I have two border collies one of them is 6 and the other 3. My younger dog seems to be acting very oddly. He has been so for about a year and a half and I thought it was jsut a phase but he's getting odder and odder. He keeps lieing at the back door where we let him out to do his business.

He stays there the majority of the day, but when we open the door, he runs out then stops and looks at us. If we walk out with him, he goes off around the garden a couple of times then stops again. We call him in after he does nothing and then he lies at the back door again. Its like hes obsessed with it! We call him through to the living room and he sometimes stays with us for a while, but as soon as we stand up he rushes off to the back door again! Another thing he's beginning to do is act quite oddly around us. He doesn't play as much as he used to and sumtimes when we go to stroke him he "cowers" away a little. We've never hurt him or mistreated him, in fact he was a REALLY well behaved puppy so ive barely ever needed to give him into trouble.

Its strange, hes very gentle and sensitive and he has never bit anyone, but he barks and growls at people he does not know [for about 10 minutes until they stroke him then hes fine... and then goes off to the backdoor]. The only thing I can think of to cause this is lack of attention. My other dog, who seems to be alpha male between the two by far [he also pretends he is alpha dog of everyone else but he knows he really isnt] was a bit grumpy after we got the younger dog because he wasn't etting as much attention as before [he really is a grumpy, bossy dog] so I decided to give him more attention [im the one giving the dogs most attention] and I think my younger dog kinda got sad about this and took into hiding at the backdoor. So what is really wrong with my dog? Thanks for any help?

Have know a good few BC that display strange obsessive behaviour and most have been from working backgrounds. Have always thought, no doubt erroneously, that it was because they needed more to occupy their minds and were perhaps unsuitable to be kept as pet dogs. BC owners comments would be of interest to me as well as the original poster.

If you lie at the door it gives a good view of anyone coming in or going out of the house, and some dogs will bark at strangers coming in until they are sure the visitors are allowed. A dog lying at my back door would get trampled in the constant traffic of teenagers so we have to move ours away from doors. Maybe he thinks hes looking after his family by supervising access and looking back at you when he goes out is him checking youre following - do you play with him in the garden? Its hard to suggest things without knowing what you do with the dogs, but if theres a sudden change in behaviour Id see the vet for a health check.

Hi Jackie H,
Been on other post. I agree, most are from working background, as I have said before. When a pet home comes along they think that they  can cope. My boy was a result of this, sold to a pet home, he suffered hell, when I got him he was a sod. I never managed to re-train him. He was always dog-aggressive, people-aggressive, at 8yrs old found out he had aggressive brain tumour, due to previous abuse. Cost £143 to prove to myself I had done nothing wrong. I had 'Trooper' since he was 11 mths old.
D4wn
P.S. No namaes but I have found out since that the breeder has a bad reputation.

I doubt he is protecting the family. I don't think he's that good of a guard dog because he's scared of everything [bin bags, packs of cards, ducks, rabbits]. No one ever comes through the backdoor. I think when he does go to the backdoor he does want to play, becuase sometimes he gets a yellow football he found in the garden and drops it at my feet. Only problem is that I live ins Scotland, and a majority of the time its raining so it isn't very nice playing football outside in the pouring rain.

I'm sure I'm stating the obvious here, but do you do lots of activities with him to keep his mind occupied? Collies are famous for getting bored easily and needing to be kept busy!
:)

Collies do seem prone to obsessive behaviours. Mine is obsessed with balls, constantly wants to play with them, carry them and will take one to bed with her. Collies are also prone to a nervous disposition, my dog barks at strangers too, and is quite jumpy. A border collie owner certainly has to keep their dogs constantly occupied, so it could just be that the dog thinks if he sits outside you are eventually going to play. My dog thinks if she constantly drops her ball and stares at you, you are going to throw it. This evening my sister went to have a bath leaving Meg standing by the door with her ball, and when she came out Meg was still standing and waiting! Although you live in Scotland, i wonder if maybe the dog is too hot inside, (sounds silly in Scotland doesn't it?!) and so likes to sit in the cool, but by the door it he is still close to home safety? Does he get on with your other dog, perhaps he feels nervous around the other dog so chooses to stay outside? I must say though that my golden retriever would spend all day outside come rain or shine given the chance. When i come home more often than not Ellie is sat at the side of the house watching the world go by. 

Hi have you had his eyes checked maybe worth doing if he is reacting strangely to normal approaches such as being stroked. Gillian

I think his eye sight is pretty good. He can spot a laser pen light or a reflection of light from a CD from a mile away. I do play with him a lot, but I can't play with him 24/7, like he seems to expect me to :P

He gets on very well with my other dog, but certainly is not the alpha dog between the two. I would be able to give him more attention if he didnt lie at the back door all day.

Hi

I have read the replys above and I agree with them BC are so bright it is unbelievable. Where in Scotland are you? If you are near Dundee they have a fly-ball and agiltiy club there which is the kind of activity both dogs need, it will creat a common bond between them also your younger dog can get more exercise and the older dog only as much as he needs this should also channel both dogs energy which will make for a happier household.  The laying at the door problem this could be a) I do not want to be left behind so if I lay here!!! b) Heat!! BC are outdoor dogs and are often to hot in a central heated house, a door provides cool air for them.

Hope this helps