Megs Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 Me again Ok, so next question. Chaos and Biscuit insist on fighting with each other at my gate - if there is another dog or person passing, they fight with each other? Why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kajarrel Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 Sounds like "redirected aggression." Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megs Posted September 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 Huh? Can you elaborate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kajarrel Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 Sure, but you'll probably find better descriptions by Googling the term (another common term for this is "redirected aggression"). This happens when a dog encounters a stressor. In this case it's the people or dogs walking by. It can't/doesn't relieve the stress by acting aggressively toward the source of the stress and instead redirects the behavior. In this case, your dogs are redirecting their aggression by "fighting" with one another. ETA: An analogy would be when you have a bad day at work and snap at your family. To follow through on your implicit question - you stop this behavior by dealing with the original source of the aggression. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megs Posted September 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 ohhhhhh, ok. Got it. Seems like I have some highly strung dogs.....the same thing happens when out walking them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kajarrel Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 There have been quite a few threads with a lot of good information over the years about exactly the problems you're describing (barking at the fence, barking at people/dogs when walking). I'd suggest doing a search. The "fighting" just adds another "thing" to the mix that complicates training. I know this may not be possible, but you might consider walking them seperately for a while, while you are dealing with the barking at people and dogs. Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedismom Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 Hello and welcome to the boards! My dog Cadi, will sometimes redirect aggression on Jedi at our front door, if I don't get there soon enough with a "Thank you, that'll do." She's never hurt him and he doesn't fight back. Instead, using his common sense, he now lets her go to the door while he stands out of her range and that seems to help. I have not been able to keep her from reactiing aggressively at the door, but I have been successful in calling her off and that's what I would work on if I were you. Perhaps you can train your dogs to come to you from a distance using a high-pitched whistle. It will carry further than your voice. If you decide to do this, make it highly rewarding for them to come to you. You would need to use a long leash so they don't get the chance to blow off the command. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megs Posted September 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 Thanks, im so glad I found this forum - I have many questions to ask and LOADS to read by the looks of it. Chaos my 1 year old boy is very responsive to whistling. I still however have huge problems with calling him when he is distracted by something - I find it so difficult to get his focus back on me. I know I need to work on this though. He is a very soft but highly strung dog - if that makes sense? He will still at times when my brother comes home and tries to greet Chaos, pee all over himself and on my brother out of fear? I just don't understand it. Im working on him though. I can honestly say that the border collie breed has forever changed my life, my Chaos is like no other and im sure every owner thinks that, hehe. I have ALOT of work to do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tranquilis Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 I still however have huge problems with calling him when he is distracted by something - I find it so difficult to get his focus back on me. I know I need to work on this though.Call his name, and reward him. Do it a lot. Get him looking to you, and most of the behaviors become sooo much easier to teach! Practice recall on the end of a long lead. Get him really sharp at it, then add distractors - small or distant at first, then increasingly distracting as he masters lesser distractions. He is a very soft but highly strung dog - if that makes sense? He will still at times when my brother comes home and tries to greet Chaos, pee all over himself and on my brother out of fear? I just don't understand it. Yup - Makes perfect sense. Submissive peeing and excitement peeing are common. Have you brother ignore Chaos at first when he comes home, and have him NOT greet the dog until Chaos is displaying calm behavior. I make a point of putting my keys in the bowl, walking through the room into the next room, put away the mail, and get a glass of water before greeting my dogs. Gives them time to calm themselves and relax a bit before I add my energy to the social situation. Im working on him though. I can honestly say that the border collie breed has forever changed my life, my Chaos is like no other and im sure every owner thinks that, hehe. Yeah, they'll do that to ya. I have ALOT of work to do Welcome to the breed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megs Posted September 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 haha Thanks, I realise that there is more work to come but im all excited about it. I need to better equip myself before I can better equip my dog in these situations. Will work on the recall - however, see my other post "border collie behaviour" on his walkies problems.....maybe you have other suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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