Do you want to add a border collie to your family? Many families make the decision on which dog will be the greatest pet for their household. If you’re interested in border collies, a dog with beautiful coats and boundless activity, you’ve probably asked, “Are border collies aggressive?”
In this post, we’ll look at the temperaments of border hounds, why they can be violent, and what you can do to prevent aggressive behavior.
Border Collies: Are They Aggressive?
Border Collies are not a particularly violent breed. They are a medium-sized breed that is devoted to its family.
They may have a mental or physical problem if they are acting violently.
Every dog that is not properly socialized from a young age might develop aggressive tendencies against other canines or humans. Border Collies are no different.
What factors contribute to Border Collies being aggressive?
If your Border Collie is acting aggressively, there might be an underlying explanation. This species is not often hostile toward humans, particularly their families.
Aggression is not a prevalent trait among Border Collies. It does, however, occur on occasion. The reasons and causes for dogs barking, snarling, and even biting differ from instance to case.
If you feel your Border Collie is displaying early indications of aggressiveness, take action right away. If you leave such conduct unchecked and uncontrolled, it will only worsen until you intervene.
Pain
The most common cause of violence is pain. When they are harmed, they will be delighted but unable to inform you, therefore they will exhibit aberrant behavior.
Remember that when you have to check for any indicators of abnormality, make sure it does not make it more uncomfortable and that the symptoms are different from usual.
In many circumstances, they will express their displeasure by growling or even biting you if you touch their body.
So, if you see any of the following symptoms, you should consult a veterinarian as soon as possible:
- Diarrhea
- Anxiety
- twitching
- Refusing to consume food
Fear
When dogs are threatened, their tendency is to flee and exhibit aggressive behavior. They frequently display it to strangers when they first meet.
When they are intimidated by outsiders, they frequently growl or bark to warn humans to keep away.
If you get your dog from a shelter or rescue, it might be a result of anything bad that occurred to them in the past or their dread of being haunted by someone who hurts or abandons them.
Because you don’t know what rescued Collies have gone through before entering your house, it’s crucial to be gentle with them.
Keep an eye on their meals.
Collies, like other animals, are always concerned about the food you give them, whether it will remain in the dish after you pour it out or whether it will be stolen. As a result, it may growl if you try to change the dish to add extra food or remove bones to aid it.
Do not put your hands in the dog’s food dish at such times. They’re just storing food for themselves.
Distract them when you want to do something with its meal. This will educate your Border Collie that it may leave its meal for a short period of time and that it will not be stolen by anything else and that they will merely assist them.
Are Border Collies hostile to other people and children?
There are a number of reasons why your Collie may be hostile to others:
- They are guarding you – If your Collie detects that you are in danger, its instincts will kick in and protect you.
- Territorial – A territorial dog guards what they regard to be theirs. The place they reside in, the things they play with, or even you are examples. Territorial dogs are often violent.
- Anxiety – If your dog is fearful or concerned about meeting a new person, he or she may feel the need to defend themselves or their house.
- Previous Experiences – If your dog has had a bad encounter with someone they don’t know, he or she may have difficulty trusting anyone. This is a taught behavior that is easier to modify than the others discussed previously.
These Collies are not often hostile with children, but they must be well socialized and play nicely with kids.
Overall, these canines get along well with children. Collies are lively and friendly with youngsters, even if they don’t always know when to stop.
Border Collies, on the other hand, are herding dogs, and herding needs nipping, and occasionally biting, in order for sheep to adhere to their commands. So be cautious when your children play with your dog.
Border Collies must learn that youngsters are extremely nice and kind. If your Border Collie is a bit boisterous around youngsters, let them aware that this is not acceptable.
You should always educate your child how to play with dogs, as you should with any dog breed, and you should always supervise any dog-child interactions to prevent any undue taunting by either side.
Are Border Collies hostile to other dogs?
Your dog may be aggressive against other dogs for a variety of reasons, such as guarding family or property, or because they are terrified or threatened. However, there are a number of alternative causes for this undesirable behavior:
- Jealousy – If you or someone they care about is spending time with another dog, your pet may feel envious that you are providing “their care.” Dogs are extremely loyal and obedient creatures.
- Dominance is a major component in dog aggressiveness, particularly in male dogs. Aggression is used by dogs to demonstrate their dominance over other canines, letting them know they are in their yard and in control.
How do you handle aggressive behavior issues?
To put a halt to the Collie’s hostility, you must first understand why it behaves this way. Pay attention to what’s going on when your dog exhibits hostility and try to find out what’s causing it.
Once you’ve determined what’s causing your dog’s aggressive behavior, you can begin trying to rectify it.
With enough patience, time, and the following suggestions, you may modify that behavior:
- Begin socializing your dog at a young age. It is critical to begin socialization with other dogs and obedience training at a young age.
- When your dog is aggressive because he is injured or sick, you may not realize there is a problem. The only thing you’ll notice is their rage. Take your puppy to the veterinary to determine if there’s an explanation for the behavior, especially if it’s a new habit that he hasn’t displayed previously.
- Activity them on a regular basis – Because they are herding dogs, they require daily exercise.
- Avoid chasing games since they might stimulate their predatory impulses and cause violent behavior.
- Recognize and reward positive conduct. Always teach your Collie in a positive manner, recalling and correcting poor behavior while lavishing praise and incentives on excellent conduct.
- Be constant – These dogs’ lives should be filled with regularity and consistency. They’re curious about what occurs next.
- Appropriately introduce your dog to new people.
- Spend quality time with your dog and avoid leaving him alone for extended periods of time.
Never overlook inappropriate dog behavior, and never delay until your Border Collie attacks you, your child, or someone else.
What should you stay away from?
There are a few things you should never do with a feisty dog if you want to keep your Collies from becoming more violent. They will not assist with aggressiveness, and in many situations will make your dog much more agitated.
- Never shout or strike someone.
Dealing with a feisty dog may be unpleasant, and you may feel irritated and want to yell at times, but doing so would only make matters worse. Yelling at your dog will just make them angrier and worsen their aggressive behavior. Never add tension to an already tense situation.
- Don’t encourage poor conduct.
Ignore negative actions and encourage positive ones.