ferguson_tom Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 Hello Took my 7 month old collie out yesterday and every time he saw someone he just legged it towards them and tried jumping at them. He was only being playfull but obviously I cant have him doing this. He has done it before but only to other dog owners because they fuss him when he sees their dog but yesterday he just bolted it even if the people where 200yards away with no dog. I know the obvious answer is more training etc... but he does not jump up at me any more and comes when I call him when there is no one else about. He will get better I am sure with more training but in the meantime without keeping him on the lead all the time is their anything I can do to at least try and prevent it happening. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulpicide Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 Collies love rounding up sheep people cars kids etc its a breed trait I have no experience with sheepdugs just terriers and labs but it helps if you get a dog to suit your purpose if its just a familly pet a border terrier king charles etc are fine collies need a lot of excersise and stimulation to keep their mind focused probably a dog training club or breed club would point you in the right direction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted August 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 Thanks for the response he is the family pet however I am going to try using him for shooting and also train him in obedience and agility (didnt have a shotgun when we bought him). He is getting plenty of exercise as we take him out for a walk every morning and evening and in between we do the training in the garden etc. We are part of a club who are helping a lot with him and he is getting better as the weeks progress and also enjoying it. So i dont think the stimulation and exercise is the problem thats causing him to bolt like this, as you say though maybe just his natural instinct to round things. Funny you mention rounding up cars he has only just stopped trying to chase after every car that drives past. Reason we got a collie is because we didn't want a lapdog but also wanted something that was smart, could go all day when we are out and about with him and also be quite calm. When i take him out I normally run with him so could this be the problem he is getting bored with running? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom&Dexter Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 If he were mine, whatever breed it would not be off the lead or given the opportunity to do this until advice off someone who could see the dog and yourself handling it to give you some advice I would lay odds on he has been allowed to do it from a pup and at 6-7 month its just escalating with age don't be fooled in thinking it will get better as he ages if left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenBhoy Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 agree that it wont get better on it's own. in the past when he has jumped at you or family, what reaction has he got, fuss? played with? does he do it when people come to your house? one thing to try, and i'm sure you have or at least been told it, but get someone to come round and if he jumps they just turn back on him (gurantee he'll jump at their front) and dont say a word to him, no telling off or anything. if he moves round to their front then they turn again but slowly and silently. eventaully he'll calm just a little, soon as he does praise but not overly excitedly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted August 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 (edited) Well that is the problem i think all my family are dog lovers and because he is a puppy always fussed him when he run up them, I have now started to ask them and everyone who comes in to ignore him if he jumps up as that's what i done and he does not jump at me now. Thanks for the advice guys I will pretty much carry on with what I have started to do but keep him on the lead a lot more I think and wont leave anything to chance. I know no problems like this get better with age just get worse which is why all these things im trying to now sort out. I just wanted to make sure i wasn't missing anything in the training. Edited August 25, 2011 by ferguson_tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 Stop him, keep him on a lead if nessasary. It will seriously freak a dog phobe person out or maybee a kid. If he runs off and wont recall or stop en route he aint trained yet so just stop letting it happen keep it at heel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForeignGadger Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 You could take him to one side and explain how cheap ONE 12g cartridge might be if you had to use it on him. Seriously though, on our shoot, we have all sorts of dogs that seem to take to beating and retrieving: (including terriers, lurchers, etc.), but I have NEVER seen a sheepdog used in shooting. I would drop the idea if I were you. That's like using a formula one car to get to the top of Snowdon.Not fit for purpose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 If it was mine I'd have it on a long training leash. You can let it have a good sniff around around but also stop it while commanding it and prevent the jumping up/scaring people. As said though, there's plenty more training there to be done and a lot of your battle will be getting the whole family to be consistent. It's no good you teaching it good habits for the wife/kids to then reinforce the old bad ones. Yo al need to be maintaining the same regime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 If it was mine I'd have it on a long training leash. You can let it have a good sniff around around but also stop it while commanding