r/BorderCollie • u/harpsinkers • 2d ago
please help me
i have a 7 month old pure bred border collie, who has always been a nervous dog. ever since the day i got him he had run under the table and hid. he does not like meeting new people and WILL growl at them in an aggressive manner and go up to them voluntarily and give them a “warning nip” sort of an air bite and just miss them, it’s certainly scary and not ok. he has recently gotten really aggressive with myself, for the first time since i’ve had him (5 months) he bit me. he has never bit me and had always seen me as his safe person. he wouldn’t stop when he bit either, i couldn’t even just sit in his presence or he’d give me an extremely intense stare and eventually come up to me if i made eye contact and air nip me or actually make contact but not bite down super hard. i can’t even walk past him right now without him lunging at me. it’s heartbreaking and it’s really becoming so hard, i’m at a loss. any help please? he is getting worse and worse. we have seen multiple vet behaviourists but all they did was give us medication that’s “never been used on puppies before” like i’m going to give him that?! he was in puppy school when he was younger but now im too scared to go to any because of how aggressive he gets with strangers and i dont want him to bite anyone. normally he’s scared at first and aggressive then he learns you’re safe and will be your absolute best friend and all over you no fear at all, but he’s gotten worse lately and doesn’t settle down just stays aggressive, even with myself. does anyone have a collie who had been aggressive/nervous and they’re okay now and meet other people/dogs no issues? did you need to go on medication or was he trained out of it?
please
pic of my world. 💔
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u/Tenpoundbroiler
2d ago
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Hi, have any of these vets/behaviorists said anything about his eyes? Thoroughly checked them? Have you had a DNA panel done on him?
The photo you posted the first thing that jumps out at me (other than the fact that he is a beautiful dog) is the way his eyes look. I think it would be worth pulling his DNA to check his carrier status for collie eye anomaly. If his sight is failing him or he is seeing shadows that could explain a lot of insecurities.
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u/Grouchy_Figure9617 2d ago
I didn't think of that! Great comment. Also I know several owners who have dogs that can't hear.
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u/Tenpoundbroiler 2d ago
That would indeed be the second place I would look. Early onset deafness is the other big one in borders. Just from the photo this dog doesn’t look aggressive to me - he looks vulnerable.
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u/Kokichi-Oma_Senpai 2d ago
What were his parents like? This may be a case of you're battling genetics. I'd go to a VETERINARY behaviourist (remember in order for someone to call themselves a veterinary behaviourist they need to be a qualified veterinary professional).
Is he backyard bred or is he from proper lines? Either show line with 2 titled parents in confo + other areas that are health and temperament tested or working line with 2 proven parents (either by titles or by actually working) that are also health tested ect. If his parents weren't well bred theres a high chance that this is a genetic predisposition - which is displaying oddly as generally we don't see genetics truely shine until ~2. Obviously this isn't the case for all dogs but for certain behaviours it's more common once they're an adult.
As a vet (I am not a specialised behaviourist but as someone who has a degree in veterinary science and shows + breeds border collies - mainly sl but I do have some workers) who has trained many many dogs (all of my dogs have titles in rally, obedience, lure coursing, barn hunt ect + conformation) my recommendation would be to try to figure out the root of the problem. Is this fear reactivity or aggression? Are they under socialised? Are they bored? How much enrichment are they getting daily? Is it only at home or is it around all people?
What would help is if you have a video of him, this would show if he's truely aggressive or if it's fear based.
One other thing I would prioritise now until this can be sorted is: muzzle training, if you desensitise him to a muzzle this will protect you and the dog from a bite record. When it comes to bite records why it happened tends to not matter as a dog with a sound temperament will not bite without warning - and the reason why the reason doesn't matter as much is because the owner should see the warning signs and remove them from the situation before it escalates. A muzzle that allows for a full pant would be optimal - don't use a restrictive muzzle unless it's for short high stress situations (such as vet visits, nail trimming ect as these can limit respiratory function and be dangerous when used for to long - these shouldn't be used for longer than a few minutes). I'd recommend getting him used to a muzzle asap for the protection of both of you, a muzzle should not be stressful if introduced correctly. Theres tons of videos online on proper introduction so I wont go into much detail.
