My 2 year old border collie is becoming increasingly hostile towards other dogs, mainly males. She was well socialised with dogs from 9 weeks (when we got her) and she has attended weekly training sessions since an early age, so has encountered a vast array of dogs, but recently she will bark and lunge at random dogs, mainly at training and agility lessons, presumable because she is on lead as with a couple of (very recent)exceptions, she gets on fine with both dogs and bitches that she meets on walks. She is a nervous dog in general and in the past she has been extremely submissive towards other dogs, but quite happy to play. Over the past couple of months she has become increasingly unpredictable with other dogs to the point that i have to be really careful to avoid close contact with other dogs during classes. Although she has never had any really bad experiences in the past there are a few occasions that maybe played a part in this get in first mentality. When she was a pup a standard poodle nipped her tail when doing heelwork and she never forgave him (i don't blame her), and a male terrier always rushes aggressively at her if we meet out on a walk, (thinking back this has had quite an effect on her) and she had a fight with a male BC at her first agility lesson - however i don't know who initiated this fight. Now she will just attack any dog (9 times out of ten male) that looks at her/sniffs her or even just is near her. Is there anything that can be done other than avoiding all doggy contact? She wears her halti at agility (when she is not running) and i avoid any contact with dogs i know she dislikes (she has a few female friends that she will initiate play with so it is not all dogs), and try to distract her if she begins barking. If she lunges, i pull her away telling her "no leave it." Its spoiling training for all involved, as she cannot seem to relax, particularly at agility. I thought once she got used to the other dogs it would stop, but if anything it is worse. I have tried valarian compound, rescue remedy, mimulus/aspen rescue remedies, to no avail. I am changing her food to burns, and i know there is no substitute for training but i was wondering if there was anything else i could try? I am thinking of DAP diffusers (although i believe these only help at home), and t-touch to calm her around the other dogs. Is there anything that you would reccommend?
Also (sorry this is long) i decided to try agility as she is a highly active collie from working lines and i was told it would help her (she used to be scared of men and she is definately better now, infact she loves them!!) but she doesn't seem to enjoy it very much. She doesn't like the sound of the see saw hitting the floor, although she has no problem going up it, but she doesn't seem keep on jumping (although she loves it at home). I have to bribe her with a ball at the end to make her do a round. I can only presume this is down to the stress, and am continuing to go in the hope that she will get used to it, but i feel terrible making her do it if she doesn't enjoy it. Is she the only BC to dislike agility? She has only been going since november, and seemed to enjoy it before the seesaw was introduced (with the exception of the stress caused by the other dogs of course), so i think she may get better with time.
Sorry this is so long, but i'm really worried about her.

Lucy,  If she isn't enjoying her agility then there's no point doing it.  If however it is just the other dogs stressing her out then can you not do it on her own with no other dogs about or just one or two that keep themselves to themselves.  Then when she starts to enjoy it again she won't notice the other dogs.  That is what we do here with lots of dogs. 

>>and try to distract her if she begins barking. If she lunges, i pull her away telling her "no leave it."

Just to pick up on those two things.  If I told you NOT to think about a red balloon, what would be the first thing that came into your head?  Trying to distract a dog draws their attention TOWARDS whatever you are trying to distract them from.  And pulling her away and telling her 'no leave it'  will not help it will make things worse.  If you still train at CHATS I don't believe they would recommend you do that anyway.
Sally

Actually sally was the one who told me to turn her around and distract her. I only tell her to leave it when she is lunging, as there is nothing else i really can do once she decides she is going to have a go. What would you suggest i should do? I keep meaning to ask sally, but she is always so busy, i never get the chance.
I did wonder if there was any point in carrying on with the agility, but she did seem to enjoy it in the beginning, we only introduced the see saw at the end of the beginners course, just before christmas, and she seemed to enjoy it then, sailing round the obstacles, she particularly likes the A frame and the dog walk. She will go up the seesaw now no problem, as i always throw the ball directly afterwards, so she has no problem there, its when it bangs down when the other dogs are using it. On tuesday, we were on the other side doing a course and the seesaw banged down immediately before a jump and she refused to jump it, so i think this is our problem. I think perhaps she may get used to it in time, she didn't like the noise made by the fly mouse box at training, but she doesn't mind now, but i think the dogs may be winding her up making her stressed out anyway, which probably makes the noise seem worse. I don't know if it would be possible to train on her own, but i could look into it. We have a set of weaves at home and she has great fun with them.
Thanks for your help! Any more is gratefully recieved.

Lucy  - I realise that you have to do something once she starts to lunge or bark but I wouldn't put my dog in a position where she felt the need to do it.  She doesn't need to practice the behaviour, that is why she is getting worse.  She is probably feeling very stressed and I think she needs help to deal with her emotions.  If anything I would just calmly walk away but I am not about to disagree with anything that Sally S has told you.  You need to speak to her about it.  Perhaps she isn't aware just how worried you are.  She won't know if you don't tell her.  If she seems too busy at class why don't you call her later.  That's what most of my folk do.  I spend much of my day on the phone talking dog.

Sally B

Thanks,  i think i may have to do that. Just out of interest where abouts in hampshire are you? PM me or e mail me if you can.

have sent you a pm

I had similar problems with Missy my ESS.  I used the 'watch me' command whenever other dogs came past us - making watching me more rewarding than the other dogs.....

>>i think the dogs may be winding her up making her stressed out anyway, which probably makes the noise seem worse<<

I think you have hit the nail on the head with the above statement.  I have to agree with Sally, if she is not enoying it, which I think is down to the stress she is feeling, give it up, at least for a while, or I can see it getting worse.

What about trying obedience training, although dogs will be around her, it is not as excitable for them as agility, a much calmer environment.  Try to find a class that is held in plenty of space, without too many people.  If she is enjoying the jumps and weaves at home, there is no harm keeping that going incase you can go back to it. 

I don't know if there are any working trials clubs around you, that may well be ideal for her, plenty of space, jumps, obedience, but not so precise and having to work and think for herself with the tracking.  It is more of a one to one with you and your dog, which I think would suit her.

Such a shame, I know you have tried so hard with her, don't give up working her, you will find something that suits you both.

Sandra