to be *very* well-socialized with them from the time they’re very young. In any case, the time from 8 weeks up to 4 months was a more important period for socialization, anyway. If she was very well-socialized then, she may very well just be going through a normal fear period right now and, with continued socialization, will probably come out of it. You can still socialize her with people, even if she has to remain quiet. Bring people to your house, and have them give her treats. If she’s nervous about them, have them sit on the floor and quiet hold the treats out to her, and allow her to approach them. She is also a mummies girl, which i know is : characteristic of the breed, but im worried that this will develop into an : obsession.   How much do you encourage it? Actually, the BCs I know tend to be an independent lot until they’re quite mature (even middle-aged), who will go with anyone willing to toss a ball or take them to sheep. I think I’d talk to her vet first, to see if he thinks pain might be affecting the way she interacts with people. And then I’d find someone who’s very good at dog behavior, and do a consultation. Good luck. I hope this 6 weeks passes *very* quickly! April with Levi, Caper, and Epic, the Border Collie Hurricanes

Response:

Your dog has inappropriate human aggression. It seems that you are making excuses, and hiding from this fact by making excuses for her. The truth is there is NO excuse good enough for child aggression,or any other unprovoked aggression toward humans.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi > I have a 6 month old bc bitch, my 5th bc so far, so im not new to the breed > and its demands BUT i have a couple of problems with this one.  She has > badly torn the ligaments in her shoulder and is on 6 weeks rest ( slow lead > walking only and supervision in the garden)  I still take her out in the car > so give her a change of scenery and spend quality time with her, playing > mind games!  She has begun to show nervous aggression towards humans, mainly > women and children.  I have never had this problem with my other bc’s > although i know it can be common, ive always felt lucky to have such > freindly happy dogs, but ginny is causing me some concern.  As she is on > rest, i cannot take her out for socialisation, so she is not gaining the > expreience my other dogs had.  She is also a mummies girl, which i know is > characteristic of the breed, but im worried that this will develop into an > obsession.  In every other way she is the typical bc that attracts me to the > breed in the first place.  I want to get this in hand before it develops > into a major problem.  I would appreciate any advice from owners who have > had similar expriences. ) > Thanks > Rachel B

Response:

>I have a 6 month old bc bitch, my 5th bc so far, so im not new to the breed >and its demands BUT i have a couple of problems with this one.  She has >badly torn the ligaments in her shoulder and is on 6 weeks rest ( slow lead >walking only and supervision in the garden)

How much longer is she supposed to rest?  Ask your vet if there are some activities you can do that will help her use some energy.  In my opinion, she has cabin fever and is going crazy because she can’t expend all the energy that is balled up inside her. Surely there are some exercises the vet can recommend that will help your dog feel more useful.  Let me know what you find out. Pam

Response:

Hi I have a 6 month old bc bitch, my 5th bc so far, so im not new to the breed and its demands BUT i have a couple of problems with this one.  She has badly torn the ligaments in her shoulder and is on 6 weeks rest ( slow lead walking only and supervision in the garden)  I still take her out in the car so give her a change of scenery and spend quality time with her, playing mind games!  She has begun to show nervous aggression towards humans, mainly women and children.  I have never had this problem with my other bc’s although i know it can be common, ive always felt lucky to have such freindly happy dogs, but ginny is causing me some concern.  As she is on rest, i cannot take her out for socialisation, so she is not gaining the expreience my other dogs had.  She is also a mummies girl, which i know is characteristic of the breed, but im worried that this will develop into an obsession.  In every other way she is the typical bc that attracts me to the breed in the first place.  I want to get this in hand before it develops into a major problem.  I would appreciate any advice from owners who have had similar expriences. ) Thanks Rachel B

Response:

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