Are border collies normally aggressive

[jostar]

I have a 2 year old border collie bitch who is the most docile, placid dog at home with our 2 cats and our mongrel dog. When we take her out she goes for any dogs that happen to walk past her or try to sniff her. Is this normal behaviour for this breed.

[clair3934]

It sounds like she is nervous of the other dogs or she is trying to protect you and is trying to fight off all other dogs. Collies can be a bit snappy all due to being a herding dog. try taking out a squirty bottle or water bombs and when she goes for another dog let her have it squirt the bottle at her or smash a bomb down in front of her feet and a sharp "NO LEAVE" then lots of praise and then praise her when she ignors other dogs, or you could try letting her off the lead and walking away and calling her to you when she snaps she will soon work out that if she does it you won't be there to back her up which is possibly what she's thinking at the moment. and may I suggest you pop a muzzle on her for a while untill you get this problem under a little more under control after all you don't want anyone gettin hurt.

[Alf]

You're not alone jostar! I have a 9 year old collie cross and she does exactly the same thing, although she would never approach another dog. I think it is a protection thing and she feels I'm under threat. I also get the impression that she feels intimidated by the other dogs and does this as a type of bravado act. I try to be upbeat when other dogs approach her and walk on so that she will follow me, but I can never guarantee that she won't snap. A lot of the time, I wish the other owners would call their dog back and there wouldn't be a problem. Interested to hear some solutions.

[jostar]

Yes, I agree that she does seem to feel threatened by other dogs. At the moment if she is off the lead and another dog is in the vicinity we tend to use distraction tactics such as throwing a ball or stick and her obsession with these will overcome the presence of the other dog.

How did I get talked into a pedigree dog?? We said only a short haired mongrel!!! Puppies - who can resist. lol

[drgnrdr]

Herding breeds do become a bit nippy, but they should not be lunging and trying to attack others with you there. Most of this comes from genetics, simple DNA, it's Nature vs Nurture, Never breed an aggressive dog, no matter if it's male or female, you don't want shy/timid dogs either they become fear aggressive. Once you get a dog it's socialize the H3LL out of them, with GOOD experiences with dogs this helps with them learning to be a dog.
Go to http://orangedog.forumup.com/index.php?mforum= orangedog and look in the Behavior section and there you'll find "Nothing in life is free" and "Dog to Dog aggression". Check it out, I hope it helps.

[Pondman]

I have had border collies for many years and find them very loyal and protective of their 'flock' of humans. Our current border collie, Millie (guess when she was born??) will not tolerate anyone near her when she is eating. She gives a low warning growl as you get closer and will snap aggressively if you get too near. We took her as a rescue dog and assume that this has something to do with the way she was treated as a pup. She goes bonkers if anyone wearing a baseball hat approaches, she can spot them a mile away, literally! Our worst fear is when there are little children around. They tend to toddle up to her and want to touch her face and she bares her teeth and looks like the alien that appears from John Hurt's stomach in the film, Alien. She is fairly good with other breeds of dogs but having once had a run in with an Alsatian is very aggressive if we meet one when walking. All in all I think that the 'protecting the flock' bit in her brain must kick in if she thinks any of the humans she sees as in her 'gang' is under threat. Wouldn't be without her, keeps me sane and is often the only creature on speaking terms with me in the house.

[saxy_jag]

I have a border collie cross (cross golden retriever). She's very protective and faithful and yes, she is very 'nippy'. In fact, when we got her from the rescue kennel she came with a warning to that effect. She will not tolerate people she doesn't know trying to pet her - will snap at them, so I have to warn them not to pet her, no matter how friendly she may seem. Basically, people have to wait for her to approach them if they are to get onto 'cuddling' terms with her. Fortunately, most of my friends are sensible dog owners.

She can be like it with other dogs too. In recent months she has begun to play more with the dogs we meet regularly whilst out walking, but even so, play is on the understanding that she sets the rules (she's a bossy little madam). If she doesn't want to play, she will say so in no uncertain terms.

Her background is unknown to us - we got her as a nine-year-old and she'd arrived at the kennels as a stray. Her behaviour on occasions would suggest that she hasn't been very kindly treated in the past (cowers if she's peed on the floor or raided the bin, for instance), so I know this isn't, perhaps, typical behaviour. But I'll hazard a guess that her dubious background is what brings out the worst in her personality (although she's lovely, is my best girlie mate, and I wouldn't part with her for anything).

[RATTER15]

Yes they are little *******, I always give them a wide birth and I have had dogs all my life. I think it is usually due to the fact the Collie is a working dog and it does need that work to keep its brain active or it will often become bored and very nippy.

