Beautiful Border Collie

[Dry Rot]

What's sentimental about moving on a child biting dog? Dog bites (even nips) can easily inflict permanent facial scarring on children.

Do you have a daughter?

What the OP is saying is

The dog bites children
They're scared to have the dog around their children
But they lack the moral fibre to put the dog down, and want someone else to take on the responsibility of their poor decisions
Other people's children can run the risk of being bitten as that's easier on their conscience than destroying a dog they've failed to train or control properly.

I no longer have sheep but it was always my understanding that a working sheepdog that can't/won't protect itself is about as much use as a chocolate teapot. The dog is from working stock and it bites. Big surprise.

 

[cassienairn]

Another lockdown pup bought out of a working litter for cuddles on the sofa ...... surprisingly it’s not worked out.

Not at all, bought out of love, into a loving caring home where he is walked endlessly and loved beyond imagination. Unfortunately we also feel the same about our 4 year old..... He comes first. But thank you for your uninformed opinion. Hope you find peace in your life

 

[cassienairn]

I didn’t say any of that. I just stated the facts as presented, they bought a pet dog during lockdown. Picked a hyper breed, a male, now it’s juvenile it’s bored and looking for something to do and doesn’t have manners. And it’s being rehomed. But it is beautiful.

And for the record, lots of farmers are awful dog handlers !

This is way off. How you find peace as opposed to saying negative things to strangers you know nothing about

 

[Jrp221]

Not at all, bought out of love, into a loving caring home where he is walked endlessly and loved beyond imagination. Unfortunately we also feel the same about our 4 year old..... He comes first. But thank you for your uninformed opinion. Hope you find peace in your life

Well said. I'm sorry its not worked out and don't blame you in trying to rehome your boy. Its very easy to be judge and jury when you don't know the facts, how many farm dogs growl and nip? But please, be very careful who you rehome to.

 

[ladycrofter]

We revile the RSPCA/SSPCA on here quite often but they do take and rehome dogs, and give an honest description e.g no other pets/no children/etc. Collies are not on the site long. Also there must be a collie rehoming agency somewhere around you. Or a private one, we have a private/charity one locally who does a tremendous job.
Regarding another home, I know of 2 people who rehome collies and do agility training with them, so bound to be plenty of suitable new owners out there.

We all know that collie puppies can be a bit mouthy and if this is not discouraged at an early age then things can go wrong as the dog gets older, whether with sheep or humans.

@unlacedgecko I have a resuce who supposedly bit her owners. She was not treated well and had developed many confidence issues. Never ever made to bite me, and is a lovely wee dog and fantastic with children. She needed to know that she was valued, safe and important. Only a dog can tell its own story.

 

[CopperBeech]

Not at all, bought out of love, into a loving caring home where he is walked endlessly and loved beyond imagination. Unfortunately we also feel the same about our 4 year old..... He comes first. But thank you for your uninformed opinion. Hope you find peace in your life

I have a very peaceful life.

I didn’t say you didn’t love the dog.

But it was bought during lockdown, it was bought from a working home and you now admit it probably needs work or greater stimulation. It has developed negative traits which you are unable to sort out.

It was bought to be ‘loved’ which is great, but unfortunately with dogs, love isn’t really enough, and often loving the dog and treating it as a baby is part of the issue.

My other half has one dog, I have twelve. Hers is her ‘baby princess’, and she loves it dearly. And walks it lots.

When I met her, her dog was snappy, chased sheep, was food possessive, would snap at you if you tried to push it off the sofa etc. Roll on 18 months and the dog is good with sheep, well mannered and responds more to me than her. I do love the dog but I’m also firm and tough with it.

I’m sorry if I offended you, but there are so many dogs being rehomed these days by very nice family’s who love them but basically are t capable of handling and training them.

 

[CopperBeech]

Well said. I'm sorry its not worked out and don't blame you in trying to rehome your boy. Its very easy to be judge and jury when you don't know the facts, how many farm dogs growl and nip? But please, be very careful who you rehome to.

I wouldn’t find it acceptable for any farm dog or any dog to nip a person with no purpose.

