ACD/border collie, 6 yrs old Rescue

We have acquired a male/neutered ACD/border collie 2 months ago. He has some issues. We think he was abused by a man because he doesn't like men. Me he loves, follows me everywhere, obeys as far as he understands and he's a quick study. We've developed trust, and it's such a joy. He rarely needs discipline, always redirect him. I know these dogs are very active and I'm 76! (But I was a hockey player for 18 years)

While I have read about these dogs, I would really like to learn some specifics. What I could teach him in the way of dog jobs (aside from trying to herd my ducks in their pen!), agility, mind games,etc.? I really care about this dog. He's wonderful material. And I want him to be happy and content. I feel he needs more than he's getting.

Also while we live in a rural area, a high desert valley, unfortunately we live right on a highway. Not much of a problem in winter, but our town gets majorly touristy from May to October. I've been training him not to go in that direction, which he has done so far with the few cars in the winter for distraction. However, there can be a herd of around 20 deer in the field next to us which he hasn't seen yet. My fear is that he'll give chase and end up on the highway. Is there a way to train him out of this while there is still time?

I'd be grateful for any advice from one who knows this breed. THANKS!

Congratulations!

First, fear of men is common and doesn't usually mean a man abused the dog. It is just that men tend to be more imposing and a dog can feel threatened or scared by that. The best way to help him overcome that is to give him positive interactions with men in a non-threatening manner. Have the man sit on the floor for introductions, talk in a soft voice, offer high value treats, etc. Never let a man lean over the dog as that is very scary for them.

Yes, both breeds are working jobs. But work can be lots of things. You can teach him to go get specific toys, or do assistance type things like flipping on the lights, etc. A good way to start is to teach him a target.

Kikopup has a couple good videos are that:




With that under his belt, you can transfer that skill to all manner of things.

Positive based training is the only way to go. Both breeds tend to be Type A personalities - they take being the best worker seriously. Watch a border collie doing an agility course and then watch a jack russell do it. The border collie is enjoying it but is absolutely focused on doing it right. The jack russell is bouncing around just having a blast. That means that you need to make sure your feedback is positive because they need to know they are good dogs.

As for running, a lot of obedience will help, but the best solution is a real physical fence. Don't waste your time or money on an invisible fence - the deer will still come and the dog will chase (herd) them. Many dogs will run right through an invisible fence while chasing something. But when the chase is over, they won't be willing to cross that line to get back in the yard.

Check out the blogs on dogdecoder.com. She has trained her dogs that they can sit and watch wildlife all they want, but they can't chase after it. All using positive techniques. Start this while on leash and don't try to move too fast. Give him time to fully understand the rules before testing him offleash. You can use a long lead to give him more freedom while still maintaining control.

Good reply @Toedtoes
A securely fenced dog area would ease any worries about the dog breaking away after deer, cars, etc.
I am over 80 and I have to use alternative methods of enriching my dog's life too.
A line of 7 - 10 metres is a useful tool for training on open ground, and giving your dog some freedom whilst keeping control and I find that scentwork provides good mental and physical exercise for my dog.
If you have someone who can walk a trail and hide themself for you, (start with a relatively short distance), send them off carrying a special reward - then let your dog seek the person out. All you need is a harness with a connector on the top and your long line.
You could teach your dog to retrieve - initially this can be done in the house or a contained area. When he is fetching toys or other articles reliably, you can begin to hide articles on your own ground. Handle any new articles yourself to add scent to them, then let your dog seek them out and bring to you. You can increase the difficulty over time by decreasing the size of the target item and increasing the search area.
If you look online you will find several different forms of scenting games, using a variety of scent sources. Dogs really enjoy using their noses, and your dogs ability will amaze you!