Bolts after other dogs & other small problems

[Feral07]

Hi Guys,

 

I'm new here, I have a border collie who is 18months (Mostly black) and called Riley, and a border cross with a cocker she's 8 years old called Tess.

 

Riley was a rescue dog I got him when he was 7months old, Training wise brilliant, within two days he was house broken apparently that was one of the reasons they handed him in, and boy did they abuse him and shout at him.

 

If you shout he runs and hides below our bed and shakes, It could be shouting my husband for his dinner or there is a phone call. We don't argue

 

He's scared stiff of black bags the one's that fit in your bin, he runs into a corner

 

If he See's you putting boots on he wets the floor in fear.

 

The biggest one is when outside on a walk or just in general he will bolt across the road to another dog to play with it, the road I live on is very quiet but all it takes is one car, He'll do anything if there isn't a dog sit stay down but add a dog, bang you can shout till you loose your voice nope he won't stop. If by accident my front door was left open that's what would happen ,,,,How do I stop this.

 

Another thing is when he's between a walk and a full run he hops taking his back left paw off the ground, but a full speed run he doesn't. Tess doesn't do this, is this a collie thing?

 

He's a dog that wants to please you all the time, and has so much character that he's a joy to live with.

 

Thank you for your time

 

Lynn Tess & Riley

[waffles]

He's scared stiff of black bags the one's that fit in your bin, he runs into a corner

 

 

If he See's you putting boots on he wets the floor in fear.

 

 

I only have a minute to respond but with these two issues you can easily start desensitizing him today. Take the box out that the bags are stored in-toss super yummy smelly treats towards him and away from you and the box. Repeat this until he is looking more confident (might be after a few treat tosses or might be after several days of working on this in small 2 minute sessions). Then pull the bag out slightly from the box, toss treats. Then pull the bag out more, toss treats to him. Then take the bag full out and hold it up, toss treats. Get where I am going? Just break the process of taking the bag out and opening it into the tiniest steps while giving him something pleasant (super delicious hot dog pieces, smelly moist dog treats ect). Eventually you can get him running to you for a treat when you change the garbage! I did this when my dog was afraid of our bathroom in our old place after bathing him. Every time I would start the shower for myself he would come running all excited expecting a treat!

The same goes for the boots. Walk towards the boots, toss treats towards him and away from you. Build this up until you are putting one hand on the boot, then putting one boot on one foot, then both, ect. Go slow and take your time. It might be days or longer before you can put both boots on. If he gets too scared just stop and walk away from the training session.

 

He is adorable by the way! You will get great advice from the others on this board!

[Sue R]

I only have a moment but with regards to bolting - put him on a lead and keep him on a lead since he does not respond to your calling him back. Don't let him bolt in the first place by not allowing him to be loose outside - or even loose when you go to open the door. Prevention and management are the key until and unless you can train him to not do this.

 

An irregular gait is not a "border collie thing". I am no expert but if he walks soundly but has problems when trotting or moving faster, I'd wonder if there is something wrong - maybe an old injury? As for running soundly, many of these dogs will simply ignore the pain when they are focused and you won't be able to see that there is something amiss. It might make sense to talk to your vet about this and have him examined or, maybe better yet, (if you can) have him seen by an orthopedist (bone and joint specialist) to see if you can find out what might be wrong.

 

Sometimes, too, a dog cane exhibit something that is a muscle memory - for instance, an injury resulted in him using a limb a certain way or favoring it. While it might be healed, he still may favor the limb out of habit or fear of potential pain.

Does he urinate at other inappropriate times than when someone is putting on boots? Could this be excitement because it means a trip outside? Could it be that in his previous home, putting on boots meant something bad was going to happen? Eleven months will you is a long time for a dog to still be terrified of something that has not resulted in anything bad happening to him in your house so I wonder.

[GentleLake]

I've only got a minute, to. LOL

 

With the bolting he needs to learn impulse control. Will he do a sit- or a down-stay? If not, please teach him that first. Then use this in all kinds of situations. Sit or down for a treat, for his dinner, etc., until you give him the release word. I use "an upbeat "OK", but it can be anything you want it to be.

 

You can then use this at the door as well, asking him to stay until you give him the go ahead (or not!) to go out the door. If you use this at the door when you're leaving, you'll want to teach a wait as opposed to a stay, meaning that the dog doesn't have to not move at all after you've left, but just not bolt out the door. That comes after stay is solid, though.

 

I used to have a bolter, so I understand your concerns. It can be annoying at best and dangerous at worst. But it's something you can work with.

 

Good luck.

[Sekah]

Another thing is when he's between a walk and a full run he hops taking his back left paw off the ground, but a full speed run he doesn't. Tess doesn't do this, is this a collie thing?

 

It sounds like the dog may be in some degree of discomfort. I see a lot of dogs do this who suffer from luxating patellas or hip issues. Have you had the dog checked for soundness?

[rufftie]

i'm not so sure the hop is anything to worry about. my young male sometimes has a weird step hop thing going on. his walk is fine, his run is fine, all is good. sometimes tho, his legs are just too long, his feet too big and he has a wee hop. I think he's a goober and runs like a dog in a cartoon! I've checked with his vet and his breeder and he just hops sometimes. I find it adorkable.