Hi there,
I've recently met a family who re-homed a Border Collie x (lab) . They have had problems since collecting her from the re-homing centre- almost 2 yrs ago now (who incidentally let her go to them after only 2hrs of them  visiting).
They still have so many problems with their dog.
Too many factors to go into here. I have suggested she see a local vet who deals with behavioural issues, and she has an appt tomorrow.
HOWEVER, do any of you 'special' people know of EXPERIENCED BEHAVIOURISTS WHO SPECIALISE WITH COLLIES in the South Bucks area?
Any help would be gratefully received and I will pass on - I have promised to try my best to help out, as the family now fear that she may need to given up as they can no longer cope.
Cheers.

If it were me, I would ask the vet about a referral to an APDT behaviourist if possible - that should allow them to avoid anyone who wants to retrain their dog using punishment, something they definitely do not want with an aggressive dog, fear-based in particular.

what sort of problems,lots of collie type stuff is easily sorted out

Too many to list, some are collie specific, other traits not, hence why I am seeking a really experienced specialist breed behaviourist.
It is the unpredictability of the dog that worries me most, does not seem to have memory re-call of newly met people.
Help still requested. Hopefully the vet tomorrow will have some names to refer onto, but the owner has previously tried several to no avail!!

I agree find an APDT trainer, have a look on the Internet to see whether there are any in your area. A Collie specialist may be much harder to find. Good trainers know the differences between breeds and what is needed to get them to train well they are well researched in all breeds, so an APDT trainer will be able to help with your friends dog no matter which breed.

There are an awful lot of people on CD who own, train and breed all types of Collie's and also labs. Perhaps if you can list some of the problems we can also help with some techniques and different ways of teaching him.

A few ideas; try www.apbc.org.uk and if desperate, Carol Price who is based in Kent - she has written "Understanding the border collie) a very good book :)

Lindsay
x

a family who re-homed a Border Collie x (lab)

How do they know this is a first X Lab/BC ? did they see the parents or is it a mongrel(no disrespect I've owned & adored mongrels)the looks as if it might be a lab/BC ? The reason I ask this as I rescued a mongrel & had the RSPCA,Dog Warden,Vet etc all describe her as a GSD x BC she wasn't she was just a mongrel with lots of problems, which she had acquired over the 9/10 years before I rescued her & which we worked through & resolved in the 11 1/2 years we were together. No specialist knowledge of any breed needed just simple kind retraing methods

You are absolutely right , of course, the re-homing centre probably didn't know  1st hand, and in fact I would say it's mostly bc, with maybe not much lab if any!!
I am going to pass the websites on, but naturally would prefer a recommendation rather than an organisation.
Thanks for your help

So this dog is just a cross breed that looks like a BC but might in fact have no BC in it's breeding at all Best to try a APDT trainer first as TBH most dogs with these problems have no BC blood at all(friend had a Lab x Dobe that chased cars & like to herd everything in site-vet told her the dog was a BC cross but in fact we knew & DNA proved he was a Lab x Dobe)

I can 100% recommend WICCAWEYS - Border Collie Rescue Centre, who will give excellent advice on the phone or you can arrange a visit.

Hi Skyblue22,
Would you have a website or phone number that I can pass on?
That's sounds great. They took the dog to a behaviourist yesterday, and are going back again for a longer session next week
But the rescue centre would be a great supportive backup.
Thanks for all the replies

No probs:

www.wiccaweys.co.uk
Tel: 07905 203254

Owners have contacted WIccaweys, and have said they are absolutely brilliant. Thanks for the contact

This lady does a lot of stuff on behaviour. She doen't live in Bucks but comes up to do training weekly to the county. She lives in Surrey so perhaps not too far away for her to be considered.

http://www.juliameads.co.uk/About_me.htm