Hi there,

I have two Border Collies, Ky who is 14 months old and JC who is 4 1/2 months.  Both are wonderful dogs.  JC is a little sensitive.  The problem we have is that when we are out for our walks during the day (they have four) JC rushes up to anyone he sees barking at them, with the hackles raised on his neck and his tail wagging furiously.  It is almost like he cant make up his mind whether he likes people or not.  When people stop to talk to him he is all over them.  He does have a very good recall and 90% of the time I see the people before he does although I am sure that wont last.  If anybody has any tips they would be gratefully received.  Have tried favourite toys to distract him when walking past but only works for so long.  Have also tried putting him on the lead but he does get wise to this and gets fed up as he is on and off the lead continually.

Claire

Hackles raised indicate he's worried about something - wagging tail does NOT always indicate friendliness, so don't be mislead - a dog whose worried will often wag their tail as a way of indicating the feeling that they are confident and 'incharge' to their foe, when in fact the opposite is true.......  This behaviour is also being rewarded by the people who stop to talk to him - it almost sounds as if he's learnt this behaviour is rewarded :(  I think instead of a lead, I'd try an extending lead (with a body harness only) or a long line, so you can always recall him when you need to, to discourage this kind of behaviour.  When he is recalled to you, give him plenty of reward/fuss/games so he's getting a reward from you instead of strangers.  And discourage strangers (as nicely as you can) from fussing him for the time being.

thanks.  You have said more or less what I have thought.  Unfortunately people don't tend to listen much when there is a cute puppy bouncing around!  We are going to have to have him castrated when he reaches six months as one testicle hasnt dropped and he mounts everything in sight, cocks his leg on every male he finds (unfortunately even human now) so it could be that that has something to do with it as well.  Maybe just a confused little pup. Not sure but will probably try the extending lead as opposed to putting him on his short lead and see how that goes. Thanks.

How much time do you spend in training when out four times a day? It seems very excessive to me to take a 4.5 month old puppy out. More time should be spent on doing training exercises at this time of his young life. Learning to obey you by recall command and being taught to be quiet. Also being on his own with you and not your other dog, so that he learns to be independent from Ky. Being constantly together this could cause problems later when taken out, especially while he is in this barking stage of his life. If you need any more help you can email me. I have had border collies for the last 20 years and could help if you need it.:) 

Thanks for this.  The dogs do go out separately twice a day.  I dont take him for miles because of his age and dont want to encourage the usual problems with too much walking at an early age.  We go up to the local field or woods and have a wander around for about 15 minutes at a time. I have just never had this before in a puppy, especially as he is such a dominant dog everywhere else. Mounts the older dog constantly, cocked his leg from 9 weeks old (which I could hardly believe when we first got him).  When we go out walking I train whilst I am out with him so then he gets used to recall etc in different places as he catches on very quick.  He also goes puppy socialisations classes every week.  The older dog goes out for two long walks and then two short ones with the pup so then they get used to going together and being called back separately.  What's your email address by the way as I would appreciate your opinion on another matter. Mines dvnbiker@aol.com

In my honest opinion I would not take them out together at all for a while until you have stopped the barking. I would do this by using a small rattly pot. Shaking it when he does bark and rewarding the quiet moment. (Timing is essential). The shaking of the rattly pot should startle him enough to get the quiet response. After a while change the pot to a different one with a different sound so that he doesn't get used to it. Use a high value food reward for a good quick response, tell him good boy and give him a reward. Don't use a command with this as he will get wise to the fact that if he barks and gets told "quiet" a reward will come for the command. He needs to just be quiet to get the reward. If you can do the rattle without him seeing the response will be quicker. See how this goes for a spell and let me know how you get on. Good Luck. There is always one that gets us stumped :)

Rattle cans can be too much for a sensitive BC though :(

Sorry. I did say pot, which means something like a plastic empty film pot with a few grains of rice or similar in it. A can would be too noisy. It is only meant to be shook lightly to get a yes mum response. :)

what about using training discs or again do you think these would be too noisy?  Just dont want to scare him.