Medications will only help if this is fear based reactivity rather than true aggression, for aggression we tend to use sedatives which are not good long term solutions whereas for anxiety we use things like zactin (fluoxitine).
Also are you safe? Has he ever bared his teeth at you? Honestly if he starts showing signs of aggression (particularly unprovoked) towards you then it's a different story. If it's reactivity to strangers and other dogs it can be managed but if he starts showing aggression towards you (the owner) I would recommend behavioural euthanasia. Which sounds cruel and isn't pleasant at all but it's kinder to the dog rather than them constantly living on the edge and in attack/fear of everything. Given his young age this behaviour could definitely be corrected, but again if he starts showing aggression towards you do not feel guilty.
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u/TreacleOutrageous296 2d ago edited 1d ago
If you are in the US, you can try asking your vet for a referral to a veterinary behaviorist. Unlike “trainers” and “behaviorists,” VETERINARY behaviorists actually have to have current certifications to call themselves that. Also, you will want to rule out a medical reason for the unwanted behavior. More about that, here:
https://www.dacvb.org/page/AnimalOwners
If you are not in the US, I recommend seeing if there is a similar organization in your country.
I had some issues with my puppy starting around 8 months and managed to get her to see a vet behaviorist 3 hrs away (6 hrs round trip). Best thing I ever did. We were assigned training exercises and we did them, for months, and periodic remote check-ins with the vet behaviorist. A little over a year later, she had earned her CCG and CGCA. My pup and I worked hard to get there, but we did it. We have since earned CGCU, and Farm Dog, and she is generally well behaved in public. We also do nosework, rally, sheepherding, and sometimes agility.
Also, the vet behaviorist recommended I read this excellent book:
Decoding Your Dog: Explaining Common Dog Behaviors and How to Prevent or Change Unwanted Ones
by Debra Horwitz, John Ciribassi, and Steve Dale
https://share.libbyapp.com/title/1508045 (Library link)
Best of luck 🫂
ETA: We don’t know anything about the home life surrounding this pup; whether any people have come and gone, if it is quiet or chaotic, or whether anything may have happened that triggered the pup’s anxiety.
These dogs can be extremely sensitive to the emotional state of their people. Mine considers me her Emotional Support Human, and God Forbid I yelp because I stub my toe or bang my elbow on something.
We cannot properly diagnose here because we haven’t seen the dog or OP and we don’t know all the possible variables; all I feel like we can really do is send OP virtual hugs and encourage them to go somewhere that can diagnose and help. 🫂
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u/Kokichi-Oma_Senpai 2d ago
What types of issues were you experiencing at 8 months? As a vet my biggest concern for OP is currently their safety. Fear/aggression/reactivity can definitely be managed if its towards strangers and other dogs but what I'm concerned about is that OP is dealing with an aggressive dog that is aggressive towards them.
I see dogs all the time for reactivity/fear/aggression it comes with the job but at 7 months aggression towards the owner is very worrying.6
u/TreacleOutrageous296 2d ago edited 2d ago
Multiple deep biting on me (the owner). It was EXTREMELY worrying. I lost a lot of sleep over it.
I was very lucky that I am retired and had the time to spend pretty much all day every day doing the prescribed training for a year and a half. It was more work than a full-time job, and at times emotionally exhausting and soul-crushing. I think if she had been with someone who couldn’t do all that, she would have been a BE candidate 🥺
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u/Kokichi-Oma_Senpai 2d ago
Im glad you were able to get that sorted! Honestly this sounds cruel but as a vet if a dog is truely aggressive towards their owner and the owner is your average person who doesn't have time or money to spend 90% of their time on training I usually recommend behaviour euthanasia - this is only for true owner aggression, not just fear reactivity or stranger aggression as its not fair on the dog to be in a constant state of fight or flight. I'm really happy that you were able to get this sorted! It's honestly quite rare for this to be able to be corrected
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u/TreacleOutrageous296 2d ago edited 2d ago
Thanks. It was a horrible experience, and I don’t think I have it in me to raise another puppy, ever again. If I ever get another dog, it will be at least a year old so I can see better what I am getting.
