Apologies in advance if this is long.
We are fostering with a view to adopting a Border Collie girl from a BC rescue. Several decades experience with the breed, but not had a rescue collie before.
She is five and spent her first four and a half years on a farm in kennels, and was bred from. It seems she never had any proper socialising. She was then rehomed to an older doggy couple who made great progress- training her to walk on a lead, all basic commands, introducing her gradually to new things etc etc. She is the most lovely dog in the house - very affectionate and very well mannered. Loves people.
Her one issue is she will bark and lunge at dogs (and cats) . It is anxiety rather than aggression. She seems fine if they are stationary but lunges when they move, and goes into hyper vigilance mode.She was ok at vets in waiting room for example, but not if she sees a dog on the street. She has also chased my cats ( an accidental meeting) - I am keeping them in separate parts of the house now with a plug in feliway diffuser.
We have been reassuring but firm, but it is very very stressful. Today has been especially bad and she has also been barking at random noises from outside, which she didn't before. Suggestions that we get her to meet a well behaved dog somewhere neutral might help her.
I know it's early days, and to expect some behaviour regression but tonight I feel exhausted and despairing.
Does anyone have any advice?
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The doghouse
Rescue dog barking and lunging
24 replies
Grinchly · 04/04/2019 19:18
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