Hi All - our 7 month old bc has settled down beautifully and we are still waiting for her so called teenage years. However - the person she does not seem to like is our 8 year old son. In the morning she jumps all over him licking etc. but later on she mouths him - actually showing her teeth every time he strokes her or approaches her. We are not sure how to handle this - we tell him to walk away everytime she starts but he is upset that she doesn't seem to like him. With the rest of the family - me, hubby and two other sons (10 and 13) she is like a baby.
Any suggestions.
Thanks

It may be that your 8 year old is inadvertently giving her some threatening 'doggy body language' - such as staring her in the eye, walking straight up to her, or even surprising her....... I'd watch them whenever they are together (I had to do this with my 5 year old son and my rescue ESS - they are the best of friends now) and try and help him to learn how to approach her without appearing threatening. Get him to avert his eyes as he approaches, drop his head, and lick his lips and /or yawn (I'll bet she does this as he is approaching anyway - she is telling him he's too 'full on' and asking him the only way she knows how to 'chill' and back off, only because you perhaps don't realise this is doggy language you don't recognise it :( )

HTH

Fran

Hi Lindy, Kids give off different signals to adult, smell wise too - in a hormonal sense:D so the littler the kid the less the smell, and dogs often get confused by kids. I dont like to give advise contrary to other people, but am not sure that your younger son being more submissive to your collie will help the situation. If it were me, so this is just in my opinion (I have three dogs and two kids under 8) I would be involving your boy more in the general care of your collie, Letting him be the one that fills the food bowl, and asking for a sit before putting it down. I feel that without directly confronting the dog, he needs to ensure he is of a higher status than the dog, if he is seen as submissive I would worry that it may make the situation worse. A really good book to get is Carol Prices 'understanding the Border Collie' collies in my opinion are a breed apart, and need careful training and management, I have a border collie/German shepherd who is 9 months old, my youngest is 5. From the start my dogs have to recognise that all humans are above them in the pecking order. I definitely would not leave them alone together. it must be so hard on the poor chap wanting to cuddle your dog, When she shows teeth what is your reaction? Julie:)

BC are not really cuddly sorts of dogs - it may be that she gets on well with your son except when he tries to overdo the love!!! I feel dogs must accept being handled by all the family memers, but at the same time we do have to respect the fact that they are all individuals and some may not enjoy it very much.

If it was me I would go back to basics and yes, get your son involved in giving her her dinner, and maybe a little bit of training. If you reward with treats or toys, then she will be doing stuff for your son and will really enjoy his company.

I would recommend Carol Price's book, too :)

I think Fran was describing calming signals rather than actually being submissive :)

Lindsay

Lindsay said < BC are not really cuddly sorts of dogs >
Lindsay you haven't met my BC who thinks he is a lapdog and is a big softy who loves to cuddle with people.

Karen

I didn't want to comment as I have never owned a BC but all those belonging to others I have come across have been sooky
Anne

Hello,

Does she stand still and show her teeth etc? I have seen border collies do this loads (normally towards lower ranking dogs). They then give little nips if the other dog doesn't do as required. Maybe she is just trying it on with him. I would try and get him involved with her training, feeding etc hopefully she will realise that he is higher rank to her!

Debbie

My dog shows her teeth fairly often, but mostly at me. She isn't trying to give me any negative signals at all. In fact, just the opposite. She is actually grinning at me! The first time she did this I didn't initially know how to react. Then I remembered her breeder telling me that Australian Shepherds often grin at people. She wiggles and does a whole body smile while doing this. As Aussies and BC's are similar dogs, is it possible that she's just getting excited/happy when she see's him?

I've come across people with smiley bc's before too. :)

Anne, what's sooky?
LynnT

Hi Lynn - Annes fingers may be cold - she probably means sPooky :D - Julie:)

:D

Sooky is cuddly, fraikie, typical BC
Anne

I've got a gang of cuddle bunny B.C.s :D :D :D Gillian
P.S. And a cheesy grinning one as well

Hi anne - apologies haven't heard saying before :D thought you may have cold fingers and made a typo, sorry:D Julie:) who had better brush up on different sayings if she is to emigrate;)

Julie, I lived in Scotland for three years, in Kinloss, and I still need translations! Do they do a good Scottish/English dictionary?;) I'll assume the definition of fraikie is sooky! They're lovely sounding words though.:)
Lynn x

Just want to keep you on your toes:-D I've got more but don't know how to spell them
Anne

I was generalising a bit there wasn't I :p :)

I agree there are lots of BC's who lap up affection and do enjou cuddles, yours is obviously one of them Karen :)

Lindsay

Thank you all for your help - I will try out the training/giving her dinner etc. hopefully it might help. When she does show her teeth she definitely means it - 'not smiling' - we say no but also tell our son to walk away.
Anyway will let you all know what happens.
Many thanks.

Does your pup sleep downstairs or away from the family? making an assumption - it seems like after a period of isolation perhaps your pup is really excited to see everyone again in the morning and approaches your youngest son herself and on her terms and allows him to make a fuss of her. Whenever he decides to approach her on his terms then she becomes defensive and warns him that his advances towards her are not desirable.
I can appreciate how upset he must feel to be rejected whilst everyone else is approved of. The advice you have been given by muddydogs is good about the feeding etc.. as it will teach her that your son is every bit an important part of her life as everyone else. It is important that he doesn't get into any confrontations with her. If she won't do as he says then leave it and go back to it a few minutes later. Everyone else for a while must stop making a fuss of her, put your hands in your pockets and turn away from her if she comes to you for a fuss. It'll be hard but it's only for a while while your son works with her to overcome her problem. Ask him not to approach her but call her to him and pet her calmly. If she reacts negatively then he turns away and ignores her for a while. No one else intervene. He can try again later on.

Hope all is going OK today? I have a BC Molly who is re homed. she has nipping problems which I have on understanding about. Molly has lots of ghosts bless her. For you pup lots of training and hope it goes well with your son too. Julieann :)