I HAVE A 18 MONTH OLD MALE BORDER COLLIE WHO LIKED EVERYONE AND ALL DOGS. BUT SINCE HE WAS PUT IN BOARDING KENNELS 6 MONTHS AGO FOR 2 WEEKS HE HAS BECOME A DIFFERENT DOG.
WHEN HE IS TAKEN FOR A WALK HE HAS TO BE KEPT ON HIS LEAD AT ALL TIMES BECAUSE HE RUNS AFTER DOGS SNARLING AND ACTING AGGRESSIVE. I USED TO BE ABLE TO TIE HE UP OUTSIDE SHOPS AND HE WOULD BE GREAT WITH PEOPLE BUT NOW I HAVE TO TIE HIM UP WELL AWAY FROM PEOPLE AS HE HAS TAKEN A DISLIKE TO MEN AND I AM FRIGHTEN THAT IF A MAN TRIED TO PET HIM HE WOULD BIT. HE HAS ALREADY BITTEN A MALE VISITOR TO THE HOUSE.
HE ALSO GOES NUTS AT LOUD NOISES, TRACTORS, CARS, CHILDREN SHOUTING AND RUNNING BY THE HOUSE,A NEIGHBOUR CUTTING HIS GRASS OR PUSHING HIS WHEELBARROW ETC.WHEN BEFORE HE WENT IN THE KENNELS THE NOISES NEVER BOTHERED HIM.
THE LADY AT THE KENNEL SAID HE WAS FINE FOR THE FIRST WEEK HE SUDDENLY TOOK A DISLIKE TO THE MAN WHO RAN IT SO THE LADIES WHO WORKED THERE WERE THE ONLY ONES WHO COULD TAKE HIM FOR WALKS AND HE ALSO WENT NUTS AT A BOXER DOG ACROSS THE WAY FROM HIS KENNEL,BARKING AT IT ALL THE TIME.
WE ARE A ALL FEMALE HOUSE BUT HE GETS ON GREAT WITH MY BROTHER,NEPHEWS, SOME MALE VISTORS AND A MALE NEIGHBOURS.
CAN SOMEONE ADVICE ME ON HOW TO OVER COME THESE PROBLEMS AS HE IS A GREAT DOG OTHERWISE.
THANKS
JG

you must give your dog much more mental stimulation eg; looking for balls under thingd or finding his food etc.. the other thing is that you must work on a meet and greet basis when your is meeting new people. for example when he meets someone new ( start with someone he is familiar with) he must sit and then he gets a treat. you can then start to move onto less familiar people but never give him the treat when he is growling.they must give him the treat not you. do not back up any of his negative behavior either you must ignore him when he is doing it cos the more you tell him it's ok or even yell at him he is getting your attention for what he is doing.

You can always try the behaviour hotline at Battersea Dogs Home they are very helpful. Although I think you should consult a behaviourist.
Good Luck. Laura.

My border collie was really good until she was about 9 months old. Shes still Ok but she does run to other dogs barking and has recently become very scared of loud noises, running to us on walks and weeing on the floor in the house when scared. She isnt aggressive to any humans but does sometimes run up barking. I think the highly strung behaviour is just down to the breed and our dog like yours, is still very young, so theres time for improvement. Im not sure about paying for experts. We did try following some of the Dog Listener stuff but I wasnt too impressed. On walks we now take a toy that she loves and her obsessive nature is helpful here cos as long as we call her for the toy or if we squeak it she comes running ignoring everything else including other dogs and people. With the toy we have complete control...I just hope we dont lose it! Ive no idea of how to help the fear of loud noises though if you do find a way let me know.

My auntie's Border Collie is the same. I'm almost convinced he's got a split personality. In the house he's great, he's gentle and loving and fantastic with my auntie's four year old grandaugter. However, take him out on a walk and he turns into some sort of aggressive thug who hates almost all dogs and anyone he doesn't like the look of. I am wondering if it may just be something about Border Collies, but some sort of cure advice would be great. Even though he's 6 now and his eyesight isn't great, I'd like to turn him around some how, as his bad habits are beginning to rub off on my 2 year old Poodle, so I totally sympathise!

Hi Kellis, You may have hit the nail on the head. If his eyesight is not good, he may feel defence is the best form of attack. However at home, it is all familiar sights and sounds, and he knows his way around.

Oh I definatly disagree with the reward and behaviourist suggestion.
I went to two behaviourist reward classes with my dog, which is quite and does not (I found out)really need much training. Both classes assured me that he did need training more, but many people were not satisfied with either classes and those who had behaviour problems complained there dogs were getting worse.
Many people did not stay longand I left the second vowing never to go that kind of class again, since them my dog has no problems at all.
How can you leta dogmisbehave, bite etc and then reward iwhen its finished enjoying the activity. If a mother lets her kid take sweets from a shop shelf and then rewards it with a toy after it has finished what has that child learned?

So Keithhas, what is your suggestion to help JG then? :-)

Try boosting his self esteem he needs more confidence.Work on your basic obedience outside and inside the home more...It sound like fear agression, that is what my boston has. Here's a book that may help you.
Good owners, Great dogs By: Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson
This book has helped me out alot with my 5 dogs.
Good luck and I hope he comes around. I know it takes a lot of patience and doesn't happen over night. I put Junior in agility it seems to be helping a bit.

Border Collies often DO NOT tolerate boarding for a long period of time. In my experience they get hyped up at nothing, and go nuts for no reason. We do board hundreds, with no problems and are great dogs, but I feel they need much mental stimulation and obedience or agility classes may well benefit your dog. Maybe nutering him too will have a positive effect, he may not feel so dominant, and be more easy to train. A Border collie is an active working dog that will quickly develop behaviour problems if not kept occupied enough.
Dawn.