Change in behaviour - 18mth lab/border collie cross

Question
Hi Jill

We have an 18mth female border collie/lab cross.  We got her from an SPCA
shelter when she was 3 months old, part of a litter of 11.  She was very
anxious in the beginning, but has come on so well.  I participated in 3
courses of puppy socialisation and basic obedience classes when we first got
her.  

She is usually so good off leash, and loves playing with other dogs.  However,
the past 3 weeks or so, her play has turned aggressive when playing with
other dogs and she will not come back when called.  She loves to run and
chase, and will run with other dogs, but soon, the play deteriorates past what
is considered normal rough play.  She seems to have the most problems with
other female dogs.

She is such a lovely family dog and so good in the house.  She loves being
around other dogs but her behaviour lately is off-putting to other dog owners
in our area.  On Sunday, whilst walking off leash, she would not come back to
me, even though there were no other dogs around.  I still carry treats as a
reward for heel, stay, come back etc and nothing has changed in her routine.
She did have a minor operation to remove a lump on her hind leg before
Christmas but her behavior was fine afterwards.  It has only been in the last
couple of weeks that she has been displaying this more aggressive behaviour
towards other dogs.

Thank you for any advice.

Mandy

Answer
Your dog is at a threshold of adult behavior and appears to be having a fear response (given her history as a neonate from among so many other puppies) OR a control issue (if she's truly a Collie mix the chase/control drive is VERY HIGH.) If she is not spayed, DO IT ASAP (providing she's not close to her cycle, then wait twelve weeks after onset.)  And do NOT allow this dog off lead for any reason.  You have lost your recall, totally.  You need to go back to Square One with your training.

The best approach, given her escalating scattered behavior with other dogs, would be a group training class.  POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT ONLY, avoid like the plague any trainer that uses coercive techniques (choker collar, "correction", etc.)  Reintroduce her to other dogs in a controlled setting where following commands (for reward only) is the common denominator.  Both Lab and Collie are natural obedience candidates but you have lost your recall so you must start over in this class; at home, use a whistle.  Stand in front of the dog casually and walk toward her very very slowly, so she has to look UP and she will naturally go into a "sit" (with NO command from you.)  The moment she sits in this manner, blow the whistle while at the same time popping a delicious treat (hot dog, cheese) into her mouth.  Walk away for a few seconds, turn toward the dog and repeat; do this three times.  By the third time she should sit voluntarily almost immediately when you are in front of her and expect the whistle/treat.  Do this at various times over the course of each day for a week or two.  Then unexpectedly, while in the same room with her (not too far away), blow the whistle.  She should come right to you and sit: jackpot (handfull of treat) this response; repeat it again later in the day.  Slowly over the course of several days, make the distance between you greater until you are in the next room.  If she fails to come to sit in front of you at any time, go back to the beginning for a day.  Once she will LOOK for you in the house EVERY TIME to sit in front of you for REWARD, take the behavior outside on LONG LEASH.  Randomly blow the whistle (you can even make up your own whistle, this doesn't have to be an appliance); outdoors her response will most likely falter, this is normal, go back to the beginning outdoors.  Keep up this training until she ALWAYS responds to the whistle by coming to sit in front of you.  DO NOT TEST HER because one blown recall will put you back where you are now.  In combination with retraining in the presence of other dogs who are 'working', this will give you a solid recall PROVIDING the dog is not following her prey drive (which is what the chase/control thing is all about.)  You may not be able to allow this dog off leash for quite a while, if at all.  Your trainer should be able to assess this for you in future.