Quote: Aaron Myracle

Not to insult the breed group but... I've heard of northern breeds being like that even when bred and raised in a home situation.

Some of that is just their nature.

I would definitely say that the northern breeds would be the most challenging to socialize and acclimate after having grown up as strays, simply because their breeding makes them naturally independent. They don't seek a lot of external reinforcement. The act itself is often more reinforcement than you could provide.

I just wanted to step in and agree here, this actually sounds like fairly typical husky behavior although perhaps more extreme due to his start as a stray.

I think that a border collie, which is a breed that lives to work with their people, has a really good shot and turning out to be a totally normal dog given time and patience.

All the advice you have been given so far is excellent!

We have started marker training with her.

I have to agree and disagree, but will let you know how it works out. I do know critical stages in puppie because I raised quite of few litters in the past. So this is an interesting adventure for me is all.

 Quote: DianneSanlorenzo

We have started marker training with her.

That's great! Please keep posting as to her progress, and kudos to you for being willing to put in the extra time that it will take to integrate her into life with humans...

I agree with a lot of what you said. She has a safe spot in a 3 x 4 kennel that all her toys are in and she comes and goes as she pleases. I am just now closing the door one sec at a time to get her used to that. She is a smart one and watches my every move but good treats get the best of her.

I want to explaine the towel and holding thing.

There is something used on dogs as a calming method and wraps around them. Similar to what is used on wild horses only the horse wrap is more like a clamp.

I know this is a dog and not a horse but some ranch friends showed me a video on wild mustangs that were put in a small space and covered in grain up to their backs which gave them some room for movement but not enough to kick their way out or hurt themselves or someone else. This gave them a calming effect. Within minutes the horses were calm. Within somemore minutes the horses let someone put a bridal on them. Slowly the grain was let out just below their bellies and a saddle was put on and then a person. The grain was slowly let out and the person rode the horse calmly out.

I don't know because this is my first expierence with this but I will let you know... Time is on both our sides right now.

I agree with trying to get the collar on her and that will be our next step. Now how to out-smart a border collie is a different step.

And as for your post, you must be a saint because I would have lasted a day if that with a dog who was that way..

this lead to exposive unpredictable horses. They are just frozen in fear.
I had the joy of spending years fixing a few of horses that went through that.

In my limited experience, calm pressure from a blanket can ease panic in dogs, but I've only used it in an extreme circumstance when a very fearful rescue freaked and was going to severely injure himself. It may have been a freeze out of fear, but it seemed that it was more of a relaxed posture instead of scared stiff. What do you guys think of those Thunder Shirts that work off of the calm pressure premise? No exp. at all on this end. As far as the horse example goes, I could saddle and ride an unbroke horse without the grain pressure, but the minute a plastic bag flies by or a cow moos the horse will fly off the handle due to no desenstizing. This is true for any horse with little experience from any training method. Also, being trapped in grain is very painful. If the pressure is enough to crush a man and kill him, I can't imagine what the horse's legs would feel like. No wonder he doesn't buck.
Even so Dianne, I commend your commitment to this pup and hope you create the lifelong friend she has the potential to be