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Daisy · 09-06-2010, 07:24 AM

This is my first Border collie. She is a rescue so she was not socialised as a young puppy - she is getting better. I have researched her problems and found that they are fairly common BC problems but I can't find anything on how to fix those problems.

Problem 1: she herds the people who work on our farm and according to her they each have their own places they must stay and if they venture out of her specified area for them she chases them back eg. the maids are allowed anywhere in the house but if they go outside she chases them back inside, the grooms are allowed by the stables but as soon as they move from their they get chased back, and the gardener just doesn't have any place that he belongs according to Daisy.

We have a few cheeky dogs that just hate the people and they want to kill them whenever they get a chance, Daisy is clearly herding them (which is a problem) unfortunately she sparks off the cheeky dogs and then everything gets a little bit out of control.

Problem 2: She will only do recall if I whistle which is fine except that she comes for specific whistles and no one else in my family can do the "right" whistle. She also won't listen to any voice aids.

Problem 3: She herds the horses, our horses are very used to dogs and are not spooky at them however daisy runs in and out trying to get them to move and when they don't she nips their heels, This makes the horses nevous, first of all this is dangerous to her as they may kick her and it also encourages the other dogs to chase the horses.

She loves to work, unfortunately I don't know what work to give her. Any ideas? She does come to feed the chickens which she considers a job - she keeps them all in tight group, she never bites the chickens.
She also comes with me to feed my chinchillas every night and makes sure that none of the chichillas escape, again she never bites them.
I have tried to teach her tricks to keep her occupied- sit, stay, down, roll over, speak, high five, bang bang(dead), sad, crawl, leave, etc.
She is extremely clever, sometimes I think she is smarter than I am.

So can anyone help me ?

Sorry for the long post

Thanks
Rachel

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RobD-BCactive · 09-06-2010, 08:19 AM

(09-06-2010 07:24 AM)Daisy Wrote: Problem 2: She will only do recall if I whistle which is fine except that she comes for specific whistles and no one else in my family can do the "right" whistle. She also won't listen to any voice aids.

This should be simple. You whistle and when she's responding add a "Come Here!" cue. Give extra praise and/or training treat reward for responding to it, make sure she comes all way back to your hands (step backwards) reward after her collar is touchable.

Soon enough, "Come Here!" should work just as well as the whistle. Usually the whistle is added after the verbal cue, but you shouldn't have much problem at closer range doing the opposite. Probably make the "Here!" fairly high pitched and exciting.

Quote:Problem 1: she herds the people

Well she does have a point here! Who knows what the Maids & Grooms would get up to if they're allowed to mingle? Smile

Quote:We have a few cheeky dogs that just hate the people and they want to kill them whenever they get a chance, Daisy is clearly herding them (which is a problem) unfortunately she sparks off the cheeky dogs and then everything gets a little bit out of control.

Problem 3: She herds the horses, our horses are very used to dogs and are not spooky at them however daisy runs in and out trying to get them to move and when they don't she nips their heels, This makes the horses nevous, first of all this is dangerous to her as they may kick her and it also encourages the other dogs to chase the horses.

She loves to work, unfortunately I don't know what work to give her. Any ideas? She does come to feed the chickens which she considers a job - she keeps them all in tight group, she never bites the chickens.
She also comes with me to feed my chinchillas every night and makes sure that none of the chichillas escape, again she never bites them.
I have tried to teach her tricks to keep her occupied- sit, stay, down, roll over, speak, high five, bang bang(dead), sad, crawl, leave, etc.
She is extremely clever, sometimes I think she is smarter than I am.

So can anyone help me ?

Sorry for the long post

That all looks like well qualified positive reinforcement behaviourist territory to me. Multiple dogs, rather anti social with a rescue as well, you don't want the wrong advice on this one (effects multiple employees), sounds like your biz suffers enough as it is.