Hi All
Im from the uk, so i hope you don't minding me joining. I have a question for you more experience dog owners that i hope you can help me with:

I have had a couple of situations over the past couple of weeks as follows:

1. My dog pinched something he shouldn't have had and run under the the table, my 13 year old son put his hand under to try and get it back and he snarl and snapped at him. Missed thankfully.
2. My girlfriend stopped him chasing his tail by getting hold of his collar and his twisted over and bit her wrist resulting in 2 paper stitches and a tetnus.
3. He was near my daughters hamster and i went to usher him away and i could see the intent of a potential snap, but didn't carry it out.
Other than that over the past week or so, he has been very relaxed around the house with no issues what so ever, a lovely dog.
4. On Sunday gone at dog training there was a boy slowly walking past and he ws giving him the collie eye and then just lunged at him, he was out of range, but the intent was there.

I was then in the naughty corner and now have to talk with the dog behaviourist, more money.

I have now changed from a flat collar to a prong collar, which he respects more and he again has been as good as gold since. He seems to get very focused on things and i think his prey drive kicks in, he will also try chasing joggers and bikes as well.

Any advice would be very welcome.

need more details on the dog please .

age , gender , how long in the family , living circumstances , other pets , training regimen , etc . . .

 Quote: ian bunbury

age ,
gender ,
how long in the family ,
living circumstances , other pets ,
training regimen , etc . . .

Also, was that food or what that he pinched in #1?

What kind of and how much structured exercise is he getting?

Is he allowed full access to the home? No management? (Pinched the item, allowed near hamster cage, etc.)?

What kind of ob work are you doing?


Anyone who responds will need each of these, and probably more, answered.)


And WELCOME.

I am certain that your dog is not one bit "mean" -- he's just bred to make his point with his mouth, so he does. Finding a way for him to use his talents plus getting some of his excess energy burnt off will let him become a dog you can trust.

Trying some herding classes, or Trieball, or flyball, something of that sort would really be great. He's probably got the genes to work all day long in all weather.


Have patience and work with the Forum. These people can really help you.

delete duplicate

Edited by Connie Sutherland (09/17/2012 04:43 PM)
Edit reason: delete duplicate

"I am certain that your dog is not one bit "mean" "

Big ditto.

So far, I just see handler errors, pack structure errors, management errors, etc.

This is good news! Because with more info, some good advice can be given.

Hi All
My dod is a 10 month old neutered male. He has been with the family since 10 weeks and is from working stock, bought from a farm.

He lives in the house as a pet and generally stays down stairs, but does get up stairs every now and then. Will get on the couch, where he is not allowed and we constantly have to get him off. When i do this he will go dead and begin to mouth to say im staying, but i still pull him off.

The item he pinched was i think a sock, as he will swallow them and then usually pass them or throw them back up, which is why we try to get them off him.

The only other pet in the house is the hamster in my daughters bedroom upstairs. Hamster was definately my fault, he should not have been there, but i do feel it should not be show his teeth to try and get his own way.

He is going to weekly obedience training, where i think he is looked upon as trouble because each week i go he starts pulling to fight with other dogs, usually just until he settles in again and can then sometimes do very well. He completed puppy foundation and is now in class one, nearing class 2.

As for excercise he gets an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening, plus he has access to a sizable garden all day and evening. I also do basic training with him on a regular basis and will play with him on his walks with a ball and a frisbie.

I also have difficult getting him to focus on me, for example, if he is on the lead and i tell him to sit, he will do it sometimes well and sometimes very slowly and other times i have to flick the lead to get him to respond because his attention may be on the kids down the road. so focusing on me is also an issue i think.

In the not to distant past we had difficulty in getting him to relax in the evenings as he would speed around the garden at 100 mph, but now i have moved his toys which only come out when i say and purchased a kong which he likes. so evening are great now.

Hope this is enough info, BTW he also really likes to chase bikes and will chase runners on occassion.

Many thanks for your time and assistance.

Just an addon note, i took him out this morning and he walked pretty well, until we got back on my road, he then starts to play by grabbing the lead and pulling. Now in the past two days of using the prong collar, i just give it a flick with my wrist and that was enough for him to stop, he wanted to do it, but didn't. This morning i did the same and he didn't let go and growled more, so i flicked him again a little firmer, to which he intensified a little more, until after a third time flicking him and he then let go, but he did look quite angry, to the point, i thought i better not touch him. He was also then agitated when i got into the house.

I am not sure if i did the right thing here, so please advise, but after watching a few videos from leerburg the correction i gave was probably not even a one, so i thought is he challenging me and should i have been a little firmer. I think that by being soft on him, it is irritating him more than correcting him.

Please be honest in your replies, i wont be offended, i just want to get things right for everyone in the house and especially the dog.

JMO, but from your description, your dog sounds to me like he's feeling a little big for his britches. It sounds like you're doing the right things, but the symptoms indicate he needs stronger leadership.

You need to give sharp (if not hard) pops on the prong, not flicks. I would also crate this dog and start working him more. Make him earn access to the house, instead of doing what he wants when he wants.

i suppose like most pet owners, i am worried if i do it to hard can the prongs do him any harm, like puncture the skin. Which i suppose is why im really only tickling him with it, although it does make him think twice, but try again. In the UK you can't buy a prong collar except on the net, so i feel a little concious walking him with it on, as people over here frown on them. But my dog has pulled on the lead for the past 7 months and its time it stopped. So people will just have to frown. Thanks for your info Duane