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.

I think a collie is a terrible first time dog and a teenage reactive one on top! I think the rescue have been irresponsible and now they're trying to imply you're being unreasonable when, surprise surprise, it's not working out! He may be better with other dogs when he's off lead, but that's not much good to you. I would return the dog unfortunately.

I'm so sorry you've been put in this situation. My present dog was reactive when I got her and for the first months I thought I'd made a terrible mistake, even though I've had several dogs before.
With perseverance she's a different dog now.

However, she's not a collie. My friend, a very experienced collie owner, was sure she could train her present, reactive collie, but has failed and is resigned to walking in quiet places at quiet times. Fortunately though her garden is secluded so that's not a problem.

I agree with others that you should probably return the dog sooner rather than later, and that's not something I normally say.

Reactive collies are my thing - I'll help you are you anywhere near me

Some weird comments on this thread. Of all the reactive dogs Collies are the easiest to deal with and train.

BUT you need to understand collies why they do what they do and how to help them.

Where are you based if you dont want to say no worries.

Think of a collies job to herd sheep, they will make decisions before a shepherd has even noticed a sheep moving away from the flock. They are quick thinking and act even quicker. But you can work this to your advantage

It is a huge jump from non dog owner to reactive collie but if you have the time to put in the hours you will have a different dog. However noone will judge you if you return the dog to the rescue and they rehome with a more experienced owner.

The collie snarly teeth/herding behaviour can be very worrying for someone to see for the first time and if you are unsure how to deal with it this will escalate.

Some weird comments on this thread. Of all the reactive dogs Collies are the easiest to deal with and train

Maybe IF you know what you're doing and have the time & space to do it 😏

Maybe IF you know what you're doing and have the time & space to do it 😏

But that applies to all reactive dogs - collies are easy to reinforce and usually have very clear predatory motor patterns which makes things easier.

So why are there so many in rescue centres?

Think we'll just agree to disagree- good luck OP

I rescued a BC in 2018. posted on MN due to growling etc but towards humans not other dogs. I was advised to give him time, space, patience and understanding which I did. He is still with me and is the light in my days. I am so proud of him. He has overcome his fears and has become 'my boy'. He occasionally still has his moments but I can read him and they are very few and far between. So pleased I didnt give up on him. He is such a happy boy now.

There are no more collies than staffi's or greyhounds in rescue.

Collies are no more reactive than other dogs, but they do need to be owned by people with the correct lifestyle and experience.

The problem is not the collies but the owners (I am not including the op in this she is picking up the problem from someone else by the sounds of it)

I have rehab collies with me all the time. I have three at the moment. All apparently have shown aggression and bitten and I have video evidence shown to me.

Non of them have shown any aggression whilst being with me for over 4 months.

They have needed some basic training and have needed to have an outlet for their natural collie traits. They are not reactive or aggressive they were in the wrong environment and being trained incorrectly. They will be rehomed to the correct home in a few more months.

I thought rescues looked at the home set up to see if it was suitable, because if they'd done this they'd have seen yours isn't suitable for such a reactive dog. I understand it's difficult now coz covid, but surely they could have looked at the area, or even asked you questions about what's around your garden?
Is there anyway to set up a screen in the garden so he can't see other dogs and people? Or screen off an area where he can go to the loo without the stress?

I think you should give him back. I've had a reactive dog before and it's a really difficult issue that you will be managing forever. That's fine, IF you know that's what you're in for and can manage it appropriately. But you didn't. And I also really think your home is not right for this dog, the garden backing on to dog walking will just trigger your dog all the time and keep him at a high stress level, ready to blow. This is a really poor match by the rescue! Poor ddog and poor you.

Polly roughly where are you?

Thanks for all your advice. We have started the rehoming process this afternoon and will be returning him tomorrow morning. Our fears were confirmed as we took him out into the garden this evening, it went very badly and he appears just short of creating a bite history record given how his behaviour towards us is escalating, which would not be good for his own sake, so hopefully he will be calm enough to go into the car tomorrow.

I think you've made the right call in returning him. This is the deal breaker for me:

I've quickly become rather scared and uneasy about this dog

You can't work with a dog you're scared of. It almost doesn't matter what the underlying issues are - if you're scared of the dog you're not going to be able to work with him and reassure him.

I'm sorry it didn't work out.

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

I came on to say the same thing.

They're known, at the best of times, not to be the easiest of dog.

I know someone who rescued a dog reactive dog (not a collie) four years ago.

They have worked so very hard with him and he adores them. He walks beautifully without reacting to most dogs - oddly enough he's never been reactive around my dog - but he still can't be off lead around other dogs and if a barky dog comes near him he will immediately revert to being that reactive fearful dog he once was.

A reactive dog can be a lifetime's work.

A reactive collie is going to be very hard to train and work with and if you're not feeling safe around him then maybe he's not the dog for you.

I think the rescue has been rather unfair to you if I'm honest.

There's no shame in admitting you're not able to deal with this dog and if that's the case the rescue must take him back.

Oh sorry, just seen your update. I think you're making a wise choice.

Ah I'm sorry it hasn't worked out but you have made the best decision all round.

My controversial opinion is that a rescue dog is very rarely a good idea for a first time owner or a family with young children.

They are heavily pushed but imo, people very rarely give up friendly, well trained, happy, healthy dogs.

The dogs are often in there because of a behavioural problem and/or health problem and/or lack of training making them hard to live with.

I don’t think collies are a bad choice necessarily for a first time owner if they know what to expect but I don’t think getting a rescue collie was a good idea at all.

Collies are no more reactive than other dogs, but they do need to be owned by people with the correct lifestyle and experience
And while polly is well respected here, particularly with collies, I disagree with this.

Collies are known for not being a particularly dog social breed.

I have yet to meet a single adult, fully mature collie that is ‘friendly’ with other dogs.

All the ones I’ve met, if not staring at the ball thrower, either completely ignore other dogs or tell them to piss off the second they approach.

That sounds like the right call, OP, but very hard to do.

You've done the right thing

I think you have done the right thing by the dog and by you. Hopefully he'll now get a home where the person is experienced in reactive dogs and knows just how to deal with them. It's good you've done this before he has a bite history on his file too.
I hope in time you'll find the right dog for you and your home. They'll be one out there, but if you do go the rescue route again I think you'll now have a load of questions you can ask them about the dogs, and not just fall in love with them all (something I've done when looking).

He does not sounds like an ideal dog for first timers dog owners tbh. Border collies are working dogs and if not working can be incredibly hard to own. I have owned dogs and would not get a collie, wonderful dogs but need so much stimulation.

It is incredibly hard having a dog that dislikes other dogs. It's very hard to walk dogs like this, trying to keep them away from other dogs, going out incredibly early etc. It's very difficult.

Your options are to either send the dog back to the rescue or get a animal behaviourist in to see if they can help.

@AllTheSingleLadys

Thanks for all your advice. We have started the rehoming process this afternoon and will be returning him tomorrow morning. Our fears were confirmed as we took him out into the garden this evening, it went very badly and he appears just short of creating a bite history record given how his behaviour towards us is escalating, which would not be good for his own sake, so hopefully he will be calm enough to go into the car tomorrow.

I think this is the best for you all. He needs to go to more experienced owners and you need not to feel scared.

Good luck in finding an easier dog.

I'm horrified you have been given this dog as a first time owner. If you're feeling like this now, it seems like something that was unlikely to work is how similar certain not to work. I would like the dog rehomed to a knowledgeable home and asap and you happy with a dog you can manage. I would not go for a collie as a first time dog owner. You don't come across as naturally super calm and perhaps a more placid breed would be good? What about a rescue retriever.