it and prevent the jumping up/scaring people. As said though, there's plenty more training there to be done and a lot of your battle will be getting the whole family to be consistent. It's no good you teaching it good habits for the wife/kids to then reinforce the old bad ones. Yo al need to be maintaining the same regime. Agree with this, definately worth trying a long leash, a 10/20 mtrs line will give you plenty of time to correct the dog if it's unresponsive. He should learn quickly to respond if he's brought up sharp a few times, in yours and his best interests too, good luck. My GSP used to think that every man, woman, child, dog, cat, whatever was there to be friendly with or to torment but a trailing lead and 'no' instilled over a period of time means she now only 'greets' people or dogs when she's allowed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 He has done it before but only to other dog owners because they fuss him when he sees their dog but yesterday he just bolted it even if the people where 200yards away with no dog. Reason it out for yourself. He jumps up at you when you're out, you pay no attention. He runs off to see another dog, jumps up on the owner and the owner rewards him with praise and attention. Is it any great surprise this then progresses to him running off to people? He's a 7 month old smart dog, start channeling his brain into some training where you reward him for his reaction to something you have asked him to do. At the moment he is having more fun running away from you than he is having with you, redress the balance, and manage the environment you do it in (minimum distractions). He may be the family pet but put the time in now and your family will have a much loved pet for years to come, allow him to become a pain in the *** and he will be that all his life. Best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwen3513 Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 I'd agree, restrict his off lead time, this should always be earned and not a right, when you do let him off lead make sure he interacts with you, a game of ball, a retrieve, a swim, a play of catch me hide and seek, do this in short sessions during your walk and then pop lead back on, move to another area then play time again. if he has heeled and done some sits, stays or worked for you this will be his reward playtime with you and the family. playing catch me and running away changing direction with a 'this way' is all fun jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted August 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 (edited) Cheers everyone, just bought a longer retractable lead for him so he will stay on that when on walks now all the time. Maybe bit of owner training as well as dog training is needed then. As for giving up on the idea of having him as a gun dog he does retrieve well and is not scared of loud noises, some others have said to give it a try as have seen good results with them so cant hurt to try him out. Edited August 31, 2011 by ferguson_tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mart46 Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 I found that out Border Terrier did the same. It all stopped after I took her to a busy shopping street a couple of times. She just got bored, and now just ignores people. Dogs though, are another subject... :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 Cheers everyone, just bought a longer retractable lead for him so he will stay on that when on walks now all the time. Maybe bit of owner training as well as dog training is needed then. As for giving up on the idea of having him as a gun dog he does retrieve well and is not scared of loud noises, some others have said to give it a try as have seen good results with them so cant hurt to try him out. A guy in our wildfowling is on his second border as his gun dog so it can be done and he swears by his. Reference the lead, you might be better with a 'trailing lead' (just a basic lightweight webbing type...you can buy them in 10 mtr lengths) left on the ground 'trailing' which can be stood on and will pull him up much quicker than a retractable type, you have to be careful not to tread on it with all your weight if he's going away at full pelt though as you could damage his neck, done right it works really well, good luck. Also, with a retractable lead he'll always feel resistance whereas if the lead trails he won't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigger Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 (edited) They are very clever dogs thats for sure, dont give up on the idea of training it for shooting you have nothing to lose but an enjoyable bit of time i can see no reason why any type of working dog could not be trainined to retrieve game good luck.... Also i would as has been said keep him on the lead until you are out of the way a bit of training then on the lead and longline also i would if he is confident enough take him to the shopping center keep him in close try to avoid people coming up to him etc and im sure he will soon get bored of trying to run after people jump up etc etc also have a look at some videos on youtube there are a few good ones that should help with things like that im sure :good: Edited August 31, 2011 by tigger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenBhoy Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 sorry to be bad bearer but i'd ditch that retractable lead right now. they are a menace, a danger to your dog and give you no control until the dog runs to the end of it, whereupon he rips your arms from socket and injurs his own neck/throat. as has been said get a proper training lead, 10m available but the common 5m ones be enough, the dog doesnt have to be 10m away to know he 'off lead' and should behave as you want no matter what