July 14, 2022
Our Border Collie is taking off after vehicles, is an e-collar the route to go?
Full Question:
Our 3-year-old border collie, who's always high drive, has taken to lurching out after vehicles. It started with rattly trucks with trailers, and not its even noisy vehicles. He can be fully engaged and still reacts. It seems to be the sound and motion. Is an e-collar the route to go? He'll also take off if there is a bouncy ball e.g. basketball or tennis going on too? I don't see how we can engagement train him off this and it's life-threatening for him as he reacts and chases the moving vehicles. Thanks! 
Cindy's Answer:
When you say he'll take off I am guessing that means he's off-leash?
If so, then keeping him on a leash or long line at all times is critical. The more he practices taking off after distractions the harder your job of training him will be.
I'd definitely condition him to the e-collar but you may need in-person help for introducing distractions. Looking back over our correspondence it seems that he's struggled with this type of behavior for a while now. The e-collar is a great tool but I'd definitely be thoughtful about how to introduce it and get professional help for working through his biggest triggers for reactivity.
If so, then keeping him on a leash or long line at all times is critical. The more he practices taking off after distractions the harder your job of training him will be.
I'd definitely condition him to the e-collar but you may need in-person help for introducing distractions. Looking back over our correspondence it seems that he's struggled with this type of behavior for a while now. The e-collar is a great tool but I'd definitely be thoughtful about how to introduce it and get professional help for working through his biggest triggers for reactivity.
User Response:
The taking-off is on-leash. He's on a leash or long line almost all the time. I give him (very) limited time off it to engage with other dogs periodically. He does recall from these situations but only if they are very limited in number or he gets a bad habit of "forgetting" recall. He's not super great socially, if I'm throwing a ball he gets pretty aggressively protective of it (and possibly me)Thanks for the feedback on the e-collar. That's what I was kind of thinking, that it has to be "managed" or it could make things worse.
There are some good dog behavioral people here and it may be worth it before just getting a collar. I'm going to reach out to them.
I guess this is what you get from a border collie coming from a ranch lineage. Smart and driven :-)
Cindy's Answer:
I’d use the collar for reinforcing obedience, mainly recalls right now, and I would not allow him off leash in situations that he’s shown you he isn’t reliable (like around other dogs). Work on the reactivity to distractions as a separate exercise with some skilled help if you can.
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