Hi everyone

Had so much help and advice in the past - which has all been extremely valuable - another problem has now shown up in our 15 month old border collie. When we first got Becksie she used to chase my boys (teenagers) when they were playing with a ball and jump up them - they realised that if they stopped she would not jump up - she she does not do it to them now.
However we were out with my brother and his children yesterday - 5 and 2 and we were playing cricket - I said to my brother that she would chase them if they run from her - he said it would be okay - but sure enough - Harry (5) ran with the ball, Becksie chased him and he got scared - shouted as he run faster and she jumped up him trying to nip him. Luckily no harm came to him and we put Becksie straight on the lead - which she hated.
Do you think she will eventually grow out of this jumping up or will she always do it - if so - is there a way we can stop her from doing it? We had a BC when I was young and she used to chase and nip ankles - not jump up. She did stop this as she got older.
Any advice would again be appreciated. By the way Becksie is from a show family and not a farming family.
Thanks.

Linda

Hi,

This is a typical Border Collie behaviour, they are very much a chasing breed. It is not something she will grow out of, you need to teach her not to do it.

Do you take her to training classes? Border Collies need to be stimulated and if you don't do it, they will find things for themselves and more often than not, it's the children who get all the attention.

Even the shoow-bred Border Collies have some instinct there because it has been bred in for generations and generation and thats not easy to get rid of.

When you are out walking and she is likely to chase the children, get fer focused on something else. A ball on a rope or a large raggy toy for example, she needs something to focus her chasing instinct on, which is more intersting than the children. Give this toy a name and when she is playing with it with you, keep repeating the name of the toy and praising her. Teach and recall and make sure you have 100% success rate with distractions (this is not easy!!) using the toy and then you know you have the full control and will be able to stop her.

Good luck.

manda
x

Thanks Manda

If we are out as a family and are say, playing football - she is 100% concentrating on our ball and game - anyone could run by her or have another ball and she would not take any notice - it only happened yesterday because Harry was actually playing with us and the ball.

Anyway will definitely try - we did take her to classes and have recently spoken about joining either flyball or agility - thanks again.

Linda

i do agree its a border collie thing as i know has i own 2 of them,as for my 2 they are only 5 & 6 mths old,they used to chase kids nip then run away now they play with the kids but no more nipping as they have learnt other wise,poppy the youngest of the two has a stronger herding instinct she enjoys trying to herd flys as you can imagine its rather funny,they both enjoy games with myself and the kids and they really enjoy there kongs id be lost without them:)

If you get a really special toy (a BC I know is besotted with squeaky toys, my dog from a herding breed loves Kong on a rope ) - the bC will often get a little bit obssessive about it and that will be the be all and end all to that dog. Don't let the dog have the toy all the time, bring it out for special games and so on.

At the end of the day, training will work, but also putting her on the lead is better than allowing her to learn inappropriate behaviour and get it reinforced strongly by running children.

good luck :)

Lindsay

i have also seen this many times with BCs reitterating what the other chaps have said it is a 'natural' instinct. However one that can be put right! as BCs are increadably intelligent this can prove easy, or the dog may decide that chasing and jumping are far more fun! Fun is the key word! you have to ensure that as the alpha of the pack it is you that should be obeyed and without hesitation. the training should be fun, use a klicker (excellent results) try to find a way to channel your dogs excitability. pick out an activity that the dog loves that he does naterally, and work on that. for example some BCs when herding sheep will go over a fence, some under a fence and some will go round. what the farmer will do is put a comand to the way the dog reacts to the fence consequently the dog nows on that comand get to the sheep on the other side of the fence. training is easy it just tackes time!

with regard to your specific problem the BC is jumping and nipping because the children are not obeying HIS comands so he is saying do what i tell you or your gonna get nipped! so what you could try (worked for me) make yourself THE most fun, enjoyable,nice, best thing around. this can be done with treats and toys, but on your terms. for about 3-6 months you must be the sole provider of fun things ie walks treats toys etc. this may help when you need to make a 'stop that' command as the dog will now see you as the alpha.

by the same token a damn good telling off may be in order. I AM NOT CONDONING HITTING THE DOG. but tell the dog off in a way that he will understand. you go to him stand over him and growl NO. the growl is important this will tell him that he has really overstepped the mark. this is as close to the way wolves repremand their juniors without you getting down and biting him. as the dog is effecivly a wolf and will understand pack mentality it really does work. i did this twice to my BC and have never had to do it again!!

Good luck!

Thanks for tips - as said before I am always willing to try what is advised and will do so again. As mentioned we did put her straight on the lead but only spoke normally to her telling her off - perhaps a good growl would help.

It is a shame because it makes us wary when we come across children playing, etc. but most of the time if we are playing with her she completely ignore whatever else is going on.
Thanks

Linda