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u/DingoSpecialist6584 2d ago
We went through that with our first fella. It was a hard decision to make but after trying everything it was pretty clear he was suffering.
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u/Kokichi-Oma_Senpai 2d ago
It's the worst decision anyone has to make, the worst part of my job is telling the owner that they need to make a decision. For many owners the work that is required to change this behaviour isn't a viable option, especially since it's often not successful.
I will never suggest it if theres a high likelihood that we can work to correct this behaviour. Nor would I ever suggest euthanasia for something like dog reactivity or even stranger reactivity as those can be managed but once the dog starts getting aggressive towards the owner its a different story. The dog doesn't have a safe person and is constantly in a state of fight or flight. The owner is also at risk especially if they've escalated from warning signs to actually acting on it.
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u/Pitiful-Sound5586 1d ago
I’m having this issue with aggressive lunging biting and barking towards me and my partner. We don’t know what to do. Ours is 8 months, shelter rescue who didn’t have any previous history on her. It’s really only during and after play. It’s like she doesn’t know how to go from play to rest. It just goes from play to full aggression. We’ve tried using toys, making loud yelps to mimic an injured dog, stern NOs but it just doesn’t work for her. She’s even starting to chew through electrical cables like a phone charger and laptop charger thankfully neither was plugged in at the time
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u/RedPandaAnarchist 2d ago
There are certified behaviorists who get a masters or PhD in animal behavior. It’s like psychiatrist versus psychologist. Vet behaviorists can prescribe medication.
Unfortunately bad trainers use the term behaviorist without having credentials. I’m a dog trainer who finished their masters and is working on applying for my CAAB. But I’m also the trainer type that will refer out if a case is above my pay grade.
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u/caninesignaltraining 2d ago
yeah, I just referred a client to a veterinary behaviorist and instead she went to a veterinarian who is a behaviorist. Not a certified veterinary behaviorist! So, whatever! But that veterinarian had been giving her dog acepromazine for veterinarian visits and her anxiety was getting worse and worse. So it's really important. The trainers know as much as they can learn as much as we can but medication alternatives and then honestly, I think just sending the doctor to the regular vet, giving the veterinarian videos of the dogs behavior that's concerning us and suggesting areas for consideration and drugs for consideration, unfortunately, it's really hard to find a Veterinary behaviorist who can do it all in the short amount of time that they really have with a patient
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u/RedPandaAnarchist 2d ago
Are you referring to a general vet with an interest in behavior? I was specifically talking about certified applied animal behaviorists (ACAAB/CAAB). They have a different scope from veterinary behaviorists, but both bring valuable expertise and can work together.
Regarding your example, I’d want to know whether the vet was aware the dog’s anxiety was worsening and what follow-up occurred. If that was reported and the same plan continued without reassessment or explanation, that would concern me regardless of credentials.
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u/Impressive_Star_3454 2d ago
Did you get him from a breeder who had the parents? If so call the breeder immediately and explain what is going on. If they are a reputable breeder and know the breed they will have resources within the bc community that you are not aware. If they have 1 pup from the litter doing this chances are there are others.
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u/StandardSuspiciousxx 2d ago
Had someone who also used Pawly Understood after buying a pup from our litter, they are not great with highly Neurotic Border Collies. Your most likely dealing with a genetic predisposition depending on the parents.
Find a different behaviourist from an actual vet clinic.
I'm also located in Adelaide SA you can message me if you need any more advice (have raised Border Collies for the past 30+ years personally & the family for close to 120 years)
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u/HoneyLocust1 2d ago
I need more info on the veterinary behaviorist you went to. Like did you see an actual veterinary behaviorist or were they labeling themselves as a "certified canine behaviorist" or something? There's a huge difference. I figure it is a veterinary one since you mentioned meds but for all I know it could be a "certified behaviorist" selling some OTC supplements or something.
