I need to rehome don't I.....

[letsallcountsheep]

I have a 7 month old Collie cross. She is lovely, well trained and full of energy.

She came into season about 3 weeks ago, the temperament has changed a little, she's become a little possessive over me and food

2 incidents worry me, when my daughter and I were stroking her my daughter leaned in to give her a peck on the cheek and she nipped her nose, she sometimes gets over excited giving kisses but it scared me enough to pull her away and smack on her nose to stop her. The second happened this morning, I was making my dogs lick mat, I was walking to the freezer to set it and my cat(12) walked across my path, my dog snapped and went for her, she didn't actually get my cat as she ran away. I locked my dog in the kitchen while I checked my cat.

I have a dog walker while I work part time in an office. So she's not home alone all day, she says both incidents are completely out of character and could be because she is in season but I don't think I can relax with her now.

I mentioned we might have to rehome her to my daughter and she was heartbroken as am I, I tried to explain it to her but she's SN and 7 loves our puppy to bits. 😢

WWYD rehome now or see how she is after her season has finished. I will be getting her spayed so no more seasons after this

Firstly I would have her spayed, then I would tell child not to kiss the dog. Pets aren't cuddly toys, they are individuals, living beings, many don't like being kissed etc. Many put up with it, but really don't want it. Treat the dog like a living being first. I mean would you like to be kissed constantly?

A tap on the nose is a training tool. She is trained. Myself and the dog walker agreed on her training methods to suit her breed.

I am not new to dogs, I had my last for 16 years before his back legs went and the one before that 15 years she was a lot smaller and was spayed before we got her. Both dogs were happy.

You can't spay until 12 weeks after their first season, which I can't book in yet as she hasn't finished.

She adores my child and they always give each other kisses and hugs. I have told her to stop for now.

I discussed the rehoming as to prepare my daughter in case this happens as a last resort.

WOW I was simply posting to see if I was over/under reacting to the situation.

I think you need to consider the long term here to be fair to the dog as well.

Do you have the time and resources for a collie cross?

They need a lot of walking and stimulation. Collies are a clever breed that need mental stimulation or you will get unwanted behaviour.

How did you come to the decision on a collie? And are you happy this is the right fit?

If the multiple hours of exercise etc are no problem to you then these issues don't seem insurmountable though changes in everyone's behaviour are needed. But be honest with yourself as to whether this is the start of things which perhaps indicate the dog isn't going to be happy in the environment you have once it's no longer a puppy.

This ^

I'm sorry but you're disgusting.

Smacking a dog is NOT a training tool.

It's animal abuse and tou should be reported if you're planning on continuing to hit this dog.

Not wonder it bites :(

This. In the kindest of ways OP this one was entirely on you.

You need to teach your 7yo to respect your dog's boundaries (whether in season or not). The puppy nipping at her was it's only way of communicating "I don't like this, give me space". And what it's learnt is if it communicates that it needs space it gets smacked in the face. It's never ok to hit a dog and counterproductively makes them more likely to bite/ reactive aggressively in future.

Dear god, you actually believe smacking a dog is a training tool? This is every type of wrong, poor dog.

Dogs copy our behaviour, so if you smack, expect her to snap at people. There's a reason so many dogs suddenly turned on their owners in previous decades when punitive training methods were used.

My dog is incredibly placid and chill, gentle hands always, but I'd never allow a child in his face.

Are you doing training/socialisation classes with your puppy? Perhaps specialising in collie behaviour? They're not the easiest breed.

I don't think you need to re home her just yet, you need to spay her before her next season and see how things go.

If there's any more aggression towards your daughter then you think about rehoming, but your daughter does need to be taught about respecting the dog's boundaries.

With the cat situation I have a collie and a cat, they often playfight and the dog does growl if the cat is near his food when he's eating. He's also occasionally chased her. But it's never aggressive in that I think he'd actually hurt her, they like eachother and curl up together on the sofa or in the dog's bed, and the cat is definitely not scared of the dog and knows she is the boss (which is true).

I think you should consider rehoming - in everyone’s interests. It sounds like Your dd is going to find it hard to learn how to play appropriately with the dog through no fault of her own (rolling around on the floor isn’t a good idea). You don’t sound like an experienced enough dog owner to take on a breed like a collie. Collies aren’t really cuddly, quiet lap dogs suited for indoor / town life, it wasn’t a good choice of breed for you - they are working dogs, so your dog will probably be happier somewhere else too.

