Hi

Has anybody any advice? I've got a 4 year old Border Collie who has started to herd my younger 2 year old. She is constantly herding the younger one into a corner. The younger puts up with it for so long then growls and before you know it there's a potential fight. They've actually fought several times over the last couple of months. The older seems obsessed with the habit. The situation has become so stressful that we're sadly thinking of rehoming one of them. It would be a great shame as they used to get on fine. We've asked a local trainer and behaviorist but they don't appear to have an answer other than to muzzle them and keep them apart as much as possible. Both dogs get a 1 - 2 hour walk every day. Luckily my other half works from home as the dogs have to be walked separately. Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated as we're at our wits end and love both dogs very much.

of course herding is a border collie 'trait' but you don't want this to happen.  Do you stop her doing it?  I would, or perhaps its simply become a habit?  I would stop her doing it and not leave them alone together until it ceases - or it'll continue to happen. When you leave them, separate them.  When you can't supervise them, separate them.  When you're supervising and she starts herding, stop her, distract her with something else and keep doing it until it stops.  I wouldn't keep them apart as much as possible - just when you  can't supervise them.

I would agree with Penny about not separating whilst you can supervise.  I would distract and if she back to do it again i would give some time out, maybe in a crate or another room so it is very clear it isnt acceptable.

I know you have said they get a 1-2 hour walk a day, is this once a day?  It might be worth looking at splitting this up in two walks, also remember with collies it is their brains that need the workout more than their bodies.  trick training, clicker training are all options that would get their brains working and might lessen the herding.

Herding in Border Collies is a self rewarding behaviour, ie she's getting a great big wash of feel good chemicals when she does it ( this is how farmers train them in the first place, the behaviour is the reward ) I think you might need the help of someone who specialises or at least has a lot of experience in BC's to get her out of it. Even then I doubt it will be eradicated completely, but you should be able to get it under your control, but I think you'd need to allow her some outlet for the behaviour.

http://www.bordercollies.co.uk/    You may find this lady to be of some help, I've no personal experience of her but a lot of BC folk swear by her.

Yes Barbara Sykes is very good, and all such habits are 'self rewarding', I agree on getting her to use her brain more, she's probably bored.  Some agility or even herding would be great for her... or heelwork to music or really anything.  Like most habits you'll probably be able to manage it, but not completely irradicate.  It's best stopping her doing it and focus on other things.

What sex is the younger collie? Another female? Either spayed?

Would agree with others in ... don't allow the behaviour to continue, let alone develop!

Sorry, cannot agree with endorsements of Barbara Sykes though :-(

Sorry, cannot agree with endorsements of Barbara Sykes though

I haven't looked into her personally, just know about her from BC owners, can I ask why you don't think she's up to much ? It's always good to get both sides of the coin :-)

I've only read a book written by her - fascinated to learn more!

I have Kelpies, one tip I picked up from the Kelpie forum is if they start herding then herd them back, it totally throws them and it should break the habit, I dont know if it would be the same with BC's.

Got 4 collies and cannot abide Barbara Skyes,walked out of one of her seminars. All pack theory and telling people vets know nothing about nutrition. She slagged APDT and was generally very unprofessional.

is this behaviour really a "brand new" behaviour? I a 4 year olddog I woiuld suspectit has been happening all along just less visibly. Or she;sshifted focus from cars, vans, bikes etc to the other dog.I would have her on a line in the house, just a short line and remove her immediately she starts to prevent the self rewarding occuring. You could try distracting her but being a collie that could be extremely difficult to break her "clap". Are you providing enough retrieve work for her to dispel her instincts and teach a chase recall immediatelyto gain more control over her. I would also teach a hand touch to try to help distract her but gut feeling is that won't work,you're goingto have to remove the rewarding behaviour for her.

As a last aside make sure there isn't a sudden influx of stress in her life as could be a displacement behaviour due to environmental changes. Try calm aid with her works well I've found in collies.

Definitely ensure she has enough outlets for her behaviour, and at other times can they be kept apart by a child gate or similar? Perhaps a mix of training, giving her herding outlet (treiball? toys, etc? "Working" with the owner on walks, so she can be guided by owner to "sheep" (toy) etc) and management. Sounds the best way to me.

It may be worth getting a vet check in case there is something causing her to do this. Make sure she is not just prevented, she needs the outlet and also the calming, settling behaviour and self control which again can be taught with exercises... good luck

Lindsay
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