Immediately regretting adopting a reactive rescue dog

[AllTheSingleLadys]

Hi, my partner and I are first-time owners. I have always had a soft spot for border collies (as relatives dogs) so we've adopted an adolescent collie from a rescue who had a history of disliking other dogs, but the rescue observations of him with other dogs were fine and they thought he'd be appropriate for first-time owners.
In the house, he's a sweetheart and settles well so long as we keep him confined to one room (doing the usual first week settling in quiet environment, no visitors etc.)
However, on a few occasions now either when we've been in the back garden or on the grass that's outside our back gate (which is used by local dog walkers), he's been reacting badly to the sight or sound of other dogs, which I understand most collies can be antisocial, but he explodes into biting the (now a chain, previously rope) lead, snarling, growling and it's difficult to drag him away. He's now worked up from this incident last night, but I have taken him into the garden today to do his business, and he wasn't happy to be brought back inside (on the harness and chain lead) so he sat down, refused to budge, bared his teeth, even dropped his favourite ball and again biting the lead and growling, this time very much directed at me with eye contact ather than the lead itself.
I've quickly become rather scared and uneasy about this dog, who it's my responsibility to look after in the daytime (work from home). We have rung the rescue, who came across as a little short with us, just advising us that we haven't let him settle properly if he's already been seeing other dogs, although that is just the set up of our property as it is next to a dog walking area and that is the only place he seems to be able to go to the loo.
I'm physically quite shaken by his reaction just to me and I'm not sure that I have the confidence to work on training. At the same time, I feel rather humiliated by the rescue's tone on us ringing for advice and dread the idea of approaching them now to hand him back, but surely it's better to make this call sooner rather than later? I think the dog has now become highly strung and is now focusing the growling at me holding the lead, rather than the lead and the other dogs, it has only happened once for a brief while and I know they need absolutley ages to settle in, but I now feel uneasy around him and surely that isn't a good sign?
Help gratefully received, thank you.

Reative collies can turn at any minute with out much warning they are so sensitive . Please go back to the rescue ask about some behaviour advice or go to a behaviourist yourself . We had 1 for 10 years and it is stressful to say the least we loved ours but we had to work with him all his life.

Sorry I see you have spoken to the rescue they don't sound great I'd keep at them email if you don't want to speak to them.they are still responsible.

Thank you, I was so excited to get a collie and he seemed on paper a lot easier than most rescue ones (good with cats, children etc.), but now I'm crumbling after only a few days. I think because our house backs out onto a public piece of land, where you get dog walkers throughout the day, having a seemingly dog-reactive/anxious/aggressive dog who hasn't yet got any kind of bond with us seems like an overwhelming barrier as he's even reacting in the garden now.

I do think that as a working dog, they seem to be harder to train. My Dsis has had one from a pup, he's badly trained and will only recognise BIL as 'master'. I don't go near me, as he's bitten me before now, and growls if I'm nearby. And that's without him being a rescue. I personally wouldn't want a lifetime of this. Unless you have access to a dog trainer, and are prepared to invest time and money, I would consider rehoming. There are easier dogs out there. Dsis's rescue greyhound on the other hand is an absolute sweetie.

I think it's best to try and let him settle in maybe don't expose him to the garden as much what age is he ?

Cannot believe the rescue would re home any collie to a novice home let alone a reactive one.

I've had many rescue collies over the years - they are wonderful but need space time knowledgeable owners and a job of some sort - please take back to the rescue ASAP

How long have you had him? Poor dog is still settling in - it can take months, especially if they are sensitive types. Please don’t give up on him, the poor boy is unsettled and nervous. Get a behavioural specialist (I spoke to one who volunteered for the Rescue where I got my boy). Your vet may also have a behaviourist on their books. A rescue dog takes work, and commitment - you don’t just give up at the first signs of trouble. Or you shouldn’t!

Collies are the second most common dog in rescues and ime dreadful first time dogs. I would hedge a bet that you got her from a fb rescue rather than a registered charity.

Normally I much more supportive and would be recommending training etc, but this will be an uphill endless battle and ime without experience of previous dogs I think it is too much.

If he can't toilet without seeing, and reacting to, other dogs then your setup isn't right for him. The earlier you return him the better, for both him and you.

He's from a reputable charity (not an online, Romanian street dog type or similar) and they do brilliant work so I'm not directing anything to them per se. He acted playfully around other dogs in his short period at the rescue, but his previous owners state their main reason for rehoming was he didn't get on with other dogs and they lived in a built-up environment where contact was constant and inevitable. I feel like (with my limited first-time owner knowledge) if he was barking and lunging in a way that was directed at other dogs, that would be one issue. However, with him snarling and biting the lead (and in doing so coming close to your hand) and especially just now with him looking at me and growling at me directly as the source of his unhappiness for trying to get him back into the house before biting the lead, I personally don't feel comfortable taking him out even into the garden again (and the rescue advised to keep him on the lead in the garden to begin with as he acclimatises). I know it's incredibly early doors but I'm not sure we're the best people to get him to where he needs to be.

Personally I think as a first time dog owner let alone a collie, that allowing you to have one that's known as reactive is a little irresponsible of the rescue, and if you're not comfortable then I would look to return him ASAP.
Otherwise, as a matter or priority, I would talk to a behaviourist. Collies are intelligent and learn quickly, so there is no reason he cannot learn desirable behaviours, but if they are ingrained it can be difficult to re-teach.
How are you exercising this collie? And what activities are you giving this dog? They like a task or a puzzle. I ask because collies are known for their hyperactivity and need for Something to Do (although you perhaps wouldn't think this with mine laid on my feet right now, but you understand this is so that she can be up and ready for action at the slightest hint of Something Happening or me moving).

