Hello, I have a 14 month old Bearded Collie, with 2 issues that i cant resolve.
first one is non stop barking in the car, even on short journeys.
second is that whenever my dog gets wet, after a play in the river, lakes, sea he always runs out barking like mad and bites my feet, ankles, calves while barking and growling in a vicious way, but with his tail wagging! Am sure he is playing but he really hurts me, one time in the summer I had to have a tetnus as my calf was black and blue ! I have tried to distract him, or turn away from him, or ignore him, shout NO, bend down and stroke and try to calm him...nothing works ! he is like a dog possessed ! But only when he is wet and excited ...dont want to stop him having fun in the water ! please help...

Hi aliwongo,

There are more qualified members than me on the forum on a wide ranging selection of behavioural issues who hopefully will address your issues tomorrow but IME - and I've worked through similar behaviours successfully - this is what I would suggest.

Re the non-stop barking in the car, if being put in the car itself is enough to set off this behaviour immediately, it may be over excited anticipation of going to his favourite places which is causing the reaction you describe, in which case I would recommend much patience and resolve on your part of putting him in and immediately he starts to bark, remove him and go back indoors.  Obviously this takes time initially as it may involve several abortive attempts to actually drive off anywhere with him over the next few weeks (depending on how often you normally take him) but you could practice at times when you're not intending to take him anyway to speed up the process initially ;) 

If it is when settled in the car but only actually driving off, introduce your dog to a cage/crate for all journeys in the car and keep it covered so that he cannot see any outside stimuli.  Again, the trigger may be something like a familiar route (in which case learn to vary your route and your routine) or simply seeing movement such as other traffic, pedestrians, street lights, headlamps etc which should be helped by blocking his view.

As to his over powering behaviour when recalled from his much loved water games, I had one who was a true water baby and simply went loopy at the site - funny to watch really but understandably as your boy is physically engaging in over zealous and uncontrolled behaviour when coming out then not so amusing in your case :rolleyes:  Try fixating him on a new and to be favourite toy - one only used for brief and extra special games and immediately put away.  Do what you can to make this his BEST ever toy and so greatest prize.  When you have him sufficiently worked up about the toy, put it away immediately in exchange for a favourite treat - never leave him the toy to play with unsupervised or for regular day to day games with the family and never play with it so long that it loses it's high value.   Then, when suitably attached to his toy, have that hidden on your person when you take him swimming.  On recalling him out, get his focus on grabbing the toy and so not on grabbing at you - a large ragger or ball on a rope would be ideal for this scenario :)

Last, but by no means least, your dog is going through a typical "Kevin stage" whereby often previously well behaved and good mannered youngsters have so many hormones flying about inside (think rebellious spotty teenage kids :P ) that we often feeling like disowning them :rolleyes:   He will with patience and lots of consistent reinforcement of his previous training eventually outgrow the hooligan stage - but you do have to work through it.

Have a look at this LINK which will explain about *bite inhibition* - something he should have ideally learned before all of his adult teeth came in at 5/6 months but it is not a lost cause - it can still be taught.

HTH meantime, Good luck Teri :)

I agree with Teri's excellent advice, I have a good friend with 2 male beardies who play regularly with my dog. They both adore water and get very vocal, and can get rather over excited at times.

If you use the toy as Teri suggests, this should see an end to the problem :)

Lindsay
x

Thanks everyone ! am amazed that so many of you replied. I totally agree that it is part of his instinct to want to run and be chased to get dry, as he often rolls in sand (or mud) when soaking wet, to dry himself off. He wont let me near him with a towel tho ?! and the other persons comment about going with another dog does always work ! As he then bites the dogs legs and feet (does he have a fetish?) and leaves me alone. I will try with the toy but try to avoid having anything in my Hand as last time he bit my tummy in his excitement! trying to get the toy.

