Finding our Dog a new home

[MamatoPeach]

We have a border collie mix. We have had her since beginning of 2005. When she is 'upset' with us she has accidents around the house. She is aggressive with people and animals. Today she attacked another dog on a walk. We can't handle her anymore.

I feel awful. She has been through training classes. One class threatened to kick her out because of her aggression.

Any advice? She was a rescue dog. Our last resort is returning her to the rescue.

[greenmagick]

First, she is not having accidents because she is 'upset' with you.

Are you wanting advice on rehoming her or on helping her issues?

If you are wanting to rehome, then yes, definitely return her to the rescue.

If you are wanting to work on her, I would get a behaviorist involved. Some ladies here could probably help get you started, but would need more info on the behaviour....even then, its really best to see someone face to face. First off though, how much mental and physical exercise is she getting? Border Collies need a ton of both.

[Ola_]

I agree with the PP.

Also, I definitely think you should return her to the rescue rather than try to rehome her yourself. First, it was probably in your adoption contract. Second, you already know she is aggressive so there are very, very few homes that will be able to manage her safely (and most of those already have dogs). If you rehome her knowing her issues and someone gets bit or a dog is killed, you could very well get sued.

[MamatoPeach]

Tell me why she has accidents in the house after being outside all day? I dont understand what else we can do to keep her from having accidents in the house?? She gets attention all day, we through balls, frisbees, she goes on walks, we have another dog she plays with. Not enough? Well then what is enough?

Of course she is going back to the rescue if we cannot find a way to handle her anymore.

We cannot afford trainers or behaviorist. My husband has been laid off for a while. She has already been through dog training twice, one class threatening to kick us out because of her behavior. I am sure having a one on one session is pretty $$

[MamatoPeach]

Originally Posted by Ola_

I agree with the PP.

Also, I definitely think you should return her to the rescue rather than try to rehome her yourself. First, it was probably in your adoption contract. Second, you already know she is aggressive so there are very, very few homes that will be able to manage her safely (and most of those already have dogs). If you rehome her knowing her issues and someone gets bit or a dog is killed, you could very well get sued.

Yes, thats why i said our last resort is returning her to the rescue.

[Eman'smom]

How long are you walking, any chance you jog? We are talking walking MILES. If our shepard mix gets a 3 mile walk she's good for about a half a day, she'd love two of those if I could do it. You dog needs to be walked so long that by the end all they care about is the walk, nothing around them. Oh and is she walking next to you like you two are walking together or is she at the end of the leashe and everywhere?

If you can't hire a behavoirist try the library for a few good books.


Oh and yes she either isn't housetrained or she's sending you some kind of message.

[betsyj]

Have you cleaned the spots she is going in with Nature's Miracle? Dogs who aren't housetrained don't learn to housetrain themselves just because they are in the yard all day-it simply doesn't work that way.

Also, she should not have that much freedom in the house if she is going to bathroom inside. She needs to be crated or in your sight until she is reliably trained.

That said it sounds like you don't have the time or money to deal with her issues-I see you are expecting a baby which means your household will be even more pressed for time. And that is ok-not slamming you at all-behaviorial issues are very difficult to deal with and most people want a pet not a project.

But her issues don't sound like a do it yourself project either.

[greenmagick]

Originally Posted by MamatoPeach

Tell me why she has accidents in the house after being outside all day? I dont understand what else we can do to keep her from having accidents in the house??

Because she doesnt understand outside is the place to potty Either that or she is sick and cant control it. As a pp said, keep her either tethered to you, in a crate, or locked in a room with you....dont give her the oppurtunity to have an accident...go back to potty training 101. Make sure you are using natures miracle to clean the spots so that no scent remains.

What is her aggression about? When does it occur? How does she react?

[Ola_]

Yes, thats why i said our last resort is returning her to the rescue.

I'm sorry, I must have misunderstood. When you said "finding our dog a new home" I thought you wanted to rehome her yourself.

Tell me why she has accidents in the house after being outside all day? I dont understand what else we can do to keep her from having accidents in the house??

Actually it can be pretty confusing to be outside all day from a potty training perspective. If you think about it, when she is outside she can go potty at any time no matter where she is. If she feels the need to go, she just squats and goes. Now when she comes inside you don't want that to happen, but she probably doesn't understand that.

What have you tried to potty train her? You would need to watch her the entire time she is inside, if you can't then confine her in a crate (you can put this in a central location where you hang out, like a living room, so you don't feel she is excluded from the family). Another good strategy is to tie her leash to your belt loop so she has to follow you around - this makes it easier to see when she needs to potty (starts sniffing around or circling suspiciously) and you can quickly take her out and praise. Basically when I'm potty training a dog I assume that if I can't see them, they're getting into trouble so I call them to me or go check on them.

Border Collies are very smart - I would try teaching her the "potty bells" also so that she can let you know when she needs to go out: http://www.howtodothings.com/pets-an...our-puppy.html I second the advice to get an enzymatic pet cleaner if you don't use one already (dog noses are so much more sensitive than ours!). Also, consider taking a urine sample to the vet's to check for a UTI (you can usually just drop the sample off at the desk without a visit for them to test).