 

[Dry Rot]

This is way off. How you find peace as opposed to saying negative things to strangers you know nothing about

A collie off working stock is not an ideal pet except for the exceptional home with specific qualities. The reasons have been clearly, if sometimes bluntly, stated in previous posts.

The OP clearly didn't know about the problems and went ahead and bought the dog anyway. It is perfectly reasonable that members of a farming forum should warn others not to make the same mistake.

I couldn't comment about the breeder who sold the dog. When I sold gundogs, I had a five page application form and an awful lot of dreamers and wannabees were turned away! I never knowingly sold to pet homes.

 

[CopperBeech]

Just for the record before anyone thinks I’m a horrible barsteward. I’ve got a 2 year old bitch in my kennels now which I rescued and was a nervy, dog aggressive people biter. It’s now very well adjusted and is off to a nice, loving pet home, who understand the needs / training / boundary’s required.

I get called up and offered young collies all of the time, same as young gun dogs, terriers, Lurchers and guard dog breeds. The story is usually the same.

Had a sprocker brought over the other week, biting people etc. Sounded like a beast. It was 18 weeks old! It was a puppy having a nip and a play but the family had got really worked up and were a prisoner to the dog. It’s now in a working home and very settled and happy.

 

[cassienairn]

I have a very peaceful life.

I didn’t say you didn’t love the dog.

But it was bought during lockdown, it was bought from a working home and you now admit it probably needs work or greater stimulation. It has developed negative traits which you are unable to sort out.

It was bought to be ‘loved’ which is great, but unfortunately with dogs, love isn’t really enough, and often loving the dog and treating it as a baby is part of the issue.

My other half has one dog, I have twelve. Hers is her ‘baby princess’, and she loves it dearly. And walks it lots.

When I met her, her dog was snappy, chased sheep, was food possessive, would snap at you if you tried to push it off the sofa etc. Roll on 18 months and the dog is good with sheep, well mannered and responds more to me than her. I do love the dog but I’m also firm and tough with it.

I’m sorry if I offended you, but there are so many dogs being rehomed these days by very nice family’s who love them but basically are t capable of handling and training them.

I would like to note this literally started 4 weeks ago. He has snuggled my son and been best of friends. We have sort advice, been the vets, everything we can whilst also having our sons and other childrens safety at heart. I am doing best by doing this. I do not want to muzzle him, segregate him or have him be in different rooms to our son, that is not fair on him. Or having to keep him on a lead in a public place. This was not an easy decision, also not one that was made out of laziness or that we couldn't be bothered anymore. If you don't want to offend, you could maybe choose your words better. I am a kind person with a good heart, and this is a decision that has derived from a good place

 

[Chris F]

Dogs do go through phases. Collies are a very tough breed imo. But if you aren't happy then getting a collie out to a working farm is a good idea. I'm sure there is a farmer who will take him. Hope you find a home for him so he has a chance before handing him over to a dogs home. So it was worth a try and every comment, positive or negative gets more farmers seeing this request.

 

[primmiemoo]

Would taking him to a dog behaviourist be something you'd like to consider, @cassienairn ? ~

Find a clinical animal behaviourist | RSPCA - RSPCA - rspca.org.uk

If your pet develops a behaviour problem, please seek advice from a professional animal behaviourist. Find out how to find a qualified behaviourist.

www.rspca.org.uk

Your lovely dog is in the throes of his teens, so needs guidance in order to learn his place within his pack (family). It feels like second nature when dealing with this change in a dog within a family with loads of experience with dogs (odd, but true ~ I consider myself partly reared by my parents' very first collie bitch), but it's a set of skills that can be learnt. You could find that with a little support from someone who's bilingual in new keeper and young dog, you will have a happy, settled, very intelligent member of your pack for the next dozen years or so.

 

[cassienairn]

Dogs do go through phases. Collies are a very tough breed imo. But if you aren't happy then getting a collie out to a working farm is a good idea. I'm sure there is a farmer who will take him. Hope you find a home for him so he has a chance before handing him over to a dogs home. So it was worth a try and every comment, positive or negative gets more farmers seeing this request.

