Insane dogs...

[iCraig]

Hello All,

I know there are a few dog owners here, so am hoping for abit of advice.

I currently own a 4 year old border collie, he's abit mental to say the least. But one thing is concerning me....he hates anything on a scooter (not the 50cc things, the kids metal things) and tries to chase and bite them.
He also hates other dogs, now I've had him a year and he's hardly gotten better.

Does anyone have any advice or can point me in the right direction towards behaviorists or vet advice?

Cheers

Craig

[nowhere.elysium]

I don't own a dog, and never have, but I have soaked up a little knowledge about it. From what I'm told, Collies are very smart, and need to burn off huge amounts of energy. Might be worth using the dog as an incentive to go on regular runs; the dog may well calm down, and you'll be fitter from it, as well as having built up more loyalty with your dog as a result.

Just my tuppence'orth.
____________________
'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[msgander]

Border Collies need a massive amount of exercise AND mental stimulation......as for the chasing thing......we have one locally that tries to chase car wheels......big time!

Owner has taken it to behaviour expert and alas, it continues to drag it's owner down the main road near us and try and commit suicide by taking a bite at various vehicles innocently driving past...

Collies were bred for a job and sometimes if they dont get to work (ie chasing cattle or sheep) their brains have to find an alternative to tune in to.........

Maybe contact some local dog trainers in your area or join the collie forum would be a good start, they are a breed unto their own!!!

If you are really worried then get him a wire muzzle, not the clamp the mouth shut type as they can't cool down at all properly by panting with those ones, at least he cant then cause "too" much damage!

Good luck
____________________
Always believe that your guardian angel flies a bit faster than you...............

[iCraig]

He gets a run every morning and a mile walk, and a 2-3 mile walk in the evening.

He also gets played with all day long, as my dad is at home, so I don't think its lack of stimulation or excersize!

[T1z3R]

youd be surprised.
ever thought of doing agility with him?
also just walking isnt enough, hell need lots and lots of running as well.
____________________
duck my sick!

[iCraig]

[T1z3R]

sounds like heneeds to be socialised more and some proper behaviour training.

dog borstel?
____________________
duck my sick!

[SlimRick]

I'm on my second border collie, my first one sounds like yours! He went to obedience classes that no dog could fail.....we were asked to leave on the third lesson.
He would "herd" anything that moved - motorbikes, kids on heelies, skateboarders, cars etc. In some Borders, the instinct is so strong that you really can't do anything about it.
They are working dogs, and it's bread into them to herd things which is what yours is doing with scooters and other dogs - he bites the kids on scooters 'cause they won't be herded.

In short - you're probably fucked. At 4 there's little chance of trying to train it. Gorgeous dogs though, wouldn't have any other breed!!!

[Tonka]

I've got a Rottie and they too are a herding breed. I've had mine from 7 weeks old and he's now 3 years old. I've stopped the chasing when we're out (9/10), but he will still go mad in the garden when the tractors go past - chases them from one gate to the next! Chasing is a tough one and at 4 years old and with a herding breed I think you can at best hope to manage it, sorry!

I do training classes and agility with my lad. I'm surprised you had a problem at agility, as we have anti-social dogs at our fun agility and there is never an issue. The dogs are not allowed off lead unless they are on the course and if a dog is known to be 'difficult' everyone is on guard when it's off the lead. If I was you I'd look for another class/trainer. Flyball is the other one that is good for Border Collies but I'm never too sure whether it just winds them up to fever pitch or wears them out! If nothing else you would be with other BC owners and hopefully they would be more understanding of your problems.

There is no way I can wear my dog out walking, running or cycling with him, as he is very fit, but he can be tired out with games and agility. I've spent quite a bit of time teaching him to do tricks as that seems to tire him quite a bit but tbh it's more of a challenge for me, as I'm rubbish!

I'm afraid that's about all I can suggest!
____________________
'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
Suzuki SV650S (Clean); Yamaha XT250 Serow (Dirty)

[Silver]

Have you tried socialised your dogs with other dogs, in a controlled environment?

Our dog's scared shitless by push bikes and parked cars. Once a car's moving she has no fear of them (dozy bitch), or strangely, if one has its door open she wants to get in. Parked up, with the doors closed = pertrified.

