Border Collies on top ten list of aggressive dogs

brookcove

Well, add in "bred to be super loyal and protective" and yes, this could double as an Aussie thread.  I've just "graduated" an Aussie/BC who is here for that very reason and so this is quite in the forefront of my thinking.  Trane's a good boy and his only "fault" is that he represents some of the BEST characteristics of his two breeds - but only good in the right context and  in the right hands!

I agree.  And, there are lots of times I think what might have happened to my little beanhead Sequoyah if she had gone to the wrong hands... Instead, she has a CGC and plays in play group when she isn't busy guarding the farm.  But, I can see how she could have ended up with the pink juice entering her veins.  Makes me squirm, because she's an obedient, great, smart girl.  Just not for everyone.

spiritdogs

 Just not for everyone.

This may be a bit OT but...this quote is exactly why many dogs are labeled "aggressive", "high strung", "stupid" etc...not every dog breed is for everyone and anyone. I know plently of people who (sadly) chose a dog based on its looks soley. Example, my neighbor who bought a husky after the movie "Eight Below". The dog destroyed their house, out of boredom and lack of exercise (it was always inside crated, or in their tiny back yard), but my neighbor called the dog "high strung" and "stupid", the dog used to growl at me when I walked by their house. They gave the dog away to the guy down the street, who is knowledgeable about Huskies. The new owner keeps him busy all day, they go biking, the dog has a harness and pulls him on a skateboard, the guy taught him obedience, the dog never destroyed a thing in his new owners house and honestly, when he has the dog out the dog looks so happy!

What I mean is, IME, 50% of the average dog owner has absolutely no busuiness owning that particular breed, and in turn the dog is labeled something it really isn't. IME, the average dog owner would get a Lab thinking theyr'e great family dogs...but not thinking about how high energy a young Lab is, or how much structure and training they need. The average dog owner might think, BC's are smart! And that's it...so the dog gets bored, destructive, "aggressive' because it's in the wrong hands.

I wish more people did the research before getting a dog.

BlackLabbie

ME, the average dog owner would get a Lab thinking theyr'e great family dogs...but not thinking about how high energy a young Lab is, or how much structure and training they need.

Oh my isn't that the truth.  And I have a field lab, which is like a normal lab with added vitamin crack.  He's got a VERY stable temperament though, which luckily for me manifests itself in the normal ways and also in my front door being the on/off switch.  Outside he's nuts and inside he sleeps.  But most people couldn't handle what he was like outside when younger, and without the amount of training I've put into him.  I don't know what he'd be like left alone all day...well, he'd be OK now but as a puppy I think he'd have destroyed the place.

I agree that the BCs people meet at agility/flyball classes are "fine" because they're getting what they need.  Most of the BCs I see just on walks display a lot of very obsessive behaviour. 

I agree that the BCs people meet at agility/flyball classes are "fine" because they're getting what they need.  Most of the BCs I see just on walks display a lot of very obsessive behaviour. 

My DH and I own our own business and work from home, so we are here with the BC boys everyday, but with that said, we go for walks everyday when the weather permits, but before the walk we ALWAYS do a couple of rounds of Frisbee before the walk----so the walk becomes their cool downphase.  I just think it is sad that a breed gets labled because of owners who don't understand what the particular breed needs!! 

We as humans never stop learning, the same is with a dog, even though I have a well balanced BC pack, my two youngest (2yrs) are going to start obedience classes in the fall.  These BC's can NEVER stop learning new things!!!  I also beleive the it is easier with two growing up together than with just one.  Just my opinion.   

I think the difference is in whether a person with a dog is looking for ways to help that dog fit into their life, or excuses to keep the dog out of their life.  Every breed and mutt comes with the potential for unpleasantness of some kind.  The question is whether the family is going to work to shape that into a positive, or pretend it's the dog's "fault" - as was just pointed out, "the dog is stupid, hyper, etc."

Border Collies suffer greatly as a breed from being stereotyped.  Okay, sorry, what breed isn't.  But their "myth" takes a unique form.  I think a lot of people read the warnings and think, "Oh, I go on 30 mile jogs every day so it should be fine."  Because the warnings often just say, BCs need a LOT of activity.  No, they don't really.  The thinking person will consider what "Needing a job" really means.  It means that the dog has a place in their life, and knows it is needed on predictable occasions.  The rest of the time, a mature dog is happy to chill and wait for the next opportunity to "work." 

So then when the BC that is jogged 30 miles a day, starts showing ill-temper, and snapping at the kids, and tearing stuff up, the owner assumes it's a temperamental fault, and either summarily puts the dog down, or calls rescue and tells them, "This dog needs to be on a farm!" 

Dublin has been "attacked" many times by the same BC at our dog park.  It isn't biting but nipping.  Nipping that makes him yelp and cry and run for his life.  He is usually romping with his sporting dog friends and then this lady comes in with Boomer.  He is nuts.  He just goes hog wild and always seems to take Dublin down.  He won't let him run at all.  I did get very upset with this lady who seems to think it is just fine.  If my dog is crying and laying down with his nipped leg in the air it isn't playing or fine.  Anyway we split when she comes around.  I see many of this breed nip and chase dogs in a not friendly way. 

 As a new BC owner I've been continually surprised at how not-so-much-extra-exercise Soda needs compared to my other two. Granted, she was not-quite-three when I got her, so I can't speak on puppy stuff. I will admit that I was one of those people who thought BC's need MUCH more exercise and will constantly drive you nuts so when I got her, that's what I was committed to doing but I've found that she only needs marginally more exercise than my other two.  She is just as happy with the daily walks as she is on days when we got herding or play ball. She does get a little obnoxious if it's been several days since she's had a good energy blowout but nothing that playing tug in the house doesn't solve. We all went on a long walk this AM and everyone is napping comfortably.

 
I've also noticed that Soda gets much more tired from walks than from ball/frisbee playing and I suspect it's because on walks she thinks about her environment (and chases lizards) whereas with chase games all she does is run, fetch, run back and it's a lot less mental work than processing smells, keeping up with me, watching out for the other dogs, looking around, etc that walks entail.  

 The primary energy difference is that when she does expend energy she expends it hard-core. Everything she does she does balls to the wall. Herding sheep? YEAH! Frisbee? YEAH! Chasing lizards? HELL YEAH! Tug? ZOMGPONIES YES!!!1 That's her life. If I pick up a toy and ask her to play BOOM! She's up and ready to go whereas the other two are much more "eh. i'm busy...let me check my schedule". But the rest of the time she's near me and she's asleep.

 
Just some thoughts from a new BC person.

Paige
 

Good post, IMO. So many times, it is mentioned that a dog didn't get enough exercise. Well, there's a t.v. show about a guy that works with dogs that have problems, even during their walks. Because it's not the exercise itself that helps the dog's behavior. It's the knowing where one fits in the scheme of things, itself, a job. Once given a task, I would think most any dog can settle down, even if that task is to walk in a certain position and ignore distractions. And that's with some dogs. They are easily distracted and need a job. Other dogs don't have to be tasked and are quite happy with the walk without being told what to do.

The hardest part, as pointed out in the show and other sources, is getting the human to expect certain things. Aside from training and techniques. Simply getting the human to decide on rules and expect compliance. And I'm not specifically saying the human is leader, though that isn't always a bad term. But dogs are social and if they know what is expected of them and how to do that thing or things, they will do it, mostly. Some easier than others.

 Paige, I think you've graduated from newbie status now! 

Hehe Paige, I'm on my first bc too, and that pretty much sums it up.