We've not managed to train ours to not be reactive to many things, but I can now walk along a pavement without her lurching after any car/van/bicycle. I can also tell her to go on her bed when someone comes to the door, she will but she then gets off her bed to bark out of the window, it's better than her trying to get out of the front door and launch at the caller....
She plays a great game of football, she can dribble the ball back to be kicked again (I swear she laughs at next door: he kicks the ball, their dog runs after it, then stops by the ball and goes for a mooch next door walks to the ball, kicks it again and repeat). We have various toys in the house and garden, so I might throw a tennis ball into a cardboard box and she works out how to get it out (by tipping it over) and then she brings the ball back, but also earns a very small treat which has now commuted to just being the fact the treat is I'll throw it again if she can pick up the box so it's upright again (on a command) , so I can throw it again.

I'm very disappointed to read that, I guess funding issues have led to dropping of adoption standards.

Sadly it's a well know issue that a reactive dog (which they knew as previous owner told them) will become so overloaded when in the presence of several dogs or a unusual situation, basically they are so scared they shut down and can't react. By being with you, and feeling safer with you, they can cope with the fear from the other dogs and then react.

A reactive collie is pretty much the hardest dog to deal with and you will never make any progress as a 1st time dog owner. It couldn't be less suitable for you. Poor dog and poor you. Perseverance on its own won't work I'm afraid. It will take months of specialist handling, plus medication probably. You should never have been allowed to have this dog.

Are you sure she's aggressive to other dogs or just overly keen to play with them? My dog barks and lunges at dogs if he'd on a lead, but actually just sniffs (and gets chased by) them if off lead.

Go straight back with him. Today. It's a disastrous placement for several reasons, not least the situation of your garden.
Very irresponsible organisation to send that animal to you. They won't be happy to hear from you, but tough luck.

In the nicest possible way you don't sound experienced enough to be dealing with this dog. You need to either hand him back to the rescue (who shouldn't have rehomed him with you anyway) or spend some serious time with a reputable trainer to help you with him. I have border collies and his behaviour could easily escalate so you need to agree a good course of action asap. Sorry that you have ended up in this situation.

@Germolenequeen

Cannot believe the rescue would re home any collie to a novice home let alone a reactive one.

I've had many rescue collies over the years - they are wonderful but need space time knowledgeable owners and a job of some sort - please take back to the rescue ASAP

Exactly That Rescue are completely irresponsible and hopefully they will take the dog back and find it a more suitable home. Not entirely your fault OP but do some breed research before trying again

I'd agree that it sounds like your setup is wrong for him if you are right next to green space that is regularly used by other dogs. Lots of dogs get grumbly and unhappy about other dogs near their homes...they might tolerate one or two dogs that they get to know from other gardens but would struggle with multiple unknown dogs right next to their space at any time.

I think it's very hard (but not impossible) when you're nervous and anxious around a dog to recover from that - it kind of sets a tone for the relationship dynamic and the dog can feel entitled to show teeth, growl. He's likely stressed by the presence of the other dogs and then redirecting focus to you. So I wouldn't blame you for wanting to take him back. (And I would probably encourage you to)

If you are continuing working with him I would get a very long lead (you get 5m/10m long leads) so that you can hold the end of it rather than getting too close to him. Some dogs have these attached most of the time in the house and out so they can be controlled more easily (but be careful and keep an eye on him as they (very rarely) could get wrapped around something or caught on something.

I wouldn't make eye contact with him when he is baring teeth, he will interpret that as a confrontation.

It does sound like you are not the right fit for this dog and should return him , from what you’ve described it seems he would be more suited to an experienced home in a quiet , more rural location . Is your garden not secure as I can’t understand why they said to take him in the garden on a lead for toileting

Call the rescue and get them to collect him. You cannot train a dog you're frightened of and they should be giving you much more support and advice than they have.

If you cannot let him out to go to the loo without him being able to see/hear/smell other dogs, your home is not suitable.

Did they not come and assess your home?

They sound like a really poor rescue.

If the charity knew this:

their main reason for rehoming was he didn't get on with other dogs and they lived in a built-up environment where contact was constant and inevitable

Why did they let you take him, when you also live in an environment where contact is constant and inevitable?

our house backs out onto a public piece of land, where you get dog walkers throughout the day

I love collies but I’d be scared too.

Definitely a long line then you are not in his space. You know sometimes rescues get It wrong but they really should be supportive,. You do sound wary/scared of him which is never a good thing because you will be panicking when you are trying to control him and it is just going to end in a fight !

Get someone from the rescue out to visit you. They can't ignore the problem then when they see how stressed and aggressive the dog is getting.

id return him. Theyve underestimated the issues to you and so have you. This isnt a happy dog

I feel frustrated at the rescue on yours and your dog's behalf. This is so clearly not a good match of dog and home, reactive collies need experienced homes, and being next to the dog walking field clearly isn't going to be good for him either.

You can work through this with him to develop a good relationship between you and him, with quite a lot of expert help input, but the location of your garden is always going to be a problem.

I'm not one to quit easily with a dog but I think there is no shame in returning him to the rescue to be found a more suitable home, and for you to find a dog who you'll be a better fit with. I'd strongly suggest that given your garden you actively seek a dog who is good with other dogs and is not reactive.