Dog parks are supposed to be fun, but this isn’t true for all dogs. If your Border Collie is too fearful or aggressive, you may have difficulty socializing him in new environments. He may not play with other dogs.
This may not seem like a big deal at first – after all, you don’t need to involve your Border Collie with other dogs to live happily ever after with your family.
However, if you want to take your dog off-leash and you don’t have control of her, this can pose a risk both for yourself and the dog park regulars.
In this post, you’re going to learn how to properly socialize your Border Collie so he will be friendly and playful around other dogs. This will help ensure a fun day at the dog park and won’t cause him to bark, growl, or become aggressive.
But before we talk about how to socialize your Border Collie in dog parks, let’s take a look at why is your border collie aggressive to other dogs?
ARE BORDER COLLIES AN AGGRESSIVE BREED OF DOGS?
Border Collies are calm and collective in nature. They are a responsible breed that is exceptionally obedient but only so long as there is no other dog in front of them.
If you have a Border Collie, you may have noticed an aggressive reaction to dogs around them. So can border collies get along with other dogs?
Looking at the Border Collie breed as a collective, it is safe to say that they tend to be very aggressive and energetic.
Border Collie is not the only breed of dog that does not like to be around other dogs. However, his breeding history and instinctive reactions complicate the problem.
Border Collies have genetics of pack breeds. This means that they show aggression to all those animals they see as a threat to their pack.
The evolutionary process of Border Collies is one possible reason for their hostile attitude towards other dogs. Fortunately for dog breed owners, Border Collies show signs of anger and resentment about the problem.
Yes, Border Collies are aggressive. They bark at other dogs. But they can be trained because, in most cases, they have problems other than their evolutionary process.
WHY IS MY BORDER COLLIE AGGRESSIVE TO OTHER DOGS?
Some border collies can be aggressive to other dogs, and some aren’t. But what are the reasons for a border collie dog being aggressive to other dogs? We’re going to cover a lot of ground in this post and go over the most common reasons.
Let’s take a look at some of them to study their behavior in detail.
1) HE SENSES A THREAT
The Border Collie may act aggressively towards any unknown person or animal if he does not trust them. If he growls, take it as a warning that he doesn’t want to see them in front of him. Untrained Border Collies chase off mail carriers or delivery boys.
2) DOMINANT NATURE
Like the rest of the herd dogs, Border Collies also try to dominate. If you hesitate to tell him who is in charge, he starts thinking of himself as the authority.
Since dogs are descendants of wolves, They consider those living with them as members of their pack. If his dominating nature is not controlled in time, then he starts to consider himself a leader. After that, it becomes normal that he does not behave well with other dogs.
3) THE HABIT OF ASSERTING EVERYTHING
Border collies do not like to share. He claims ownership of his things. If a dog even passes in front of their things, they start growling.
Trained Collies do not do this, but, naturally, they suspect everyone about it. When he is with his things, it is better not to approach him directly. A good solution for this is to divert their attention away from their things.
4) AFRAID OF OTHER DOGS
He gets frightened by other intimidating dogs and starts barking, thinking of his safety. The nature of this breed is to survive in any case, and that triggers them to go on defensive mode.
This is reinforcing the behavior and can be controlled with the help of proper care.
5) BARRIER FRUSTRATION
The wild nature of some Border Collies easily frustrates them when they are held on a leash or placed behind a cage.
You may come across some Border Collies who pounce and bark at other dogs just because they are frustrated. Many may consider this behavior to be blatant aggression, but as soon as you let them go, you will be surprised to discover the social skills they display.
The excitement and behavior change they show on the leash are called barrier frustration. This happens when a dog rejects the barrier that holds back his enthusiasm; frustration results in an explosion of howling and barking that can be difficult to handle.
This display of behavior is different from dogs that lack social skills and are not trained. It is important to remember that Border Collies do not hate dogs; it’s just that some of them want to assert their dominance.
HOW DO YOU INTRODUCE/SOCIALIZE A BORDER COLLIE WITH OTHER DOGS?
Now that you know the reasons for their aggressive attitude, you understand that you can help Border Collies. Here are some tips you can use to develop his socialization skills with other dogs.
