Hi,
I have a Border Collie that is from a farm and did not get socialised with people so when we take him on a walk he tries to nip people. We have worked on him and he seems okay when it is just one person walking by him- or herself but if it is more than one he tries to nip them.
He is our first dog so we do not have much experience in traing him. Please could we have some tips to stop this happening?
Tamsin (age 11), by email
He is our first dog so we do not have much experience in traing him. Please could we have some tips to stop this happening?
Tamsin (age 11), by email
I would put a muzzle on him and keep him on a lead while out walking until this is resolved. The last thing you need is someone reporting you for having a dangerous dog. I have a BC too and they are very strong willed but hopefully, the more people he meets, the better he will be. I would only let him off when there is no one around and if his recall is good, he should come back when you call. If it's not too good, make sure you take plenty of treats so it is worth his while responding to you. Good luck
ReplyDeleteGet in touch with aa accredited behaviouist to help you work on this problem. Look for COAPE, APDT, KCAI after there name.
ReplyDeleteThere are two possible options which may be playing a part in this behaviour: -
ReplyDelete1) He is a collie, collies like to "control" and herd, nipping can be a part of herding (not necessarily a good part, but still a part nonetheless)
2) Due to a lack of socialisation, he is (understandably) nervous around (new) people, and is using something he can do to get them to give him some space, nipping/herding away.
In an ideal world, you would seek a trained behaviourist to help you decipher exactly which of these is driving the greater part of the behaviour, and come up with a behavioural modification plan tailored to your & his needs. A professional would be a member of an organisation such as the Association of Pet Dog Trainers UK, Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors, Pet Professional Guild, Karen Pryor Acadamy, or similar and will not use harsh, aversive methods with your dog as these will make his behaviour worse rather than better. It may also be worth a trip to see your vet and see if he or she can recommend any medical interventions that may help, such as Zylkene for instance.
In the mean time, or if the world isn't ideal, what I would do is, start walking him in quieter areas and/or at quieter times of day - the stress he is feeling about other people will only intensify if he has to cope with the situation regularly; additionally I would always carry a pocketful of really yummy treats (liver, heart, etc) and make sure to give him treats when you do come across a person or group of people, this will help in two ways - it will give him something else to focus on (the stream of treats coming towards him), and it will also start to change how he feels about "scary" people.
thanks for all the advice
ReplyDelete