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The doghouse

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Original poster

Annoying new behaviour

15 replies

Daniki · 11/08/2023 16:16

Hi all,

My 3 year old collie has been acting strange the last few days. He stays in the house with us and obviously is let out during the day, we go for our walks etc. the last few days however he will not come in the house when I call him. He runs away from me if I even look in his direction when I'm trying to get him inside. It's extremely frustrating if I need to go to the shop or collect my son I need him to be in the house so he doesn't run down the road after me which he does.

Anyone any ideas why he's gone so weird?!

He's fine in the evenings lying up in the house, he lay up on the couch with me after his walk this morn and round the house while I was doing the washing/cleaning. We went out to the clothes line and that was it wouldn't come back in. He hates the rain and it started to lash out of the heavens and he still wouldn't come in. Couldn't get him inside so had to leave to collect my son and he ran down the road after me, I waited at the end of the road to see would he appear and he was when he didn't I drove on (Creche is 5 mins away) as i assumed he went back to the house.
On my return I met my neighbour trying to round him up, she said he had down the main road and was running around outside the shop where it's really busy. He's outside now but again I can't get him, iv tried treats, chicken etc but nothing can entice him.

I'm at my wits end, I'm going to have to put the lead on him to take him outside for a wee etc if this carries on!

OP posts:
Janiie · 11/08/2023 16:26

'Couldn't get him inside so had to leave to collect my son and he ran down the road after me, I waited at the end of the road to see would he appear and he was when he didn't I drove on (Creche is 5 mins away) as i assumed he went back to the house.'

You can't leave a dog running about outside on roads and near shops! Until you can turn things around with treats, a whistle etc you need to keep him on a lead at all times. Isn't your garden secure?

In a situation like this couldn't you have asked a friend or related to collect your dc?

Original poster
Daniki · 11/08/2023 17:16

@Janiie if I could of got someone to collect my son I would have. It's the only time he has gone down to the road as I said, it's new behaviour!
We are in a rented house, and the fence is being put back up at the minute as the landlord widened the driveway/outdoor area last week.

OP posts:
BiscuitsBiscuitsEverywhere · 11/08/2023 17:19

If I understand correctly, you aren't leaving him in a secure garden but allowing him to run free? That is dangerous at the best of times but especially if your dog doesn't have reliable recall. It's an accident waiting to happen.

As for why he won't return to the house when you call him, it could be for any number of reasons. Is it possible that he has an injury or illness? Dogs in pain sometimes want to stay outside on their own. Or perhaps he was spooked by something when he went inside recently and the association is making him anxious.

But in any case, you definitely need to keep him on a lead outside if your garden is not fenced securely.

Original poster
Daniki · 11/08/2023 17:25

@BiscuitsBiscuitsEverywhere he had his annual checkup at the vets last week so don't think it's an injury/illness. Thought the same re getting a scare but not sure what it would be from as nothing new/out of ordinary has happened 🤷‍♀️
Garden is now secure again as the landlords brother has just finished.

OP posts:
Original poster
Daniki · 11/08/2023 17:38

So I went outside with his treats and sat on the door Step and he eventually came over and now he is inside. Tried the same a few times earlier and he wouldn't come near me 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
cinnamonfrenchtoast · 11/08/2023 18:58

Collies can be really noise sensitive so I'd be wondering whether something has happened at a certain time of day to spook him?

RunningFromInsanity · 11/08/2023 19:04

You need to keep him on a lead so that you can get him inside. The longer you leave this the more ingrained the behaviour will be. Hopefully being kept on the lead and brought inside a few times will break the habit.

IngGenius · 11/08/2023 20:12

You just have a collie that likes to be doing things. Being outside is more fun than being indoors.

You calling him in - he knows exactly what is going to happen - nothing. You will go out and he will do nothing inside.

So way more fun to stay outside. Therefore he does not come when you call him.

(Although very minor things can make collies go weird - you say you have work men in the house and garden?)

BunnyBetChetwynnd · 11/08/2023 20:34

You say nothing new or out of the ordinary has happened, but it has hasn't it? You've had the landlord's brother in the garden. Could it be possible that he is guarding the property? Perhaps the garden not being secure and a strange man being in the garden has worried him.

I'd keep him on the lead for a week or two, reward him when you go back into the house every time and hopefully it will pass.

You're really lucky that he wasn't hurt when he was out on the road.

Original poster
Daniki · 11/08/2023 23:00

I never put the two together but I wonder is it the the work being done at the house that caused it as it's only started since he's been here the last few days. They won't be here over the weekend so will be interesting to see if there's a change. He's a very friendly dog so normally just happily greets anyone that lands to the house and then goes back to lying in his spot at the top of the garden watching everything.

He goes farming with my husband every evening and has been reluctant to get in the jeep with him to go which is also unusual

OP posts:
Newpeep · 12/08/2023 07:49

Daniki · 11/08/2023 23:00

I never put the two together but I wonder is it the the work being done at the house that caused it as it's only started since he's been here the last few days. They won't be here over the weekend so will be interesting to see if there's a change. He's a very friendly dog so normally just happily greets anyone that lands to the house and then goes back to lying in his spot at the top of the garden watching everything.

He goes farming with my husband every evening and has been reluctant to get in the jeep with him to go which is also unusual

Is he in pain? That can increase noise sensitivity too.

Original poster
Daniki · 12/08/2023 08:37

@Newpeep don't think he's in pain, he had his annual visit to the vet last week and all was fine. He jumped into the jeep with my husband this morning and they're away. Hopefully it's a phase that's over now workmen are gone

OP posts:
BunnyBetChetwynnd · 12/08/2023 10:23

Collies are very protective of their people and other resources.

Our friends' collie is the most relaxed dog ever and has known us and our dog for a decade, but when we stay at their house he will sleep by their bed rather than in his own bed.

He's protecting what he knows to be his. I'm sure this is what's happened with your dog. Normal visitors are ok, but the workman must have been looking like he was staying/like he owned the place/brought his tools and stuff onto your land, and it's unsettled your pup.

Glad to hear he's sounding a bit more his old self today.

BunnyBetChetwynnd · 12/08/2023 10:24

Goes back to lying in his spot at the top of the garden watching everything.

See, that's him, scanning his land so that he can protect it.

Original poster
Daniki · 12/08/2023 13:30

@BunnyBetChetwynnd thanks, yea my husband said he's in flying form at his home house/farm atm lying up in his parents house so hopefully that's it over! Don't know how I didn't cop that would be the issue 😅

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