Biting

[chazza]

Our dog (3 year old collie, male, neutered) has started to randomly bite people for no reason. He bit someone he knows very well yesterday after she had been in the house an hour, while she was just standing doing nothing.

As soon as he does it he skulks away and hides, and we give him a smack and shout at him.

Why is he doing this and how can we stop it? He's such a good dog in almost every other way, but launches these unprovoked attacks to people who have never done anything to annoy him!

[indieanna86]

Collies are known for nipping people, it's kind of bred into them, it helps them to round up sheep on farms etc. If you say he hides as soon as he does it, he obviously knows that he's done wrong without you having to tell him so I don't think its because he's agressive, just in his nature!

The best thing to do is make a loud noise as soon as he does it, it may be an attention seeking thing so also try ignoring him completely afterwards, he'll hate you for it and won't see it as fun anymore.

Hope that helps!

[indieanna86]

Also, give up on the smacking thing, its really not necessary

[kita1]

First thing you need to do is get him a total check over by a vet. He may have something physically wrong with him that is not visible to you.

Is this behaviour totally new? How has he been previously? How bad was the bite? Did he break the skin?

After a vet has given him the all clear then I would get in touch with a dog trainer/behaviourist. You need to stop this behaviour NOW, with all the attacks in the press lately if he nips the wrong person at the wrong time you will have to have him destroyed there will be no choice, the police will just take your dog off you and have a vet destroy it. The fact that collies 'nip' people because it is in the breed will be no excuse in a court of law.

Smacking him and shouting at him will not stop this behaviour.

[indieanna86]

with regards to the above post, there's probably no need to get a trainer or behaviourist. Anyone can train their dog and there are plenty of books/websites to help.

If he's not breaking skin and not trying to maul people to death (which I've never heard of a collie doing before) then I'm sure there's a simple solution. The attacks in the press are by pitbulls and rottweilers, the type of dog people rely on for guarding and attacking so to try linking your problem with this is silly!

[lankeela]

A bite is a bite is a bite! It doesn't matter what sort of dog it is, it cannot be tolerated. Keep him away when there are people around, which is probably impractical, and as kita suggests get a behaviourist to assess him.

Although this latest person was an adult, think what could happen if he does it to a child.

[chazza]

It is never a very bad bite, it doesnt break the skin, more of a nip than a bite.

He has been to the vet who says he is a "perfect dog", and is very well behaved and obedient in every other way

[leelapops]

Hi, sorry to hear of your problem.
You say he bites-is it a bite or a nip? Collies do nip, yes, but it isn't acceptable. If he is healthy, then he's obviously not protecting himself. If he's skulking, then as indieanna86 says he realises his mistake. Please don't smack or shout-Collies especially don't respond well to that, but it's not great for dogs in general-my Collie is really nervous and if I was to hit him he'd just be terrified. I am no expert, and I see that advice given so far is conflicitng. Don't let him near kids without having him under complete control-mine can't go near kids at all, he hates them!! :S
My boy licks for attention, he's 2 so he's grown out of nipping us to notice him.
It is surprising that the person he nipped wasn't moving or acting unpredictably; if she was it would be understandable.
This has been more a ramble than directed advice; I just hope he (and you) are OK and take all the necessary precautions: you CAN be forced to put him down if he hurts someone.
Lisa :)

[winny]

Get the Book The Dog Listner by Jan Fenell, Read it and watch her TV series. She is brilliant and it works with hard work. You may initially thing she sounds nutty but persevere as she makes perfect sense. As the owner of a rescued german shepherd who had no clue how to behave and keep his teeth to himeslf who is now an almost reformed chap I can assure you it works. I am sure on a young collie you will suceed. There is no need to hit and shout.the poor dog is as confused as you he thinks he is doing a good job of looking after you. I do agree though that you cannot take chances and until the behaviour is resolved he should not have opportunity to even nip and should be segregated from visitors. We use a house cage where the dog can see everyone and he settles to sleep quite quickly and is far from stressed at being in it.

[LostStar]

Firstly, please don't smack your dog. Secondly, when i was a small child, my auntie's collie used to round me and my small cousins up my nippig our bums - not biting to break skin, but to show or rather try to understand where his place was in the family. I think any dog can find it hard to distinguish whether they are more superior than a child because of their confusing physical status. Anyway (i am getting off the point a little!), being the age he is, your dog is trying to show his presence and probably work out where he stands within your household. The loud noise thing is definitely a good idea - i know this works from previous experience - because of the association the dog makes between the action and the unpleasant consequence. Good luck.

[kita1]

You might find this helpful.

http://www.takingthelead.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/Ya BB.pl?num=1170453918