I have a 17 month old border collie who is very nervous. She has a particularly bad fear of men, even though she has not had any bad experiences with them that i know of. Since she was spayed in June her nervousness has got worse. She usually barks like mad when men come in the house or up the drive, although if i wasn't holding on to her i dread to think what she would do. I have just returned from a walk with her, during which i met a male friend of mine. She has met him once before a few weeks ago, and whilst she barked a lot to start with she calmed down, although she wasn't too keen on going up to him. This time she was terrible. She started by running towards him and seemed friendly and then all of a sudden just changed and started barking. My friend tried several times to calm her but it got to the point that she was barking and snarling. She looked like a guard dog on attack. Several times she stopped and i praised but then he would approach her again and she would start up again. The odd thing is that she knows quite a few men, some of which she approaches readily so i cannot predict what she is going to do. I am worried that i might have to muzzle her whenever i see my male friends, or have to avoid them altogether. How should i get her to accept men and how should I react when she starts barking? would any form of interuption like the spray collar help or would it simply heighten the fear? I don't know if she would take any treats without biting their hand off so i don't think thats an option yet. Would a DAP diffuser at home help her behaviour outside? Do you think it is connected to the spaying? We also got a new puppy around the same time whom she loves, but i am wondering if this could also have caused this increase in fear. Also do you think any form of bach remedy could help?
Sorry this post is long, with lots of questions but i'm quite upset about this as i though she was getting better.

Hi,
Just to get things clear in my mind - how long have you had her, and where did you get her from? Is she show-bred or working-bred?

I have had her since she was 9 weeks. She was farm bred in wales, so i believe her parents were working dogs. She was probably the most nervous in the litter - big mistake. She has been going to training classes since 6 months and has got her kennel club good citizen bronze award, so she can behave when she wants to. She also has a fear of cars and anything that moves (Joggers, bikes, runnig kids e.t.c.) - she has a very strong chasing instinct, probably down to her working roots. The barking started at about 9 months and got to the point at which we couldn't let her off the lead. She seemed to calm down during her season and has been much better until recently. She is very friendly and loving at home, although last night she was sleeping in the kitchen and my little sister ran through the hall and Megan shot up and started barking like a mad dog, presumably she was startled. In hindsight i think perhaps it shows she is stressed. Hope this helps.

I could be barking up the wrong tree completely, here (it has been known! ;) )........but how much exercise does she get? A working farm collie will often be running about 40 miles a day working livestock, and using its brain too. You may find that she is bored out of her mind, and that is really stressing her out. So unless she already does loads of physical and mental exercise, it would be worth increasing her 'output' and possibly cutting down her protein levels.
:)

I was about to say but you did already! Having grown up with working collie's they really do need something enormous to do and keep their minds occupied, if not they can very easily become fixated.

I'm positive that she adores her obedience work, but that's perhaps once a week, nowhere near enough stimulation for a collie. How about setting up a mini agility course in your garden, she'll eat that up and perhaps join your local agility club. My first dog Kim was the litter runt but one of the cleverest dogs I've ever met, would run until she dropped and also took protecting her flock very seriously.

Lucy - I was looking at taking on a farm border (as a rescue). I got some brilliant info from the rescues. If you want to [email chloe@iscario.com]email me[/email] I will forward it on to you. I have sent it on to a few people from here, all have found it absolutely essential reading. It explains a lot about what your collie does and why :)

I think you have been givne some great advice here :)

I have been involved with a farm bred BC and I can tell you he gave his owners some headaches!!! At the end of the day the best thing they did was to "work" with him every day. They did this by throwing a stick (sticks are not ideal as they can be dangerous; a Kong would be better) into light cover (bracken or long grass) and then directing him to it.

They used phrases like "this way" "that way" "on on on " and "back" and lots of arm and body pointing. In this way, it was better than basic retrieving as he was using his brain every day and it was just what he needed, plus the fulfilment of working with his owner.

Have you got the excellent book "Understanding the Border collie" by Carol Price. Do read it, it is very good and helpful.

As for the being scared of men - the key is to let her approach them, and for them to pretty much ignore her until she is very happy with them. If you have men who can help, get them to throw titibits on the ground (not AT her ) and over time she will learnt to approach them.You may need to actively set up a training programme where you can set up this scene every day or so. But take it slowly and let her decide when she is ready, or it will get worse if she is forced to accept them approaching her. Her barking and snarling is basicllysaying she is scared and she would probablyl bite if backed too much into a corner :(

LIke the others, I feel the key is more mental and physical exercise here :) Good luck with her.

Lindsay