WaveProfesora

Hello! Search for Pivo, and your can read my story and what others recommended. We still have this issue in very specific, discreet circumstances. Always remember: Dogs, especially Border Collies, do not generalize. Pivo basically ignores bicycles now EXCEPT when we cross ONE corner in the city. Grisha Stewarts BAT training has been great for us, and I like how she explains and breaks down tasks. It's basically taken care of this issue. I should note: it took years and we still have a skateboard issue that I have not had the time to address is a systematic way (and we don't see that many of them). 10 months is when we first had this issue, and I wish I had addressed it more vigorously then.

Hello, My pup did this at ONE specific intersection at an early age. I did not address it correctly because I did not really know how to handle fear-based reactions then. Big/New intersections are still an issue (and out son recently transitioning out of a stroller and onto a scooter has set us back as he is VERY protective of his kid!). There is no reason to know why he does this, but I can tell you this. Intersections are a TON of stimuli for a border collie--even one that isn't reactive to cars. It's a lot of things going in different directions, lights, noises--things that can drive these dogs crazy. If I had to do it again, I would have really worked on my dog's recall on walks EARLY (he's a solid look at me when I say, "Hey Piv?"). It's a modified "Look at that" and then do that every.single.intersection for a long time. I would also do a modified Behavior Adjustment Training set-up here. Take him to the intersection and when you see him calm down, relax, and be cool, give a verbal praise, a click and THEN (this is important) walk away from the intersection and give a treat. Reward him by taking the trigger away, not making him cross the thing that scares him. Then, slowly introduce intersections. Once you get a negative reaction, time to peace out and go home. The above is what has gotten us through out intersection issues (though there about three intersections that will always be a challenge and I manage that/try to avoid when I can). I really wish we had dealt with this earlier on, but I just didn't have the knowledge then that I did now. Hope this helps.

Exactly, it's the "stop drinking and get yo' self back home, folks " command.

Indeed, but the second he hears, "You ready?," he's up and ready. We joke that that question is the "That'll do" for the humans.

My dear Pivo has his issues, but one of the things we almost inadvertently trained in him was being a "bar dog" (we live in New Orleans and Spain, so he's a bar dog). He knows that when he goes into a bar or sits outside, he needs to find and out of the way spot and chill. He does. He says hi to regulars but no one else. This behavior was solidified pretty early on. We went through a period of stopping at a bar for a quick beer on our daily walks from the time Pivo was a pup. After a 3-5 miles walk, he was pretty tired, so when we'd stop, he would usually curl up and sleep. He also found a spot out of the way because it was a narrow sidewalk and he got annoyed at us always moving him/waking him up. We never stayed longer than about 20-30 mins (one drink basically). We stopped doing it because this particular bar's happy hour deal ($1 pints of PBR) stopped being offered, but the conditioning was in place without us realizing it. I suggest finding smaller cafes, with less distraction, and getting him a tad bit tired first and then spending no more than 20 minutes (or less) to start and going from there. I should note that I have a fairly reactive dog when it comes to certain things (skateboards particularly). The bar is the only place a skateboard can come inches from my dog's face and he doesn't budge. He is so relaxed at the bar that he usually falls asleep within minutes of arrival (this only became true as he got older, but you get the idea). In Spain, he's allowed inside of bars, and the behavior is the same. I'm shocked he generalized it that way, but he did.

I totally agree by the way. As I said, I just wanted to post for context. Climate is a big factor in these decisions. Also if you board or do doggie daycare. I just thought an environmental comparison was worthy since I don’t look at where people live when I look at profiles/names.

I am just posting this to give some context because what has been said is obviously well-researched and reasoned. I live in South Louisiana. I've had 1-2 semi-major flea infestations in the last year just from the indoor cat not being treated (and I treat the yard too). I use trifexis year round and my best friend once missed/forgot her dose by a week and her dog got heartworms. The fleas here actually developed a tolerance to most of the topical meds (which caused the largest flea infestation I ever had--a month of vacuuming daily, spraying house and the cats refusing to come downstairs for two months for fear of being bitten). I lost a puppy to Parvo in the late 1990s when it ravaged my neighborhood before people thought to vaccinate for it here. We vaccinate for everything and treat fleas aggressively. Such is live in a sub-tropical climate.

