Rachel Rodgers
Do you have a sound reactive border collie? If so, you are not alone – as a breed, border collies are susceptible to fear of noises, as well as struggling to cope with specific everyday household noises. This tendency is thought to be due to selective breeding and genetics, the breeding environment, learned associations and … Read more
A clicker or marker word are what’s known as bridging stimuli – they bridge the gap between the dog doing something right and getting a treat. Dogs very quickly learn that when they hear the click or marker word, whatever they were doing at that exact moment is the right thing, and that a … Read more
Border collies are a breed known to struggles with sound sensitivity, often though to be due to their genetic background and selective breeding as working sheep dogs. There is considerable research examining sound sensitivity in dogs, and it is thought that up to 50% of dogs could be fearful of certain sounds. Several studies include … Read more
Sound sensitivity is a significant behavioural concern in dogs, with studies indicating that up to 50% of dogs could be affected (Blackwell et al., 2013). Unfortunately, border collies as a breed seem to be particularly susceptible. Research has demonstrated that Border Collies exhibit increased sensitivity to loud environmental sounds, particularly fireworks and gunshots, but owners … Read more
One of the most successful training techniques when working with collies with behaviour problems, is to focus on what your collie is doing right, rather than what they are doing wrong. Living with a Border Collie often means managing behaviours like not being able to settle, wanting to play all the time, watching for passers-by, … Read more
As a behaviourist, I am trained to recognise the behavioural symptoms of border collies in pain or discomfort, and I can work with owners and vets to get better outcomes for any animal that could be in pain. But so often, when I can see signs of pain or discomfort in a collie I am … Read more
What are abnormal repetitive behaviours? Abnormal repetitive behaviours, also known as compulsive or stereotypical behaviours, are defined as repetitive, constant, and appear to serve no obvious purpose. In border collies they can often be repeated over long periods of time, and some dogs can spend up to 90% of their waking hours carrying out these … Read more
Border collie repetitive behaviour, also know as compulsive behaviour or stereotypical behaviour is defined as “repetitive, constant, and appear to serve no obvious purpose”. Examples include: shadow or light chasing/fixating, tail chasing, spinning, fly snapping, repetitive licking of legs and feet, digging or scratching at the floor and pica (eating inedible items such as stones). … Read more
When discussing anti anxiety meds for dogs with owners, some may be keen to give it a go, others are a little more wary and some owners absolutely do not want to use it. As a dog owner myself, I completely understand this concern about what we are putting in our dog’s bodies and how … Read more
Our border collies can be inclined to be a little fearful of novelty, sometimes anxious about unfamiliar people as well, and, as a breed, they don’t always enjoy being handled. So having to go to the vets where they may encounter novelty, handling and strangers in a small enclosed environment can be extremely stressful for … Read more