Border Collie in Agility Class

[Elijah's Mom]

Just wondering if anyone else has a problem with their Rottie disliking Border Collies? There is now one in our agility class and Elijah growls and lunges every time this BC does the course...he is fine with the other dogs. The GSD's in class are not real nuts about the Border Collie either.....could it just be the extremely fast movement that gets them going?

[Joanne in NJ]

BC's are very into hard eye contact. That's how they herd and your guy is probably reacting to it?

[Judi W]

The eye contact, yes, also the speed and the truly herding type BCs also have a different body movement than the upright breeds our dogs are acumstomed to - that crouched feral type language. All those combined can cause the other dogs to really focus on them.

Give some good corrections and instructions to your dog as he is out-of-line. My dogs hang with BCs quite a lot as they are involved in herding, so know that this unwarranted attention Elijah is giving that dog is not necessary.

[Joanne in NJ]

Teehee, Judi, I have to laugh. That even amongst themselves, dogs can speak foreign languages.

My idiot neighbor has a BC and I'm always getting that intense, hard eyed slinking crouch from him. Especially when I have something he wants bad. Like a stick or something~

I don't even think that dog blinks.....

[Elijah's Mom]

Thanks for the input Joanne and Judi W.! We are really going to work hard on changing this behavior!

[alexav]

Originally posted by Joanne in NJ
....even amongst themselves, dogs can speak foreign languages.

Absolutely true! Chow Chow fanciers have known this for some time now and warn new owners. My two black Chow Chows girls are constantly getting the evil eye from other dogs. Even though they ignore other dogs while on leash, the stilted gait, the odd body shape, and the fact that Chows produce very little scent, seems to upset many dogs. Maybe they don't even recognize them as canine? I walk the Rotties by the same dogs and there is no reaction other than casual interest.

I've even had some humans mistake them for bears! (No kidding!)

[Joanne in NJ]

Alexav,

I grew up with chows, as did my father. Amongst the folks on the rottie lists who have/had them- we've all decided....

Chows are cats in dogs bodies......

[alexav]

Originally posted by Joanne in NJ
Chows are cats in dogs bodies......

LOL!:D I must agree...

Achieving multi CGC's, an NA and even a CD on a Chow was quite the learning experience! Motivate! Motivate! MOTIVATE! After that, Rotties are easy!;)

[rottnvegas]

I have a border collie. My rottie has never had a problem with him, not even once. Although my border is far from a hard eyed farm dog. He comes from show lines so he does not use the famous border collie "eye". I'm sure if your Rott is having problems with the border collie it is due to the stare down that is going on, that you might not even be aware is taking place.

[DixieGrl113]

Maybe their just jealous because BC's are just so damn FAST!! lmao, I couldn't resist. "Tori" is one of my mom's farm dogs and she's not a BC but she is a collie like lassie but with short hair. My dogs are NUTS over her. She gets the zooms more than any dog I've met yet! Tori is their favorite play mate. If they won't play she'll play posture and freeze just staring at one of them. Its like a wild wild west shootout. You can hear the music see the tumbleweed (most likely horse hair blowing by) 7 dogs all frozen in various poses, its soooo funny. In the blink of an eye they are GONE. Greyhounds have nothing on our pack playing with 100 acres of pasture to burn..:D ;)

[Judi W]

I'd like to make one correction on the description of Chows as being cats in doggy clothing. They are not wearing doggy clothes either, but rather a teddy bear outfit, which leads many humans down the garden path, mistakenly believing that they hence have something to snuggle and cuddle - not! Although the temperament of the breed is much more adapted to socialability after being selected for such since entering the US, its heritage is disregarded at one's peril.

[alexav]

Originally posted by Judi W
I'd like to make one correction on the description of Chows as being cats in doggy clothing. They are not wearing doggy clothes either, but rather a teddy bear outfit, which leads many humans down the garden path, mistakenly believing that they hence have something to snuggle and cuddle - not! Although the temperament of the breed is much more adapted to socialability after being selected for such since entering the US, its heritage is disregarded at one's peril.

Yes, Judi. Many pet professionals discribe them as "barracudas in teddybear clothing" and I will freely admit that I am veeerrry careful when one comes into the clinic but strangely enough, have had more close calls with Rotties lately than with Chows. As different as they are to Rottweilers, they do have some major things in common... They are definitely NOT the breed for everyone, and require a fair amount of work on the part of the owner. Careful selection, socialization, training, and never EVER to be chained.

Believe it or not, mine are very cuddly although not ever "velcro dogs". A Chow Chow doesn't give his affection freely, you must work hard to earn his affection and trust. There lies my attraction to the breed I think, I can't really explain it otherwise. I guess we all have our quirks.;)