I agree with the internet dog people, mainly, in their practical ideas, but why are they always the sort who are so delighted to have an opportunity to scold and scorn?

It's usually the same with internet horse people. Hardly any of them are very nice!

It really saddened me to read that you and the dog walker agree that smacking is the appropriate training tool. In terms of behaviour, yes, punishment is one form of responding to an undesirable behaviour. And it can work. Through fear and intimidation. But to put it starkly, if someone "smacked" (your words, which you then changed to "tapped" after the negative chorus) you every time you tried to assert your physical boundaries, how would you feel? As it's likely how your dog feels.

Yes, my thoughts too. Everyone piling on the judgement and hate with little support. For a start if someone comes on looking for advice on their dog or child or whatever, this shows they do care and are broad minded enough to want to hear others opinions.

I have a 7 month old collie and I have told my children they are to never, ever kiss him, especially on the face! Dogs aren't humans, they don't understand what a peck on the cheek means and can find it threatening.
She's still so young and clearly going through some hormonal changes. She doesn't sound like an aggressive dog from what you've written, but she may be better off with a more understanding family.

Smacking/tapping is not a training tool.

If you can commit to finding a reputable trainer who has the skill
and knowledge to educate you in the behaviours of a collie, and if you can be consistent with clearly telling your child not to kiss/hug the dog then there is no need to rehome at the moment.

However, your instinctive reflexes, such as locking the dog away when they have not done anything wrong but behaved accordingly to the situation will need to stop.

Hitting a dog on the nose (an incredibly sensitive area) is not a training tool and any dog walker who thought so would not get within 6 feet of my dog.
If you really believe that and plan to continue doing it then you should rehome for everyones sake

I’d be wondering how often the DogWalker smacks the dog in the face as a Training Aid when she’s in her care.

Has your DogWalker walked her when she’s in season.

And yes your daughter needs to be out of the dogs face. Animals don’t see the same as humans . It’s like horses can see to the side and behind them but not so god head on which is why they don’t like a random hand on the face.

A tap on the nose is not a smack, if you want a dog to stop what it is doing you tap on the nose. I wouldn't ever go further than that.

I work 5 hours a day, I take her for a walk before I leave for work, the dog walker comes a couple of hours later takes her for out for at least an hour with her pack so she can socialise with the other dogs, then once I am home from work she goes out again for at least an hour, off lead when not in season so she can explore and get the stimulation she needs. We go for woodland walks as she is still unsure about cars/traffic, which we are working on slowly.

Thanks for the few(or maybe 1) reassuring posts

The affection given between my dog and child is normally fine but as this is her FIRST season we are learning what she wants, she does get her space, we let her come to us and acknowledge when she wants her space.

Locking her away sounds awful, there is a dog gate on the kitchen which is normally only used when I am cooking as she tends to come and lie behind my feet. It swung shut in this instance as my cat banged into it when running away.

Locking away is not a regular thing, I was just posting to see if anyone else had experience with in season dogs and could share some advice not to get flamed otherwise I would have posted on AIBU

Yes you need to rehome your dog. She deserves a family where her boundaries will be respected and she will get positive reinforcement training. You're not the right fit for her at all.

Sweet jesus its so not !!!!!!! A DOG WALKER IS NOT A DOG TRAINER GET YOURSELF A PROPER QUALIFIED TRAINER. You have one of the most intelligent breeds in the world that also need lots of exercise and stimulation. If you want to change het her neutered as soon as you can - poor dogs hormones all over the place. Then get a proper trainer to train both you and your dog. If your not willing to do this their home and never ever get a dog again

You asked for advice, you got it but refuse to listen
In my opinion THAT makes you a bad dog owner rather than anything thats gone on up until now

A tap on the nose is not a smack, if you want a dog to stop what it is doing you tap on the nose. I wouldn't ever go further than that.

You don't seem to know what you're doing and are considering Rehoming a puppy, so I'm not sure I'm trusting your advice

What were your other dogs, were they working dogs as this one is?

It needs lots of exercise, scent work, agility etc if possible, highly intelligent needing an experienced handler.

You’ve given up very quickly. Maybe the best thing for you all is to rehome with a specialist charity.

So why did you get a pet that requires alot of exercise and stimulation - that is a working breed when you cant provide their needs. Didn't do your research properly then did you. If i saw a dig walker doing what you said your one does i would take the dog off her and report her

"A tap on the nose is not a smack". You literally described it as a smack in your OP? 🤷🏻‍♀️