HELP!!!! I have a 7 month old Bearded Collie Puppy who is an...

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Question by Daisy
Submitted on 10/16/2003
Related FAQ: rec.pets.dogs: Bearded Collies Breed-FAQ
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HELP!!!! I have a 7 month old Bearded Collie Puppy who is an Absolute terror. We got him at 9 weeks and tried to crate train him for the first three months but it was impossible-he went insane every night allowing us no sleep. Also when we left him in the crate he would salivate all over himself and the crate, he would also reach his paws out and scratch the walls and floor until the tiles were ruined and scratched all the paint off the walls. Then we tried baby gates to confine him in the kitchen-Nothing was high enough he can jump 5 feet. He chewed the walls near the gates. if we leave him in a room with the door shut he attacks the door and ruins that as well. But these confinement issues are hardly the biggest problem. He constantly has to be destroying something - and if there is nothing in reach for him to destroy he will bite on my clothing and growl. He gets really hyper and jumps up and bites me and my mother all the time, my mother cannot even walk him because he attacks her on walks-the other day he attacked her hand and she had to get stitches and he attacked both of her breasts. We recently got him neutered but he has not calmed down at all. He can be good sometimes and even affectionate-but his bad side is becoming too much he thinks he is the alpha dog. He had been to obedience class and will do sit and lie down commands, and when we run him in the woods he will come to a whistle- yet he does not understand "No bite" at all. He is the worst when he is at home, even after a lengthy exercise. He has been to a doggie psychiatrist but I think he was full of it because nothing has changed-he does okay walking on a head halter that's about all the Psychiatrist did... Please We want to Love and keep our Angus but we cannot live in fear that he will bite us or someone else! for any comments or advice e-mail Daisiechick@aol.com

Answer by Cee Cee
Submitted on 1/13/2004
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I'm sorry you and your pup are having such trouble. I'm the owner of a 7-month-old beardie girl who is a true joy. Lots of work, but very sweet. This breed isn't for everyone. Beardies are very intelligent, high energy, people dogs who do best with a lot of human contact. Because they are so smart, they will find something to do. If it isn't something positive, it will be something negative. If you want to help Angus become a polite family member, you will need to spend lots of time with him. He needs a lot of exercise every day. Does he play fetch? Teach him to run after a ball and bring it back so he does the running instead of you. Patricia McConnell's books on family dog training have nice instructions on teaching fetch. She has a show on National Public Radio, "Calling All Pets." Station listings and the books are on their web site at www.wpr.org/pets You will have to learn to be a really skilled dog handler who can help Angus learn by being consistent and positive. He has some bad habits, so it's going to take extra work. This is a lot like being the parent of a toddler or a rebellious teen. Here are some resources for you. There is a message board for Bearded Collie owners on the web at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BeardieList. They are incredibly helpful. If you have a Pets Mart store near you, sign up for their training classes (mostly for the people, but the dog goes too). Work with Angus every day and reward him big time for proper behavior. AKC obedience clubs are another source. It will take more than one class, and everyone in the family will need to be consistent in the way they deal with Angus. The biting is a very serious issue, but I've never known a beardie who was truly mean unless it had been mistreated. Angus may think people are chew toys. Whenever he nips, even a little, yelp loudly like a puppy and turn your back on him. That's dog language for "too rough, game ends." Avoid rough house and tug games. It can encourage aggression. Get connected to your nearest AKC regional Bearded Collie Club. If you decide you can't keep Angus, contact Beardie rescue by clicking on the rescue tab on the BCCA home page http://bcca.us Most reputable breeders will also take their dogs back and find new homes for them if necessary.

Answer by Kim Siemens
Submitted on 4/15/2004
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(LONG)Hi there, it is unfortunate that you are experiencing such a hard time with your pup. There is still hope for you to enjoy him if you take matters into your own hands NOW!! I am a professial dog trainer of 9 years and I own and compete in various dog sports with Bearded Collies as well as Border Collies. What you are experiencing is a dog that has taked over the leadership role. In order for you to gain back the respect and control of your dog you must teach him that you are the ONLY resource in his life. This means that he does not eat, sleep, play, ect. until you tell him too! This may sound harsh, but you will have a better relationship for it in the long run. You are on the right track with the head halter idea...I would recommend using a Gentle Leader though as they are more reliable. Leave this on your dog, fairly snug so he can't get it off himself, and don't take it off!! (even when he is crated, eating, ect.) This is a tool that gives you totall control over the dogs body. Hand feed your dog, do NOT give him a bowl of his own, he own'sNOTHING! Make him work for every piece of kibble by either making him sit, lay down, look at you, whatever. The only time he gets toys is when you are playing WITH him. He stays in his crate when you are not with him, even if he hates it. IGNORE HIM when he barks even if it means not sleeping for a week! REWARD him when he is quiet. Buy the book Ruff Love by Susan Garrett and PLEASE if you can't be consistant and train him now, give him to someone who can. It's better for everyone, it's the responsible thing to do. If he bites someone else it may mean he is put to sleep, my guess is that he doesn't deserve to die! Kim

Answer by Ginny
Submitted on 9/14/2004
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Dear Daisy, I am also sorry you are having a hard time with your puppy. The next time your puppy bites or tries to bite, discipline her by holding her by the scruff and saying loudly "NO! YOU DON'T EVER BITE!" Just make sure you get through to her to let her know who is boss around here. The next time you puppy scratches the walls and you catch her doing it yell "NO!" and take the puppy away from the wall, and put it outside. This lets her know she is not allowed to do that around here and if she does she'll be discipline. If you don't catch her in the act but you see she did something bad, find her and pick her up by the scruff while holding her bottom to make her learn thats what will happen if she is in trouble. Take her to what she did wrong and let go of her bottom to have her hanging there. If she starts to whimper hold her bottom again. Hold her in front of her wrong doing and keep yelling at her, "What did you do?!" This tells her whatever she is going through that was not the answer and it also won't hurt her.