1. KEEP BORDER COLLIES ON LEASH
If your Border Collie becomes defensive at the sight of other dogs, you should keep him on his leash.
However, do not shorten the leash unless he shows aggressive behavior because that makes him think you are afraid of the other dog. Because of this, the next time he meets them, he will perceive them as a threat and take an aggressive approach to protect you.
A more long-term solution is to train the dog and work on their personality. Teaching them to follow your instructions and be obedient at all times is a better strategy than holding them on a leash.
2. CHANGE HIS DOMINANT ATTITUDE OVER TIME
An aggressive collie tries to show signs of dominance. Therefore, asserting your authority reinforces certain behavioral sparks that enhance aggression. You should also avoid playing games that are based on domination and aggression.
A tug of war, for example, is the kind of game you shouldn’t play with a collie. You should also avoid chase games, as Border Collies love running and showing their dominance over the herd.
Fetch is the perfect game for Border Collies. It can teach them to be obedient. It also allows you to be assertive.
3. DON’T BE AFRAID OF OTHER DOGS
A dog is only as safe and comfortable as its owner. That is why trust is the key when it comes to Border Collies. A dog can feel uncertainty and nervousness in a person. Your collie is less likely to hear you if you exhibit these traits.
If you are afraid of other dogs, then try to overcome it before you take them to socialize with others.
4. ACT LIKE THAT YOU ARE THE LEADER OF THE PACK.
As I mentioned above, dogs are descendants of wolves and consider their family as their pack. That’s why he tries to ensure their safety. If he recognizes your leadership qualities, then he feels safe, stays at ease.
If he sees the slightest flaw in you, he starts feeling that he has to take responsibility for his family. Then he stops listening to you and justifies his decision, even if he aggressively approaches other dogs.
His intentions are not bad. If you behave like a leader, he will not mistreat other dogs in front of you. Moreover, he will not be afraid of other dogs in your absence because he believes in your supremacy.
5. DO NOT PUT PRESSURE ON HIM
Let’s say that you had to greet every person you meet on the street on the way to your office. How will you feel?
You will get frustrated, right?
It’s the same with our Border Collies too. They don’t like to socialize with everyone they meet. It would be best if you only made them familiar with your friends’ dogs or any other canine member in your family.
If he doesn’t feel like socializing with every dog in the dog park, then it’s okay. Do not pressure him. He will only get frustrated and treat other dogs aggressively.
HOW TO GET BORDER COLLIES TO PLAY WITH OTHER DOGS?
Once their aggressive behavior is under control, you can teach them to play with other dogs.
Not all dogs like each other. It is usual for male dogs to dislike other male dogs because they have entered their territory. If you want to see your Border Collie playing with another dog, you must first take away the dogs of the opposite sex.
When they befriend each other, then you can introduce others.
Never suddenly put them with too many dogs. Initially, everyone has hesitation, and in such a situation, their uncertainty can turn into fear.
First of all, you don’t need to try to imitate your dog’s play style. Instead, focus on interactive games and social activities.
Find a game to play with others, not something aggressive like Tug Of War or something that anyone can do. You can always let them play with balls and make them find objects.
The right kind of game is great fun for everyone involved.
HOW TO INTRODUCE BORDER COLLIES WITH OTHER HUMANS?
If your collie is still a pup and fears strangers, then you should introduce them to kids or women. They fear men with intimidating bodies and coarse sounds. They feel threatened.
Never leave them alone with strangers, even for a few seconds. Your Border Collie can be aggressive towards them. If you are friendly with the person, the dog will also recognize that and try his best to get along.
You can also take him on a walk with the person you want to introduce him to. In this way, he will start considering them as a part of his family and play with them.
Please make sure the interactions are long enough for her to get used to, but not long enough that your little one will tire.
BE CAREFUL
Introducing a 1.5kg Chihuahua to a Border Collie might sound cute, but remember to be careful when introducing two dogs.
Always make sure the other party is friendly before facilitating the introduction and sniffs. It is important that you know the signs that your dog is uncomfortable (excessive panting, yawning, tail between the legs) to be able to act accordingly.
Remember: practice makes perfect. The more good interactions your dog has with his comrades, the easier it will be.