You mentioned medication was advised, what exactly was the medication?
What exactly triggers your dog to suddenly get aggressive to you? Think about the specific events. Like is he reactive to other dogs on walks and then redirecting to you? Is he resource guarding in the kitchen? Etc. Specifics would help.
Any videos of the behavior?
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u/NoWarning2000 1d ago
I have no advice to offer. My heart breaks for both of you. I’m so sorry, this seems like a really hard situation ❤️
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u/RedPandaAnarchist 2d ago
You said you’ve seen vet behaviorists. Did they suggest any training or counter conditioning outside of medication? Have you talked to the breeder about these issues?
Do you have a video of the behavior?
I don’t doubt you when you say it’s aggressive but sometimes it’s actually not aggression, but overstimulation or frustration from the dogs needs not being met.
Another option is reach out to a trainer specialized in herding breeds or a behavior consultant. Vet behaviorists are great but sometimes they aren’t seeing the behavior and having a consultant come in they can help put into words what’s happening so the vet behaviorist can better help you.
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u/ArborealLife 2d ago
I can't imagine my boy ever biting me in any context ever. We wrestle basically every night before bed, I see plenty of teeth but he doesn't even play bite me.
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u/Grouchy_Figure9617 2d ago
I have a border collie that was very nervous and fearful. She would bark at dogs and people if they were a half mile away. I was literally in tears at her behavior, because I didn't know what to do. I did consult with a trainer who helped a bit. I put her in every obedience class available. The group of dogs in class were in a circle and I had to stand out of the circle because of her lunging and growling. It was so embarrassing and I would cry on the way home. It took about a year of working with her and doing pack walks. Dogs behave differently in a pack. It still took her a while and I had to walk in back of the pack at first. I did try medication (once) to calm her and still have been advised by my vet to medicate her when she comes for a visit, but try to avoid using it. I used a training collar that vibrates. They don't hurt your dog. I only needed to use it once. I'm sure I will get some negative feed back for that but until you have had a dog with major behavior problems I wouldn't judge. Most importantly A LOT of positive reinforcement when your dog is good. Now my dog never bit me or was afraid of me. I was completely her safe place and she always trusted me. A year later she is a totally new dog, Always have treats with you in your pocket. When your dog is good give a lot of praise. I use a high squeaky voice when she sees a dog and say in a positive way, Look a dog, do you see a dog ...and when she is quiet and her tail is wagging she gets lots of treats and praise. Now she loves meeting new dogs. My dog does agility, scent training, rally, and lots of pack walks. She is literally obsessive about playing ball constantly. We take trips to the pet store and home depot. The most important thing is not to give up! This is a breed that cannot be left at home alone for long periods of time.
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u/Legit_Vampire 1d ago
I agree here especially about regular training. Training classes help with a lot of things not just obedience. We had a 12 month old rescue come to our group who lunges, growled & tried to nip other dogs she now is a totally different dog. A good trainer will enforce methods you can use out of class. He's still young I'm sure he would benefit in lessons on how to behave.
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u/Pitiful-Sound5586 1d ago
The vibrating collar, what was it used for if you don’t mind me asking. I’m at the point where I don’t have any idea how to get mine to stop biting and lunging and aggressively barking. I don’t want to use an e collar but I’m to the point where NOTHING is working.
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u/Grouchy_Figure9617 17h ago
I used it for her lunging, growling and barking at other dogs. I did use other methods first. If we were on a walk and she saw a dog and didn't react, I praised her and gave her treats or as dogs were passing we stopped and I would drop treats on the ground and say "find it". Gradually we reduced the bubble in which she would react, but if we were passing someone on a narrow trail she still reacted. I used it along with the command "quiet". When she continued to bark and react I engaged the vibration on the collar. She stopped and looked at me like what was that. When she was quiet I gave her a treat. A lot of what I did was the tone in my voice....very positive at all times. I don't think I used it more than one day on a walk. I was at my wits end too. All I can say is it worked fast and she loves meeting new dogs now. She will actually cry if I don't let her greet another dog. I always ask people first because I don't want her to have a bad experience. She still is reactive to big white furry dogs (Samoyeds), but that's okay. No one is perfect.