That was my hope, I could get him out to a farm whilst he is still oyung enough. I just want to find a happy home for him, I will keep him until I can find somewhere suitable. It really is a hard choice to make. I will not just abandon him to the first person who says they want him. I hve refused many people so far, people who work full time, people who have no space for him to run, people with young families, I have been vetting as I am going along. I assure you he will not just be dumped. That is why I came to this site, not for judgement or cruelty, just for some advice and help from the right people.

 

[Henarar]

We had a collie dog that came from good working parents, absolutely useless to work but made a great big silly lump of a pet.
Had another that was great for working cattle and was also a good pet when we were kids.
so I don't believe this rubbish that collie's can't make good pets.

 

[Guleesh]

That was my hope, I could get him out to a farm whilst he is still oyung enough. I just want to find a happy home for him, I will keep him until I can find somewhere suitable. It really is a hard choice to make. I will not just abandon him to the first person who says they want him. I hve refused many people so far, people who work full time, people who have no space for him to run, people with young families, I have been vetting as I am going along. I assure you he will not just be dumped. That is why I came to this site, not for judgement or cruelty, just for some advice and help from the right people.

Can anybody really guarantee that any dog will not come into contact with any child?

Given your conclusions on what risk the dog poses to your own child, Will you be able to live with yourself if your dog goes on to maim or disfigure an infant?

Personally, in the best interests of all, including the dogs', I'd have him put to sleep.

 

[CopperBeech]

I would like to note this literally started 4 weeks ago. He has snuggled my son and been best of friends. We have sort advice, been the vets, everything we can whilst also having our sons and other childrens safety at heart. I am doing best by doing this. I do not want to muzzle him, segregate him or have him be in different rooms to our son, that is not fair on him. Or having to keep him on a lead in a public place. This was not an easy decision, also not one that was made out of laziness or that we couldn't be bothered anymore. If you don't want to offend, you could maybe choose your words better. I am a kind person with a good heart, and this is a decision that has derived from a good place

Look, I didn’t mean to offend and I’ve not been nasty or called you names or anything like that. I’ve just been straight and blunt. Everyone gets a dog because they love dogs, but not everyone is capable of handling and training them. I respect what you’re doing, as lots of folk just let them live their life on a harness with a muzzle on and have zero quality of life. However my point was simply pointing out that a hell of a lot of very well meaning folk are rehoming dogs these days which quite possibly they should never have owned in the first place.

 

[CopperBeech]

Would taking him to a dog behaviourist be something you'd like to consider, @cassienairn ? ~

Find a clinical animal behaviourist | RSPCA - RSPCA - rspca.org.uk

If your pet develops a behaviour problem, please seek advice from a professional animal behaviourist. Find out how to find a qualified behaviourist.

www.rspca.org.uk

Your lovely dog is in the throes of his teens, so needs guidance in order to learn his place within his pack (family). It feels like second nature when dealing with this change in a dog within a family with loads of experience with dogs (odd, but true ~ I consider myself partly reared by my parents' very first collie bitch), but it's a set of skills that can be learnt. You could find that with a little support from someone who's bilingual in new keeper and young dog, you will have a happy, settled, very intelligent member of your pack for the next dozen years or so.

One thing I would warn is that pretty much anyone can set themselves up as an animal behaviouralist and dog trainer. There is one near me, can’t let some her dogs off a lead, some have to be muzzled etc. Only believes in positive reinforcement; treat training etc. Generally i steer
clear of anyone with a k9 jules harness and a treat pouch.

 

[CopperBeech]

Also I wouldn’t for the record have him put to sleep!

 

[Sandpit Farm]

Can anybody really guarantee that any dog will not come into contact with any child?

Given your conclusions on what risk the dog poses to your own child, Will you be able to live with yourself if your dog goes on to maim or disfigure an infant?

Personally, in the best interests of all, including the dogs', I'd have him put to sleep.

Don't agree at all. The lady doesn't have the means to give the dog what it needs and seeks a home where there are no children. It is possible, I have no children and an anxious dog who I have rebuilt.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Don't agree at all. The lady doesn't have the means to give the dog what it needs and seeks a home where there are no children. It is possible, I have no children and an anxious dog who I have rebuilt.

If you had your own children you may think differently.