Oh Boy...New Border collie..SUPER FEARFUL!

    • Gold Top Dog

    Oh Boy...New Border collie..SUPER FEARFUL!

    As some of you may know, I'm a dog trainer. A very good one at that. Despite my age, you find a problem with your dog and I can help solve it. Except for now.

    I have been begging my dad for a BC puppy named Joy for a LONG time.Since I found out that the breeder was having another litter. The first time we found out about the breeder she had a litter on the ground and we were very close to buying one named Tetra, until I went to assess her. She was a major power house herder, and us having a llot of land with no fence next to a busy street, we had to decline.

    Well, I saw the breeding plans and was SOOO excited! Dad kept saying no, we don't have time for a "puppy, puppy". On friday I came home from school and she was sitting in a crate that my dad built. We had went to the breeders a few weeks before, just to see her new dogs Howie and Mo.

    We took her to dippin doggies yesterday to groom her before Santa. The moment we walked in the blowdrier went off and she jumped ten feet in the air and started twisting around to get out of her collar. I let go of her leash to let her get away from the noise. Finally I picked her up and brought her outside and walked her around.

    I walked her to the nearby park this morning and a garage door opened and that scared her.I couldn't let go since we are by a busy street, and she's 4 months old with a horrible recall, so I picked her up.

    I tried vacuuming,and she cowered behind the shoe rack.

    The worst part is she is already selective of when she'll take treats, but she won't take them under the slightestbit of pressure. I need professional help clearly, but any thoughts on what to do in the meantime?


    Haleigh and Joy
    • Gold Top Dog
    With a dog her age, I would introduce her to many things, starting with the least scary and build it up. Let her see the vacuum (when its off). Put it near her bowl. Play in the same room as it. Gradually make it more "scary". Pretend to vacuum with it off. Get closer and closer gradually (making sure she stays confident), and then move it into another room and turn it on and repeat the whole process.

    Also, since she's a BC she may not be food motivated, I know many who are not. I would try getting her a speical training toy that she only gets during training. Maybe a Cuz toy or a duck. Make sure its special and only for during training.

    She needs to build trust in you also, so you cannot just simply show her everything scary. Never push her because then  you will lose her trust.
    • Gold Top Dog
    ok thank you!


    Haleigh & Joy
    • Gold Top Dog
    You might also post over in Behavior...you may get more responses. Not everyone who frequents Behavior, reads this section all the time.
    If you'd like me to move this to the section in question please let me know! Thanks for posting.
    • Gold Top Dog
    That would be great if you moved this for me...I didn't really think of it!

    Haleigh & Joy