OT .. Thanks Forty & Frank ...

On Apr 20, 8:09 am, rw wrote:

Training collars are not for every dog. My Border Collie, for example,
would probably totally freak out. She's so eager to please that it's not
necessary in any case.

True enough. Our pound-adopted border collie was herding the chickens
a bit too harsh and I tried the collar on him. He did exactly that. He
was (and is) good with the chickens when we're there, but we were
hoping to reach the point where we could leave them together while
we're at work all day (we did this with all our other dogs). No go --
he'd keep them herded up all day, and when they tried to escape he'd
nip their tails, and pull tail feathers out. Now the chickens have
their own day pen, and Barney can't wait until he gets to round them
up and pen them in the morning before we leave.

A well trained dog is a joy. A poorly trained one is a headache.

I agree, except that "well" is defined by the owner. Not everyone
wants nor needs the same level of training. Our other dog, a brittany
spaniel, we got after a friend found her wandering the streets. She is
a wanderer and despite our best efforts have never been able to break
her of it. She just loves to go out into the desert and hunt
(anything), and when done she'll follow _any_ human she happens to
find. But she can give you a look that'll melt you, and she's a very
sweet and happy dog. I wish she'd retrieve doves for me but I've never
had enough hunting time to get it done. A few years ago I'm pretty
sure she was _very_ close to that breakthrough moment where it'd all
click for her, but then I got busy and didn't get back out. Now she's
seven years old and I don't know about the old saying about old dogs
and new tricks, but I've resigned myself to her not being a bird dog.

Jon.

wrote:
On Apr 20, 8:09 am, rw wrote:


Training collars are not for every dog. My Border Collie, for example,
would probably totally freak out. She's so eager to please that it's not
necessary in any case.


True enough. Our pound-adopted border collie was herding the chickens
a bit too harsh and I tried the collar on him. He did exactly that. He
was (and is) good with the chickens when we're there, but we were
hoping to reach the point where we could leave them together while
we're at work all day (we did this with all our other dogs). No go --
he'd keep them herded up all day, and when they tried to escape he'd
nip their tails, and pull tail feathers out. Now the chickens have
their own day pen, and Barney can't wait until he gets to round them
up and pen them in the morning before we leave.

I recommend setups.

Have your wife drive away in the car, ideally at a time when you would
both be leaving, while you stay hidden quietly inside, watching the dog
through a window. When he gets after the chickens explode out of the
house and read him the riot act. Make it a BIG DEAL.

The idea is to put doubt in his mind about whether he's being watched.
It works like a charm. It's very important to correct a dog promptly. If
you wait until you get home to scold him about mangled chickens he'll
probably never get it.

Your Border Collie may be smart enough to learn to keep track of who's
home. (Mine is.) You'll just have to get sneakier -- maybe recruit
someone else to help.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.