Anyway, I took her out on the pushbike a couple of times and, once she stopped trying to pull me into a hedge or under a bus, she got comfortable with them pretty quickly. Maybe try it with a scooter. You'll look cool too

[Flip]

[FURBAR]

They nead off lead walks for many miles, where you walk 8 and they run 20 plus ...
____________________
Fuk um !!

[Robby]

Years ago (thinking about, more than 15 years ago now) we had an alsation that loved herding. Clever boy too, me and my brother were the same sort of age as him and he was just one of the kids. Quite protective of me as I remember.

Playing and socialising with him was the key. He also hated other dogs, in particular one little yapping thing that used to bark at him from behind its fence and bounce up and down. That dog ended up hanging from its ears over the fence more than one.

The best thing for calming hom down was going for a walk off the lead in the local fields, where he could go and herd sheep (and sometimes cows) for a while. He never hurt the sheep and the farmers found it amusing. The local butcher sold the lamb, so we had the pleasure of eating things that the dog used to herd.

So playing is probably the key. If he hates other dogs then he's best off playing with people

Or just get a cat. Far better. A cat will train your dog, particularly a fairly large boy cat or a girl that has had kittens.

[iCraig]

He chases cats too....

He gets lots of off the lead exercise each day, also he's a failed worker which makes it abit harder!

[Clanger]

Ha ha, you have got a collie, they are renowned for this type of behaviour. They are better off kept in environments where they can run about outside all day (on a farm or small-holding). They have way too much energy and why people get them as house pets is beyond me!

You have to keep them stimulated, they are like children as in if you don't pay them enough attention or have strict boundaries from the outset they will play up.

They can be total fruit-loops as you've discovered. Good luck with it, you're going to need it.
____________________
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Flip]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Punch him in the tits and do him up the.................wait what?!





____________________
My Flickr

[Tonka]

[FURBAR]

My dogs got a muzzle, then i just let her run around the park causing mayhem ...
____________________
Fuk um !!

[Jayy]

I've got two patterdale terriers and they're pretty mental dogs. If you don't take them for a walk every day, they start bouncing off the walls like lunatics until you take them out.

Our oldest on, which is about 3 and a half now, she's just had 6 pups last week. The other one, he's about 8 months old now, we got him from a dogs trust and he's the nutty one. Barks at anything that moves and runs round like a nutta constantly.

Very energetic dogs that needs constant attention, luckily, there's always someone around here so they don't end up tearing the place apart.

The old one, used to be fine with other dogs, then about a year ago, she started going for every other dog. I think it's just the breed of dog, nothing you can do about it. Everyone who I've met with them has said the same thing, they're fine, then they start going for other dogs. The little one now is still at that playful stage with other dogs but for how long, I don't know.

[sweetleaf]

Yep collies are clever and energetic. It seems to me that border collies tend to either be the most fantastic pets or complete nutters.

Presumably your dog doesn't recall when he's herding / chasing things? If so, don't let him off the lead as he's an accident waiting to happen. Get yourself a lunge line to exercise him on - nicer than the retractable leads and gives you 25ft to play with. Just because he's been banned from Agility classes doesn't mean you can't still do agility with him in your garden.

With other dogs, he's probably aggressive due to fear (this is a big assumption without knowing the details, but the root of aggression is often fear). You could try being his protector from other dogs. Try to not allow other dogs to approach him, and if they do, even in a friendly manor, put yourself in between him and the other dog. You're basically saying to him, don't worry you don't have to scare away this dog because I'm here to look after you.

Try this site for advice https://positively.com/ - the forum is friendly and there's people there who really know their stuff. Avoid the Dog Whisperer and any of his followers as his methods may look impressive for the cameras, but it really isn't and is likely to cause more problems in the long run.

BTW, what do you feed your dog? There are feeds out there that are the doggy equivalent of feeding additive full junk food.

[Flip]

[FURBAR]

I was going to say that luckily for you, my friends NEVER receive bad karma .... but then i noticed how near to gold blobby land you are, so could not resist ... sorry ... !!
____________________
Fuk um !!

[Ste]

[Aspire]

cut his nuts off ! that will slow him down for a day or so