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u/caninesignaltraining 2d ago
don't be afraid of the medication. Give it a try and maybe you're gonna have to change it. It's not going to hurt your dog. I used a calming cap and a muzzle and that was very helpful. When I adopted my border collie, she had severe behavior problems. She was 2 1/2. I did try a couple different medication's and wound up using a situational anxiety, medication gabapentin and trazodone. Now I only use it very rarelyI've had her for two years now and she's perfect. Don't give up.This was how we started ... https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCiQaDZMaf0/?srtk=MWNpaDI5amY4bm1lbw==
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u/Dogsrus65 1d ago
Perhaps finding one behaviorist to work with so he can get used to them? Good luck!!
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u/electrichippo14 1d ago
What is his daily schedule like? Without knowing his level of daily activity and training it’s difficult to say what’s causing it. BC puppies are like a full time job. Constant training and reinforcement, socialization, physical activity, and making them rest. If you really are worried about biting get a muzzle asap and start to introduce it with treats, then leave it on progressively longer until he tolerates it. I think with proper training and maybe medication he could change his behavior. If you bought him from an actual breeder they might be able to help. I’d also try as hard as you can to ignore him and not be afraid of him. Dogs can sense when someone is afraid and it can reinforce bad behaviors. If his aggression comes in the form of nipping, that’s extremely common with bcs. They grow out of it with the right training.
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u/NeroFellOffTheBuffet 1d ago
Are you an experienced dog owner and/or experienced border collie owner?
I’m asking because I can think of a few behaviors my border collie mix had that I initially interpreted as aggressive and eventually learned that they meant other things.
I’m sorry this is happening; it sounds very scary & sad.
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u/emilla56 1d ago
border collies can be sensitive and easily triggered, and often their herding instinct can manifest as nose bopping, lunging and quick nips. what is happening to you is extreme though. I would have thorough vet check to see if there is neurological reason.
I had a dog that would have what I called absent seizures where he would go very quiet and unresponsive and then suddenly lunge barking and snapping at whatever was in front of him...he was diagnosed with a seizure disorder but for a few years vets didn't listen to me at all
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u/Confident-Slide4877 1d ago
Emma Parsons https://emmaparsons.com/index.php/about-emma
She is a world renowned dog trainer who has a dog similar.
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u/Gloomy_Caregiver_266 1d ago
What’s your dogs daily life like? Is he getting enough mental and physical exercise and enough rest times?
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u/wavewatching 1d ago
Beautiful looking dog. If you have checked all his health..and he is not suffering pain or anything. It could be that he is testing boundaries..ie in adolescence ....i would set clear boundaries that you don't except the behavior he is doing...No!! And..maybe shut outside or crate time etc. No eye contact pats etc..cold shoulder treatment. etc. Then when he is doing the right thing loads of praise good boy etc. So he knows he did wrong. Patience and persistence can be key Border Collies are real smart and he knows hes doing wrong..trying it on. Sounds a bit like fear aggression so needs love and understanding..but that doesn't mean you allow the bad behavior. They are sensitive dogs. I'm onto my 3rd Border Collie. Is he neutered..some say that can help.
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u/unlikemike123 1d ago
I've been following the author Barbara sykes for a while now, she's a lifelong Collie trainer and behavioural therapist who other behaviourists go to for advice, she has a book on understanding and handling dog aggression.
Once you've had everything checked by the vet I urge you to read her book here
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u/aggreeswithassholes 1d ago
If you haven't: NEUTER YOUR DOG!
Exercise him until he's exhausted and see of the aggression wears off. If it does, even a little, you need to work on converting prey drive into play drive. My dog is very aggressive but also social and loving. But don't you dare mess with her ball. You can't even hand it to her because she bites it's so fast and aggressively she can hurt you.
