Very naughty border collie - desperate for help

[katie]

Hi - I have just registered as I am desperate for help. We have a border collie (aged about 6 yrs) and we are at our wits end trying to cope with his behaviour problems. This morning we even discussed trying to rehome him

He is a very complicated dog (and always has been since we got him when he was 7 months old from a breeder). The main issues are food stealing and messing in the house at night (which I am sure are linked).

The food stealing is a massive problem - he will literally eat anything. He steals food from the side, off the table as soon as your back is turned, he breaks open plastic tubs with my babies snacks inside, dirty nappies (yuck!), goes through the rubbish if he finds it. We go to extraordinary lengths to prevent him getting it (undersink bin in cupboard, baby gates etc). It is like his main purpose in life is to steal and eat food. We have tried allsorts of foods (always complete dried foods - of varying brands inlcuding some very expensive). He has recently escaped from my parents back garden (through the tiniest hole imaginable) and we found him down an alley eating rubbish.

The other problem is he frequently messes the floor at night (usually when he has stolen food). We have taken him to the vets about this and it is not a medical problem. We do have a crate from when he was a puppy but we simply do not have space in our new house.

Obviously we know he needs a lot of exercise and he is walked at least every morning and we are going to try and plan in additional exercise for him. He is not on his own in the day as I am a full time mum, so he gets plenty of company.

Sorry lots of blurb but I am trying to give as much info as possible. I would be grateful for any advice, we would be so sad to have to rehome him as he is in every other repsect a super dog and fabulous with the children.

Thanks

[mac.]

does he sit and stay when you tell him to?
reason I ask is cause I may have somethink for you to try! also how many times a day do you feed him?
are they decent sized bowls for him.
remember border collies are intellengent and I may take a few weeks of hard work with him to get him out of the habit?!

[nick_j007]

Originally Posted by katie

Hi - I have just registered as I am desperate for help. We have a border collie (aged about 6 yrs) and we are at our wits end trying to cope with his behaviour problems. This morning we even discussed trying to rehome him

He is a very complicated dog (and always has been since we got him when he was 7 months old from a breeder). The main issues are food stealing and messing in the house at night (which I am sure are linked).

The food stealing is a massive problem - he will literally eat anything. He steals food from the side, off the table as soon as your back is turned, he breaks open plastic tubs with my babies snacks inside, dirty nappies (yuck!), goes through the rubbish if he finds it. We go to extraordinary lengths to prevent him getting it (undersink bin in cupboard, baby gates etc). It is like his main purpose in life is to steal and eat food. We have tried allsorts of foods (always complete dried foods - of varying brands inlcuding some very expensive). He has recently escaped from my parents back garden (through the tiniest hole imaginable) and we found him down an alley eating rubbish.

The other problem is he frequently messes the floor at night (usually when he has stolen food). We have taken him to the vets about this and it is not a medical problem. We do have a crate from when he was a puppy but we simply do not have space in our new house.

Obviously we know he needs a lot of exercise and he is walked at least every morning and we are going to try and plan in additional exercise for him. He is not on his own in the day as I am a full time mum, so he gets plenty of company.

Sorry lots of blurb but I am trying to give as much info as possible. I would be grateful for any advice, we would be so sad to have to rehome him as he is in every other repsect a super dog and fabulous with the children.

Thanks

Hi Katie,

what's the situation currently?

Nick

[katie]

Sorry been unwell so not checked for a few weeks. The situation is currently that we haven't had any messing for nearly 2 weeks (although he did wee on the floor for no apparent reason the other day). I have been working hard with him to encourage him to sit and stay and when he goes to steal food and I am there I have been using the command "leave". He certainly enjoys me doing little bits of training with him and I suppose it is a form of mental stimulation for him. So I have seen some improvement in food stealing when I am present (although we are along way from perfect or even acceptable!), however he is still absolutely dreadful as soon as I have turned my back.

The other thing that has become a concern is he is now stealing cat poo from the garden (which he has always done but he has become a bit obsessive) and he seems to eat alot of compost/soil at the same time, which has been giving him a lot of upset tummies.

Anyway hope this update helps. I am grateful for any advice.

[mac.]

it's good to hear an update on how things are going the main thing is to be patient, keep on with your training, and try training him on new things as well, please remember not to expect him to perfect as some times standards of owners are to high for the dog,Border collies need alot of stimulation and plenty of walks off lead in the field, remember they was bred to herd sheep meaning alot of exercise naturally.
keep us updated.