My Hyper Border Collie:
Question: I have a 3year old Border Collie mix. She listens well when not excited but when she gets excited will not listen runs around like crazy and growls at people, does not bite but grabs people by the arm. I use a gentle leader on her but to no avail when she gets excited. How do I control her when she gets excited, since then the gentle leader doesn’t help?
Answer: You have been sold a lie. The “gentle leader” is a kind of artificial gimmick that has been passed off as something it is not. The gentle leader is supposed to be a more humane way to train your dog, and again, it is not. The gentle leader works by suppressing your dog’s drive, and not allowing it to open their mouth. Since dogs cool their bodies through an open mouth I consider this tool, when used as a primary tool for training, abusive and emotionally cruel. I do not know of one dog trained in a “gentle leader” that does not display repressed anger, frustration, and depression. If you don’t mind that in your dog, then I guess it’s not a problem.
However, in your dog’s case, you were also taught to believe that by repressing this drive in your dog, using the “gentle leader”, you are successful. However, when excited, your dog has found a way to overcome the power of the leader, and do what she wants. This is because the behavior is not only still there, but just as strong as it has always been, if not stronger, (repressed drives become stronger), and you have done nothing to change it.
First of all you need face your dog as a person, realize that her social behaviors are incorrect, and decide to do something about resolving them. Use proper discipline, based on love and motivation, with the intention of helping your dog become a better animal. Do not to punish her for her behaviors, which she rationally has no control over, but replace it with correct, positively motivated behavior. This will help you a great deal.
Second of all, her behavior shows a thread, common to modern day dog training. Most owner take their dogs to a group training, or train them at home, to a first level consciousness. This is puppy training, and the philosophies expounded here are good for a young dog. Unfortunately with all life, we grow up, and what worked as an infant will not suffice as an adolescent, or an adult. It just isn’t enough. Your dog needs a stronger training course, not tougher, but stronger, that will help her to learn to respond, no matter how excited she gets. You might start with a training like we provide, where we teach each dog to relax, cut hyper-tension, and calm down on command.
A dog should never put their mouth on anyone. A dog’s teeth are sensitive to 1/1000 of an ounce of pressure, and all dogs naturally know that “mouthing” is an “out-pack” behavior.
My primary concern here is that this behavior became habitual a long time ago for your dog. I sincerely hope you teach your dog to behave properly, and do not just decide to get rid of her.