Answer by DogLover
Submitted on 3/13/2006
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Hi there, I would HIGHLY recommend that you check out Cesar Milan's web site (www.dogpsychologycenter.com) and/or watch his show on the National Geographic channel. He currently has a link to a chunk of text from his upcoming book, and it's very educational. He specializes in problem dogs and most of the problems can be traced to either dominance issues or people mistakenly rewarding the wrong kind of behavior. You don't need to be harsh, just very consistent and remember that the dog needs you to speak to him in his language. Things like making him work for food, only playing when you initiate it versus him, making sure to go through doors ahead of the dog, all sound kind of weird but the techniques really work! Best of luck to you!

Answer by LITTLE L
Submitted on 7/10/2006
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HI THERE! IT'S SO UNFORTUNATE ABOUT YOUR SITUATION.I HAVE A 6 MONTH OLD MALE BEARDED COLLIE,AND HE IS THE LOVE OF OUR LIVES. WE HAD GOTTEN HIM FROM A REPUTABLE BREEDER AT 9 WEEKS OLD, FOLLOWED ALL HER INSTRUCTIONS AND WERE VERY VERY CONSISTENT WITH OUR TRAINING.I HAVE TO TELL YOU, HE'S IN THE KITCHEN WITH 2 GATES,AND WE CAN LEAVE FOR 4 HOURS AND HE'LL JUST SLEEP OR LIE DOWN BY HIMSELF WITH NOTHING TOUCHED OR RUINED. I AM NOT WORKING AND HAVEN'T WORKED SINCE WE GOT HIM.THE KEY IS, BE WITH HIM, PLAY WITH HIM,SHOW HIM YOU ARE THE BOSS.YOU HAVE TO SPRAY BITTER APPLE SPRAY ON ALL THAT YOU DON'T WANT DAMAGED. HE SLEEPS IN THE CRATE AT NIGHT.HE CRIES FOR 5 MINUTES,WE TELL HIM GOODNIGHT, AND THEN HE'S QUIET AND GOES TO SLEEP! CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY.YOU HAVE TO REWARD HIM FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR,AND DON'T REWARD HIM FOR BEHAVIOR THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. YOU'LL SEE, HE'LL CHANGE.YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF PATIENCE WITH A PUPPY.IT'S JUST LIKE A CHILD; PATIENCE AND CONSISTENCY AND YOU'LL GET THE RESULTS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY LONG FOR. IF HE BITES AND NIPS, PUT HIM IN THE CRATE FOR A TIME OUT; HE'LL GET THE HINT THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. GOOD LUCK! THEY ARE REALLY GOOD FAMILY DOGS.PLEASE TAKE TIME TO ENJOY HIM!

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Answer by janine
Submitted on 11/13/2003
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Your dog sounds very upset. My beardie is very mellow, but does not like other dogs. I use a Haltie when walking her at all times and this helps control her and doesn't hurt her at all. You may need a type of semi-muzzle for your dog. Typically, Beardies are people dogs and like to be right with you at all times. My dog wouldn't do the crate thing at all. I'm sure you will find out how to help your beardie...hopefully a vet or other email may hold more info. Hang in there :) Good luck. Janine and DaisyBell

Answer by CB
Submitted on 2/10/2004
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I have a 3 yr. old Beardie. Outside of the "eating and wearing hair". she has the most wonderful tempermant and personality. I had the good fortune of being able to take her to work with me every day and did that for the first year of her life. That socialization I'm sure had an impact on her outcome. She has a brother (that lives in the same city) that is extremely timid. If you purchased your puppy from a reputable breeder I would suggest trying to discuss a replacement. A beardie should not have any aggression whatsoever

Answer by Shan
Submitted on 6/4/2004
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I have a ? how old dose my 7 month old mini dacshund have to be to have puppies?

Answer by WYATT
Submitted on 3/27/2005
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I am almost 9 years old & home schooled.for my age, i know a great deal on dogs.i know it would break your heart to give him up, but sometimes thats just what you have to do.if he bites someone else that probably what you'll have to do.

Answer by Shamus
Submitted on 5/22/2005
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I am sorry to hear about your 7 month old bearded collie puppy, but i heard that u put something that tastes nasty on where she bites daily like liquid soap she should stop biting you.

Answer by bearded collie lover
Submitted on 10/21/2005
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I wouldn't put a bearded collie in a crate. In my opinion, they are just too personable and intelligent to be crated. My advice is to leave dog beds, pillows, toys,and bones around when you are gone. He will love you for it and be comforted by them until you return. When I first got my beardy, I sprayed things I didn't want him to chew with a "no lick" product you can get at any pet store. I haven't had to spray anything in 6 years. Good luck with your beardy. I hope

Answer by Jennifer
Submitted on 1/21/2006
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how old does my dog have to be to have puppies (my dog is a border collie)

Answer by will
Submitted on 4/19/2006
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it can be any time just be sure not to have the male older than she is or the puppies will die sooner!!!

Answer by chey devey
Submitted on 5/14/2006
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yes they are grate

Answer by megas001
Submitted on 11/6/2006
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How to Raise A Puppy You Can Live With is a great book. Good luck and I hope it helps.

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