As for barking - cant see anthing working ! really dont want to put him in a cage as have just bought a new car with a bigger boot for him, as thought that may help. he barks as soon as the car moves. We do vary our journey - but I agree that is excitement, as he knows he is off on a ramble !

Thanks again everyone !

Thanks Teri

I will give it a go.
What does HTH mean ? Im new to this site - but cant believe how excellent it is !
Also, what does BARF mean - saw it on the feeding site, something to do with feeding dogs raw bones ?

Thanks again

HTH means Hope that helps :)

I have beardies and although mine haven't been barkers in the car many are. The suggestion about covering a crate was my first thought too.

As for the nipping I've had that a couple of times after an agility round but mainly because she was going for the lead to play tuggy and got me by accident once on inside of thigh and once on the boob, not fun :o Must admit it was so sore that I gave her her character but also it made  me concentrate on accustoming her to a treat as a reward when she finished a round so she learned to come to me and sit for her reward at the end of a round. My other suggestion would have been to have a toy that could be chucked about to replace your flesh. Have you thought of attaching a toy to a long line at least to begin with so he doesn't catch you by accident. Another of mine loved that and it also helps you control the toy

Anne

I would add to Teri's good advice, that if the barking happens when you are in the car and driving, stop.  When he quiet, go again.  If he barks again, stop.  It's the same idea as pulling on the lead - pulling doesn't get you anywhere because the handler stops walking if the dog pulls.  Well-  barking doesn't get you anywhere in the car because if you bark, the handler stops the car.

PS don't try stopping on a motorway though :)

Am sure the barking in the car is excitement, as during our walk other night, someone let a firework off, so he ran back to the car, jumped in the boot and was SILENT all the way home - first time in a year ! So think the only reason he barks is cos he is excited to be going out.

I dont like the idea of stopping everytime he barks, as roads are busy and Im sure he wont ever stop ! Has anyone ever tried a special collar, that lets off puff of air or high pitched tone? do they work ? I really need to try something as he really does drive everyone mad, no-one can have a conversation when he is in the car.
If I stop for petrol, he continues to bark, BUT, when I walk out of sight - he stops ! soon as he see's me return he starts barking again.

Im not exagerrating at just how much he barks and how loud he is ! You would not believe him...and he goes out in the car at least 5 times a day !!!!!

Have you tried restricting his view as they can be excited by passing traffic etc

Anne

We had a similar problem with car travel and after many headaches we established that in order for me to get in the car, drive and more importaint open the tail gate there had to be quite. Its amaizing how fast they twig that wat they want only comes when they are quiet. Just takes a littel time and persistance.

HI,

When dogs have been in the water they usually run around like crazy, roll and playfight with other dogs and basically act like lunatics, particularly when young the main reason for this is to dry themselves off.  I guess as he has no other dog to go crazy with he is trying to entice you to play and help him run and get dry that is why he is biting your ankles.  It is just doggie instincts! If you want to save your ankles either take a tug rope with you for him to grab instead of you, keep him away from water, or walk with another dog walker so that he has another dog to chase and dry off with.

I know its is hard especially with a Beardie but try to turn your back on him if he rushes at you to bite in excitement.  Fold your arms up out of the way and do not make eye contact. If you shout  or push him down or react in any way, you are giving him what he wants attention.  I know you are likely to get two paws planted firmly in the middle of you back so brace yourself. 

He needs to re-learn this every time you go to the beach, because every time you go there he will get carried away.  

There is a show quite near you on Sunday where you will see Beardies.  I have pm'd you with the details.

Hi, thanks for the info about the show, will prob not get to it on Sunday, but would love to go to the next one.
I have tried to turn my back etc, as I was taught that at puppy class !! but he just bites my calves round the back if i turn around. Am going to try and take something to distract him with, like tug rope.

I know this sounds a bit gross but put some Tabasco sauce on the back of your jeans.  Most of them hate the smell and taste of it and soon give up grabbing your legs, and hands for that matter.  I only have to show my boy the bottle and he looks away.