[MamatoPeach]

Wow, thanks so much for all of your replies. I am going to have my husband read them too.

She does get ran, my husband just finished a mini marathon and used her while training( maybe she misses that training) We are still walking her, but not running as much.

As far as potty training goes: She has been potty trained. We have had her for over 4 years. She is fine and then all of a sudden she starts having accidents. They come and go. She is outside all day, she comes inside for short spurts to cool off, eat the food off the floor after my daughter's meals, and when we leave she gets crated. We also crate her at night because we don't trust her.

Today my husband and I decided to try everything before we return her to the rescue, we have already contacted the rescue for advice and to let them know we are at our end. He took her for a walk today and she did great, stayed at his side and did not get aggressive when he walked by two dogs that piss her off normally. This gives us hope.

We also purchased a citronella bark collar to help with her aggressive barking outside.

So thanks again, keep the advice flowing. Maybe we will try to keep her leash attached to us when she is in the house.

[MamatoPeach]

Originally Posted by Ola_

I'm sorry, I must have misunderstood. When you said "finding our dog a new home" I thought you wanted to rehome her yourself.


Actually it can be pretty confusing to be outside all day from a potty training perspective. If you think about it, when she is outside she can go potty at any time no matter where she is. If she feels the need to go, she just squats and goes. Now when she comes inside you don't want that to happen, but she probably doesn't understand that.

What have you tried to potty train her? You would need to watch her the entire time she is inside, if you can't then confine her in a crate (you can put this in a central location where you hang out, like a living room, so you don't feel she is excluded from the family). Another good strategy is to tie her leash to your belt loop so she has to follow you around - this makes it easier to see when she needs to potty (starts sniffing around or circling suspiciously) and you can quickly take her out and praise. Basically when I'm potty training a dog I assume that if I can't see them, they're getting into trouble so I call them to me or go check on them.

Border Collies are very smart - I would try teaching her the "potty bells" also so that she can let you know when she needs to go out: http://www.howtodothings.com/pets-an...our-puppy.html I second the advice to get an enzymatic pet cleaner if you don't use one already (dog noses are so much more sensitive than ours!). Also, consider taking a urine sample to the vet's to check for a UTI (you can usually just drop the sample off at the desk without a visit for them to test).

The truth is, we have already put our time and energy into potty training this dog. Not sure why she regresses. We have a toddler that we have to watch and make she she is not getting into trouble. It makes me upset that my energy has to be taken away from my child to retrain our dog. But I know its our responsibility, I just want to know that this time its going to stick!!

[gumby74]

Originally Posted by betsyj

Have you cleaned the spots she is going in with Nature's Miracle? Dogs who aren't housetrained don't learn to housetrain themselves just because they are in the yard all day-it simply doesn't work that way.

Also, she should not have that much freedom in the house if she is going to bathroom inside. She needs to be crated or in your sight until she is reliably trained.

That said it sounds like you don't have the time or money to deal with her issues-I see you are expecting a baby which means your household will be even more pressed for time. And that is ok-not slamming you at all-behaviorial issues are very difficult to deal with and most people want a pet not a project.

But her issues don't sound like a do it yourself project either.

I have to agree with the nature's miracle. It really takes the urine smell out and I have seen many dogs stop urinating afterwards. Does the rescue have any helpful advice? What about your vet? Before I returned the dog, I would most definitely call everyone and anyone for advice in case someone says something that might work. Best of luck!

[Girl In The Fire]

Originally Posted by MamatoPeach

Wow, thanks so much for all of your replies. I am going to have my husband read them too.


As far as potty training goes: She has been potty trained. We have had her for over 4 years. She is fine and then all of a sudden she starts having accidents. They come and go. She is outside all day, she comes inside for short spurts to cool off, eat the food off the floor after my daughter's meals, and when we leave she gets crated. We also crate her at night because we don't trust her.

.

Does she pee and poop inside? Does she do it only at certain times like when she is left alone?

Have you had her checked by a vet recently? I could be a simple thing to correct like spay incontinence or a bladder infection, or something more serious like a tumor.

[MamatoPeach]

Our border collie has been really good lately. My husband was even able to take her on a walk with our other dog and my daughter in the stroller.

I don't know, I think she just needs refresher courses on behavior. She forgets who is boss and rebels. My husband did alone walks with her to retrain her and she hasn't had any accidents.

If I get to a breaking point again, remind me that she will get better again.

Thanks!

[I~love~pie]

one thing I do with our dogs is put a treat in a cup, they can not easily get their nose into . they have to figure out how to tip the cup over and get the treat out. sounds so easy but they just love doing this. sometimes I use 3 cups and they have to figure out where the treat is. gets them thinking.

one of our dogs does not like other dogs. (well most dogs anyways some she will socialize with) generally we just avoid other dogs when out on walks. she can walk by them without incident but if they come near her she freaks (she was attacked last summer and I just dont know enough people with dogs that can help socializer her again) hopefully I can get a good behavorist after we move.

I wish you luck with her. I know we had some major issues with our lab pup these past few months and really once I change how I viewed things and the way I handled things she really has changed. She did show some aggression towards me. I basically found out I was just to soft with her.