Younger dog becoming aggressive and dominant

Raksha

Raksha wrote: »

How are you currently dealing with these situations?

OP - can you answer this question for me please?

devildog

I totally agree with CFC that if you are not in control of your dog it will dominate the household. Asserting yourself over your dog is so subtle(nothing heavy handed) and it works!! It may or not may have gone out of fashion(whatever you look at there will always be other experts that rubbish the idea)
The problem does sound like the collie has the problem believing itself to be 'in charge' and the 'decision maker' and that problem does need to be tackled.
Even if you are against any particular trainers 'total techniques' there are bits and pieces that you can use to help diffuse the situation.
I tried so many different things with mine over a number of years but what actually worked was dealing with the 'dominance', I only wish that there wasn't so many wasted years before that!!

MrsTinks

I'd be interested in knowing how much exercise the dogs get every day? These are both high energy and intelligent dogs... I'd say minimal 2x 45 min walks mon to fri and some longer ones at the weekend with braintesting toys when left.
I have a BC cross b!tch and she does NOT tolerate other b!tches... especially ones in season... I don't suppose yours are both entire?

asset2004

Thank you for taking time to reply.
I should also have mentioned the BC is obessed with our cat - she'll sit and stare at her for hours on end and given the choice of a walk or keep watching the cat she'll chose the cat everytime. Even if that cat is outside she'll stare at her, the cat doesn't run it'll just sit on the door step ignoring her.
The domiance doesn't happen all the time but the T is wary of her.
I try to be the top dog by making them both sit for the feeds, making them sit before they are allowed outside after me, but other people in the house let them run out the door so it's quite difficult to maintain any sense of continuity with them.
Both dogs live in the kitchen which is where we all spend most of the time. It's large but we can't move the cage to another part of the kitchen.
Both are given lots of walks, we live in the country so they are always outside with us throughout the day.
However the BC is also beginning to get a bad habit of jumping up and catching the handle of the front door to escape if we are going out for a reason without the dogs. This happens even if someone else is in the kitchen, she takes no notice and it's like she's furious at being left behind.
At the noise of a zip of putting jackets to go outside she has started whinning, we've tried spending time putting just putting coats and jackets on and ih time she has ignored that but she knows when we are going outside and then jumps up at the door to open it.

Raksha

The BC does sound like a dog whose itching to do a 'job' and in the absence of being provided with one by her human, has taken on her own version

tbourner

Do you do anything else with the BC other than walks? Do you do any working games or just plain old behaviour training (sit/stay/come/etc.) with the BC every day?
BCs are VERY intelligent, they get bored easily and just tiring them out with walks isn't enough, they need to occupy their mind. Everyone in this thread is right in different ways, BC is becoming dominant because you're not controlling her actions and not giving her enough stuff to do. You need to be strict and firm but not over the top dominant as some trainers suggest, your body language should be enough to stop a behaviour if you really are 'top dog' in the house.
Do you do proper sep-anx training such as ignoring her for 5 mins before going out and when coming home? As said they are intelligent, 2 or 3 goes of putting your coat on and off and she'll know it's different to when you're going out - our 2 know which pair of shoes we're putting on and whether it means work or walkies!

dragonmonkey

Have you tried correcting her when she is doing this with the Terrier??

tbourner

You also have to remember she's at the age where they become teenagers, so she'll be stroppy and moody, not doing as she's told (or what you thought she'd learnt), deciding she should be in charge as she knows best etc. etc.

dragonmonkey

tbourner wrote: »

You also have to remember she's at the age where they become teenagers, so she'll be stroppy and moody, not doing as she's told (or what you thought she'd learnt), deciding she should be in charge as she knows best etc. etc.

Havin two 2 year old Border Collie Brothers I know exactly what that feels like :rotfl: but being the "pack" leader I just need to give them "the look"

dragonmonkey

In their eyes the "Pack Leader" has the power to banish a member from the pack... What I do is when one off them shows any sign off bullying towards the other one I would intervene straight away and banish them from the room and leave them outside for a few minutes to think. When they come back in they automatically say sorry, they have not been trained to do this it just happens.

For example when she doesn’t allow the Terrier to come in the room, block her actions and invite the Terrier in. If she doesn’t accept that then put her out off the room. Again with the growling, correct her. She will very quickly learn that what you say goes.

I am no expert and can only help with what I have experienced with my two Border Collies. I thought I knew about dogs until I got them

Does she know any commands? If you stare at her who breaks eye contact first you or her? These all can help!