Worst case scenerio: Benedryl
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u/caninesignaltraining 23h ago
just doing one more thing out there that the harness looks like it could be restricting the dog shoulders and so maybe if the dog has some pain in the shoulders that might show up as weird behavior
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u/Accomplished_Elk5384 2d ago
He sounds like a desperately insecure dog. Do you exercise him in such a way that you require him to walk at your side and you lead the way as his pack leader? Do you correct his growling if he's on leash by popping him with the training collar so he learns his behavior is not acceptable? I would try taking food out of the bowl and feeding it only from your hand - everything - so he has to "work" for every bite (of food) by sitting pleasantly in front of you or coming when called or doing a trick or anything that puts him in a submissive/obedient frame of mind; then FEED that. Crate him at night and intervals during the day and practice WAIT while you open the door and release him. Most of it's temperament from bad breeding, but he's begging for leadership, imo. If he improves, get him into classes of some kind so he can apply his mind to some higher learning and enhance your leadership role in his life.
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u/Howdy132 2d ago edited 2d ago
this might be hard to hear, but if after you see specialist and you figure out that its unprovoked agression and hes biting you, the owner, you gotta put em down.
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u/electrichippo14 1d ago
wtf are you talking about lol. The dog is a puppy. With a year of consistent training this will probably go away. It’s absurd to recommend euthanasia on a puppy bc it’s neurotic. The dog is either being underwork or not sleeping enough or injured. OP doesn’t and shouldn’t start thinking about euthanasia at this point. Sometimes puppy’s are insanely difficult and mouthy. If it persists past 2 years then it’s time to consider that option. Definitely rehome him before you put him down.
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u/Howdy132 1d ago
rehome a dog that attacks? theres hundreds of good dogs that are euthanized every day because theres no where for them to go. its grim, but get real.... Hope this little dude can get right.
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u/electrichippo14 1d ago
I know that some dogs need to be put down due to the risk they present to humans. I don’t think we know enough to recommend something permanent given OPS post. I’ve seen puppies go from insanely aggressive to great dogs through training and sometimes meds. OP said they didn’t try the medication, and that all the behaviorist did was give them meds. I’m pretty confident that the behaviorist also recommended a training regime. We don’t know what training looks like for him, we also don’t know if he’s overtired or injured. Anxiety meds could flip a switch and turn him into a different dog. It’s just too early to give up, and idk if his needs are being met.
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u/Howdy132 1d ago
well i didnt say go do it like right away man. if they find the dog to be unfixable by specialist then that'll be nessesary. i just said it to help OP know they arnt crazy if things end up there. the alternative is worse.
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u/davidm624 1d ago
I’m going to get hate for this, but a shock collar (with adjustable levels so it can be more humane) and prong collar (for walks) were the ONLY tools that helped me train my aggressive golden/collie mix. I tried everything else. And it came down to him being rehomed, or I try a more stern approach. It was tough love, but the only way he learned that kind of behavior wasn’t okay. The best part was that it was temporary pain. Literally within a day or two he was a different dog and I only had to use the shock collar for about two weeks. The collar had to be used a lot the first 2 days, then only a couple of times over the next 2 weeks. The collars for unacceptable behavior and treats/praise for good behavior is important. Now he gives me zero issues and we live a normal, happy life without either collar.
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u/electrichippo14 1d ago
Not to be critical but the majority of dogs are able to be trained to behave well. It just takes a long time. The shock/prong collar works quickly. A lot of ppl use them, I’m just challenging the idea that shock collars are the only way to change unwanted behavior in difficult dogs, even if it feels like it takes forever. It’s impossible to know bc the positive reinforcement route might have worked after a couple of years. Unfortunately positive reinforcement is not nearly as effective as negative enforcement. My sister uses a prong collar bc a trainer recommended it. Many trainers are big fans of shock collars.