distance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigger Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 sorry to be bad bearer but i'd ditch that retractable lead right now. they are a menace, a danger to your dog and give you no control until the dog runs to the end of it, whereupon he rips your arms from socket and injurs his own neck/throat. as has been said get a proper training lead, 10m available but the common 5m ones be enough, the dog doesnt have to be 10m away to know he 'off lead' and should behave as you want no matter what distance. Could not agree more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djgeoff Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 They are very clever dogs thats for sure, dont give up on the idea of training it for shooting you have nothing to lose but an enjoyable bit of time i can see no reason why any type of working dog could not be trainined to retrieve game good luck.... Also i would as has been said keep him on the lead until you are out of the way a bit of training then on the lead and longline also i would if he is confident enough take him to the shopping center keep him in close try to avoid people coming up to him etc and im sure he will soon get bored of trying to run after people jump up etc etc also have a look at some videos on youtube there are a few good ones that should help with things like that im sure :good: I know this is not the answer you probably require but our fuss pot, home owner (pet) cross boarder does what someone else has already said, she loves to what me and the other half call rounding up. we know its all probably wrong but we think its quite funny at times,our dog will keep close to us both and if there is a slight gap between me and the other half she will circle us, just as though she wants us together. she also goes to other people if they come close, for example to chat, she will want a fuss, she expects everyone to fuss her, and not everyone likes dogs, but when we stop her by command she will stop. but she has this habit of sticking her nose where its not polite and can be quite embarrassing, but from the dogs point of view i suppose it gets the reaction she wants from that person .. attention. It does not help when you are out and you get the usual 'ah she's lovely' followed by the fuss . What i found that kept her attention even when other dogs were about is a ball, total control when she has this. Our dog i would love take with me shooting but every animal out there to her seems a play thing ( or that's what it appears to look like). I don't know what she would do with a load of sheep,also she was frightened at a young age by toe rag with a banger. so now she is just a big softy who is the driver of my car..... taken this morning while i cleaned up shooting gear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted August 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 Okay retractable lead ill take back to the shop tonight and get the training lead. He is fine with crowds in fact we took him out when he was only bout 12 weeks old in Bath town centre when on holiday and he handled it great, saying that though he has not been out like that for a few months as we live in a small village so will start that with him. The instinct does kick in sometimes with him as you say about the rounding up, when running with him I have had a couple of nips on the back of the legs, shortly followed by a rather disgruntled dog when I remind him who is boss (i am not talking bout hitting him before anyone gets the wrong idea). Like the picture by the way. A few years ago we were roading our old steam roller with the landrover on tow on an A-Frame. When we pulled over we had a very angry lady pull over and start to rant how she is going to report us to the RSPCA, said how cruel we were to do what we did to the dog etc and after a short time we asked what she was actually going on about.......making your dog steer the landrover for all those miles. Turned out the dog was sitting on the drivers seat with her paws resting on the steering wheel, needless to say once pointed out the landrover steers it self via the a frame, the rather more red faced lady got back in her car a drove off without another word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigger Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 Okay retractable lead ill take back to the shop tonight and get the training lead. He is fine with crowds in fact we took him out when he was only bout 12 weeks old in Bath town centre when on holiday and he handled it great, saying that though he has not been out like that for a few months as we live in a small village so will start that with him. The instinct does kick in sometimes with him as you say about the rounding up, when running with him I have had a couple of nips on the back of the legs, shortly followed by a rather disgruntled dog when I remind him who is boss (i am not talking bout hitting him before anyone gets the wrong idea). Like the picture by the way. A few years ago we were roading our old steam roller with the landrover on tow on an A-Frame. When we pulled over we had a very angry lady pull over and start to rant how she is going to report us to the RSPCA, said how cruel we were to do what we did to the dog etc and after a short time we asked what she was actually going on about.......making your dog steer the landrover for all those miles. Turned out the dog was sitting on the drivers seat with her paws resting on the steering wheel, needless to say once pointed out the landrover steers it self via the a frame, the rather more red faced lady got back in her car a drove off without another word. Haha :lol: thats a cracking story bloody women they do make me laugh sometimes..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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