So, they got to eat at Galatoires, a very fancy local restaurant. The photo gallery is quite fun. http://www.nola.com/mardi_gras_nola/2018/02/barkus_galatoires_mardi_gras_2.html#incart_m-rpt-2

The Carnival season is kicking in to full hear and the Krewe of Markus "rolls" this weekend. A border collie is the queen of the parade this year. All hail Queen Luna! Thought this group would find this fin. http://www.nola.com/mardi_gras_nola/2018/01/and_the_queen_of_barkus_2018_i.html

We've never tried a muzzle. I think we'll go to Petsmart and see if we can try on some different items. Thanks everyone!

Thanks for this info. Pivo does hate the head halter, but this isn't just a training tool. We live in Spain in the summer, and if Pivo wants to go on the train/metro to go on our cool countryside walks, the rule is a muzzle or head halter (actually, the rule is a muzzle, but no one has ever given me crap about the head halter being in its place). I am open to suggestions for other items besides the head halter for training (I get the point of the article). But, his reactivity to skateboards is strong and worsening just a bit. Meanwhile, some sort of muzzle-like restriction is a must in our home as that is sometimes the cost of dogs betting to be citizens that get to go everywhere in Spain, which, for what it is worth, is an element of European culture that Pivo appreciates.

Pivo has had some regression with his triggers, and I want to use the head halter again now that it's not so hot (the halter gets sweaty and gross here in summer). However, I have lost mine. I was never satisfied with the fit of my generic Amazon one. Anyone have recs of Head Halters they prefer and advice on fitting? Thanks in advance, WaveProfesora

I wanted to chime in here about "suitability" for a Border Collie. We are completely unsuitable, by most standards. We live in a city/cities (we spend summers away), live in a hot climate with a rough coat (medium one, though), and after getting a puppy, I found out I was pregnant. Pivo is our first Border Collie. We've made mistakes. We did not react quickly or efficiently enough to motorcycles, skateboards, etc. This is still an ongoing issue (a MUCH bigger deal in Spain where we live in summer). We are also dealing with MAD thunderphobia. Dealing with these issues when they arise has been more than challenging. I've read books, watched youtube videos, called his breeder. Knowing what I know now, I would be much better prepared to handle these issues in a different dog--but I know that every border collie is different and wired differently. There have been wonderful surprises. He has never been anything but protective and loving of our son. They are really good buds. Pivo waits by the door for him to get home from school, and Pivo is a really good first baseman when needed to field a team of wiffle ball. Lastly, Pivo was born on a farm and bred to work on a farm, but he is very much a city dog. He likes "his" bars (in Spain, he gets to go INSIDE of them and be told by Basque old men what a "txakurra ona" [Good dog] he is). We've trained him to pee in the sewer grates in Spain since our apartment is not super close to a green space. I'm sure he knows which neighbor lives in which apartment. I'm not going to say it's easy. I'm replacing trim behind our bathroom toilet because of the thunderphobia and a little frustrated by it. But I didn't get a border collie for it to be easy nor did I get one because they are so smart. I got one because I wanted a true member of the family. We very much have that.

I just want to chime in. Pivo does not have riding in car issues. But, we've have had major bike/skateboard/motorcycle issues. Basically, all of the above mistakes were made by me when dealing with this issue. We now are working on two years of counter conditioning (and reading Controlled Unleashed as well as The Other End of the Leash) and ALMOST seeking professional help (which I still may do). The situation is MUCH better, but I could have saved myself a lot of work, time, and frustration if I had noticed these things and nipped them in the bud early.

AirBear, One more question. When you strapped the furniture mover on the crate, did you fly domestic or international? That seems like a silly detail, but my understanding is the international folks are pickier. Thanks again!