[RATTER15]

**buqqers**

[leelapops]

Hiya jostar, my Collie was 2 yesterday.
Jack is settling down now, but he is still wary of some dogs. We got him as a puppy, but quite late (14 weeks) and we had to put lots of extra effort into early socialisation and command training.
He is great off the lead with other dogs, but on the lead we think he feels threatened when some other dogs approach: he can't escape as he is attached to something, and that must be frustrating for him. A sharp word of warning normally works with him, but the other distraction techniques mentioned here are all good, depending on what your dog responds to best. It's hard, but don't punish her for protecting you, Collies are very loyal, and want to do right by you!
We avoid young children as they do the face-touching thing, and Jack hates that for some reason (though not when initiated by an adult...)
At first, I worried whenever another dog approached, but dogs do sense a lot from their owners through non-verbal language hints so it's important to relax and let your dog know that you aren't worried.
She will learn to feel less threatened, but as always it does take time!
Good luck :) Lisa x x

[mycats]

"Are border collies normally aggresive?" Yes.
My son was attacked by one and had to have 7 stitches in his face, two weeks later the dog attacked another small boy (his owners son in fact) please keep an eye on your dog.

[lankeela]

Not all dogs of any breed are aggressive. This is the type of talk that got the dangerous dogs act brought in so quickly and without proper consideration and caused untold upset for many dog owners and still didn't prevent dog attacks.

Breed specific legislation can never work.

Stop irresponsible people breeding and selling dogs to irresponsible owners and you will go a long way to solving the problem.

I read somewhere that people should not be allowed to advertise dogs - only sell them by word of mouth. this might not be a bad idea, you only have to look at the local free ads to see how many dogs are for sale, and on sites such as epupz. If people really want a dog they should have to find out about the breed and go to some trouble to locate one, not just open the paper and go along and pick one up.

[mycats]

Yeah thats true lankeela, I was a bit quick to post that, it's just a bit of a touchy subject with me, understandably I think.
I do like dogs and agree that it shouldnt be so easy to just go pick one up.

[kita1]

I agree lankeela, but where I live we have a major problem at the moment with Staffies. These dogs are not sold and are not advertised, it is just that one of a group of teenagers got a bitch that had pups - he gave one to all his mates and you can guess the rest!!! Word of mouth can be just as damaging.

I think the only real solution would be to make it illegal to own an entire dog or bitch without holding a breeding licence, and that is going to be very difficult if not impossible to enforce.

I also agree that you cannot be breed specific, the latest attack I read in the paper was a collie X that was tied up outside a school gate, a six year old girl went over to stroke it and got bitten, the mother seemingly 'saw it all'.!! This report only made the inside of the paper probably because it was not a Rottie.

In answer to the original question I have known a number of border collies that are VERY snappy. Is your bitch entire? If she is then that could be one reason she does not like strange dogs sniffing her. I would try her in a Halti (head collar) which would enable you to turn her head away from other dogs and into you. Training classes would be a good help too, as this would not only train her to meet other dogs but would channel alot of energy (of which collies have lots!).

[jostar]

Hi thanks for all the response. Blossom is not aggresive to people in any way shape or form. She does appear to be protecting our other dog when they are out together. As I said before she is only snappy when other dogs approach her, she never goes up to other dogs. It sounds like her herding instinct as both of her parents are actually working sheepdogs. She has been spayed so it isn't this. We are going to try the squirt of water tactic and see how it goes.

[kita1]

If both her parents are working sheepdogs then that explains alot. She is bred to herd sheep ALL day. I once worked on a farm that had a working collie, one day we spent the morning bringing a herd of cattle from an outlying field to one nearer the farm (about 1 hour collecting them in the field, then four hours walk home through roads) when we got back to the farm the dog then proceeded to herd the chickens in the farmyard!!

She is a bundle of energy - I really would consider a training class or agility - anything to cope with all that pent up energy and intelligence!

Good luck!

[ganesh]

mycats-I'm surprised that your not completely anti-dog after that happening to your son,I think I would be.
I agree with those who have said that certain breeds are agressive or not agressive. I know one border collie who is so loving and friendly, and I knew of one Golden Retriever who used to attack other dogs(didn't stop me having one and she had a wonderful temperament.) Some do get a bad press like Rottweilers, and some of them are sweet.
No breed is 100% reliable, and I don't think it's down to owners either. Some dogs just have problems, just like people, and sometimes it can be sorted, and sometimes ,
like the one that attacked the child, it should be put down.

[ganesh]

Just to add, I once saw a doctor on TV say that he saw more children with minor wounds from labradors than any other breed. This is because we all assume labs are lovely and reliable and we can let our kids do anything to them and they won't react.
To go back to your question tho,maybe your vet could suggest something you could do.