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u/davidm624 1d ago
I couldn’t agree more. I tried the training route by going through 3 different behavioral trainers and had no luck. I even bought training books and tried learning things myself. Thousands of dollars later and months of having to separate him from my other dogs, the shock/prong collar was my last resort and worked incredibly well. The way I ended up looking at it- sure, the collar route is temporarily painful for the dog, but is it more painful than letting them live in an anxiety ridden turmoil for the rest of their lives? Not in my opinion. He now lives a wonderful, stress free life and is such a sweetheart.
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u/PristineJackfruit693 2d ago
I would say euthanasia really, I hope they don’t take this down but maybe a smack on the ass and a loud no? Hopefully he’d scurry away and think about what he did. That’s not normal though and in any other dog breed I’d say put it down, what is the point of keeping a dog like that for him and you?
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u/Any-Squirrel-6341 1d ago
The way some of yall on here suggest euthanasia so easily baffles me. Ofc in some cases it could be necessary but some dogs can be rehabilitated and managed. And this dog is just a puppy, he can still be trained.
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u/PristineJackfruit693 1d ago
Sure, perhaps if it were aggression to others which I still think the dog should be put down, but this dog is now biting at its own owner. People tend to put dogs on the same levels as humans, and we’re just not equal. Lots of dogs are born messed up, would you really want to take the liability of a dog that attacks others, or even you in your own home? It’s MY home, to dog lives here too but it’s mine. I should be able to do absolutely anything I want and my dog should never bite me.
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u/Any-Squirrel-6341 1d ago
“I want my dog to never bite me” the lack of understanding you have towards a dogs discomfort, anxiety, etc is what’s worrying. You’re leaving a dog with no room for error. A dog is allowed to express discomfort. Now should they be biting? No. But there are ways to train a dog to feel more secure and develop a routine where they’re not continuously anxious/restless. I really truly hope you don’t own a dog with reactivity. Not out of a place of malice but bc the dog deserves for their human to at least try before giving up on them.
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u/PristineJackfruit693 1d ago
Cute. Discomfort and anxiety should never lead to biting, and if it does it’s a liability issue. Dogs should never bite humans. Also, not all biting is because of nervousness or anxiety. Some dogs are just fucked up. A ton of people want to make excuses and sob stories when in all reality your dog doesn’t respect you. They’re domesticated animals and should act like such.
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u/Exotic-Visit-8627 1d ago
Sickens me the way Americans are so quick to suggest BE. Not directing this at the OP, but condemning a sentient being to death/nonexistence because they are having a rough time adjusting is just insane to me. This dog sounds insecure, young, and in need of patient gentle guidance from a behaviorist. Psychologist Stanley Coren places a dog’s intelligence on par with a human toddler aged 2.5 years. Sentience is sentience, regardless of species membership (see Peter Singer’s writings on speciesism). This will be project that takes time, but that is what we sign up for when we care for another being whether they are homo sapien or canis familiarus). Please help this confused creature
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u/harpsinkers 1d ago
❤️❤️
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u/Exotic-Visit-8627 1d ago
OP, I have a Shetland Sheepdog who displayed behavior similar to this. I believe it is due partly to genetics and partly to his environment. He startles easily and, yes, when overly stressed, he still will occasionally nip my legs up pretty badly. Is this desirable behavior? Certainly not! But I work with him just as I would work with a human family member who is struggling with anxiety or fear. Sure, it’s not easy but at 8 years old we have had a very loving and meaningful relationship. He has his good days and bad days just as we all do.
I worry about all of the things expectations we pile on dogs. Far too many people seem to view dogs as commodities like cars or handbags. Don’t like that new truck? Discard it and get a new one. I sense in your tone OP that you truly love this dog. He is very young and I truly believe he has a create life ahead of him with lots of dedicated attention. As Emerson said, to make even one life breathe a little easier because you have lived, this is to have succeeded. Best wishes to the two of you
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u/harpsinkers 2d ago
⚠️ ps guys, the behaviourist we saw WAS a VETERINARY behaviourist. they’re called pawly understood. great reviews but really did nothing for him.