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The doghouse

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Original poster

Please could somebody help with my rescue Collie

21 replies

dreamingon · 15/04/2014 13:15

We adopted a border collie about 9 weeks ago.

We were told he was about three (we have since been told he is probably younger) and he was a stray found in Ireland, probably never been in a house.

He is destructive and totally unhousetrained which we are working on and have had some small improvement which is fine at least some progress.

Lately though he seems to have an obsession with me. He is wary of daughter's boyfriend, behaves with my mum and is not too bad with my daughter but me as soon as we are alone he gets a weird look in his eyes and he is off.

He is in and out of kitchen stealing anything from work surfaces (unfortunately we cannot contain him as all downstairs is open plan), he has destroyed a fire, eaten a chair arm and lots of others.

He now keeps bounding on me on the settee and taking my arm in his mouth. I am sure he means no harm as he would have hurt by now I think if he wanted to but I am not sure how to deal with this.

Daft as it sounds people keep saying it is like he is showing off and is "a little bit in love", I realise this sounds ridiculous and I am not really totally unbalanced.

this is making my life hell now as I am getting scared of being alone with him which I cannot be as I am alone three to four nights per week.

Sorry I realise this is a long post but if anybody could give me any suggestions I would be most grateful as I am desperate

Thank you

OP posts:

Owllady · 15/04/2014 13:20

Did the rescue give you any indication of how to help him settle?
Could he be crate trained for example?
Have you got a training class you can go to?

My first dog was a stray and was quite feral when we got her, which it sounds this is similar. You need to teach him acceptable manners and how to behave, he won't just get it as no one has ever told him before :)

Have you got the Gwen Bailey books? I would start from the very beginning

Ephedra · 15/04/2014 13:33

A high sided puppy pen will also contain him if he doesn't like a crate (you can get covers to stop dogs jumping out).

Every time he put his mouth on you yelp as if it hurt, no matter how gentle he is. Make sure you do it every single time.

Original poster

dreamingon · 15/04/2014 13:34

Thank you I will try the books.

Rescue were disappointing as dog is scared of men and behaviourist was male, he said he had not had much progress with him as he was so scared. I did phone them once as I had a question but it took them six days to reply by which time I had found the answer.

He is adorable and there is no way I am giving up on him but really need help to make sure I am doing things right and not making him worse.

We tried dog training but it was still being held inside and he got too distracted by the other dogs so I felt we were hindering them. We still use their methods and I am hoping to get back after Easter when they move outside (if can get him in car as that is the other thing we have issues with).

Sombody also lent me a crate to try but it was far too small he would not have even been able to stand up or lay straight out and he totally went beserck when he saw it, guess it had memories of being in kennels for three months.

thank you for replying

OP posts:

Original poster

dreamingon · 15/04/2014 13:35

thank you Ephedra will try the yelping and look at pen

OP posts:

Ephedra · 15/04/2014 13:36

Also a dog doing something can't destroy the house. Mind games, treat balls, training and thing that makes him think will tire him out.

You could also use a house lead so he is always with you and you always know what he is doing.

Owllady · 15/04/2014 13:38

I think a lot of collies are distracted at training class, I am sure it can't just be mine

With the car, lots of praise when he gets in. Mine was brought over from Ireland too and is often nervous of the car and I am sure it's because she gets frightened that she doesn't know where she is going again (collies tend to overthink things)

Ephedra · 15/04/2014 13:43

My collie is a disgrace at dog training classes!

Dreamingon if your dog doesn't like the crate a pen may not work either. If he is ok on a lead keep it on and attach it to you. It will keep him out of trouble and allow you to train his manners consistantly.

Original poster

dreamingon · 15/04/2014 13:45

That's what I think with the car, he thinks he is going back I think. We have managed it a couple of times with my daughter and boyfriend taking him. However, I tried Saturday and failed miserably.

He has lots of toys but does not seem to know how to play. cloth ones and soft balls he destroys in seconds. He likes to chew so we have brought hard rubber balls and bones, etc. Keep going into the garden with him trying to teach fetch, etc and distract him, for example when he grabs a stone from the fire I say no, take the stone and swap with a toy he can have

OP posts:

Original poster

dreamingon · 15/04/2014 13:47

What is it with collies and being naughty !!

Have you both got rescue collies? Please tell me there is light at the end of the tunnel

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Ephedra · 15/04/2014 13:50

Here is a list of videos by kikopup, some might be useful (I have had success with her methods). The videos cover everything from training to helping a dog get over a fear of something.

Ephedra · 15/04/2014 13:55

I got my collie at 11 weeks after his previous owners no longer wanted him

He was a total pain when we got him, smart as hell but reactive to many different things. We have been though a lot as he has lots of health issues too but we do ok. He is 5 now and only reacts to dogs on lead now and even that is getting better.

Ephedra · 15/04/2014 13:59

Oh and the collie we had before that was a rescue too. we got him when he was 2 and he was a mess. He chased cars, bikes and people. He had no training whatsoever. It took us 6 months to train him and he was amazingly obedient and we managed to get the chasing under contol too but not stopped.

Original poster

dreamingon · 15/04/2014 14:03

Thank you both so much for taking the time to post, I am work at the moment so cannot look at video links but will check out tonight

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Owllady · 15/04/2014 14:08

My mum used to have rescue collies when we growing up
All mine as an adult gave been rescue. One was 2, one was 5 months, this one was 7 months. They have all had their own set of problems unfortunately but they really are worth it and they live a long time, so what you put it you do get back in spades. I really miss the two I have lost but with both I went through training bad habits out and teaching manners. The stray was particularly difficult though, I must admit (she hated men too :() but she was a lovely loyal family dog, she just needed a bit if time and effort

Kleptronic · 15/04/2014 14:38

I'm at work so can't post much but I got a teen collie 'free to good home' and he was all over the place. Hang in there. Yes to the yelping, you could also try then folding your arms and turn your head away from him, ignore ignore ignore 'til he backs off. Then get his focus on something else (kong squeaker - indestructible) before he runs off to destroy something!

Original poster

dreamingon · 15/04/2014 15:22

Thank you so much, I felt very upset and despondent this morning but now feel that there are other things I can try and hearing your stories has really helped, thank you

OP posts:

Kleptronic · 15/04/2014 15:52

Aw I hear you. It's only been 2 months. Mine took a good year to settle. Collies were bred to fix on one person too, so what he's doing is natural for him, finding his own entertainment, fixating on you. Back to basics for him! Sounds like he needs to learn everything; manners, how to play, what's his and what's not, socialisation with humans, etc. it's daunting but he'll get there. Bless you for taking him on x

Original poster

dreamingon · 15/04/2014 16:11

Where would you all start with the back to basics so as not to confuse him or bombard him with too much too soon. He is excellent at "sit" ? (also seems to understand "oy out of the kitchen")

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Ephedra · 15/04/2014 16:19

Food manners first and toilet training.

Original poster

dreamingon · 16/04/2014 08:37

Well last night I did not have the teeth but when he jumped onto me on the settee I turned my head and folded my arms and he jumped straight down so thank you. Just having that one postiive result has given me fresh hope.

We have booked for a behaviourist with an excellent reputation to come next Thursday as I am a bit out of my depth and do not want to be doing things which make him worse and in the meantime we are looking at going back to basics and will start with the food and toilet as advised so any more tips on these would be much appreciated.

Again, thank you

OP posts:

Kleptronic · 16/04/2014 08:57

That's great dreaming, glad you had a result! They are so bright, he will catch on with consistency. Brilliant that you're getting some help, keep us posted, we might get some tips too!

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