Stopping a collie from being scared of big trucks and buses?

sandi_84

sandi_84

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Since getting the new field I've been taking the dog with me for walks to see to the horses which she's really enjoying as it's a 2 hour round trip on foot.
The only problem is that we have to walk a short distance along a busy main road which is frequently used by buses and big lorries. Poor Poppy is quite obviously frightened of them and will either hide behind me or scoot under the barrier (away from the road!), she's always kept on a lead when we are on this part of the road so there is no danger of her getting run over but I was wondering if there's any way that she'll get used to this with time or a way to help her get over her fear.
She doesn't take treats while we're outside (never has for some reason) and even my trusty tennis ball which she loves isn't distracting her from the noisey traffic.
Any advice?
 
First posted by Goya

http://www.agilitynet.co.uk/training/bordercollie_suekitchen_leewindeatt.html

Because they are very sensitive to movement, any fast movement that they cannot control can be very disturbing to them. No wonder so many Border Collies hate traffic.

Collies need to have very acute hearing to hear and interpret a shepherd's signals at a great distance, but sheep farms are generally quiet places and their sensitive hearing does not cause them problems. Urban and domestic life bombards our dogs with noise and this can cause them extreme stress. Be aware of this and if necessary protect your dog from excessive noise. Speak quietly to your Collie, he doesn't need you to shout at him.
 
Cheers for that CaveCanem but any advice on how to help her cope with it? I do talk to her as we are going along, expecially if I see something coming that's going to upset her but even with me talking to her it's not making a big difference really.
Unfortunately I can't avoid this part of the road whilst heading to see the horses.
 
Sorry, posted it to give you an idea that it's genetic and you will have to think about managing it rather than being able to cure it completely.

You have the right idea in that you should be trying to distract her, but you have to up the attraction of what you are using, IE take her out hungry and use a very high value food to tempt her or use a ball or toy that she never has free access to that she adores.

You could take a folding chair out and just sit all day beside the road and ignore stressy behaviour and feed her when she is calm and passive.

I wouldn't talk to her too much as while as a human we would do this to reassure another human, to a dog you are reinforcing that the dog is right to be scared. Try not to tense up yourself and 'expect' something as this will pass down the lead to the dog.

Try to keep her moving and don't stop, a bit like a nappy horse, try to be businesslike and brisk rather than worrying and fussing her.
 
My first girl was re-homed from a farm and moved to an urban environment with me. At first she was quite "worried" by traffic etc. at the time I took the "it's all fine if I'm not worried you shouldn't be either'" approach and she did follow my lead. Good obedience commands meant when I said heel I meant heel and she did eventually no matter what. It did take time though.
 
Try to keep her moving and don't stop, a bit like a nappy horse, try to be businesslike and brisk rather than worrying and fussing her.[/QUOTE] This is what I meant but I wouldn't advise pushing it by sitting in a chair by traffic. IME collies need to work it out themselves a bit and not be pushed into things or it can go wrong and they might withdraw.
 
ladyearl said:
My first girl was re-homed from a farm and moved to an urban environment with me. At first she was quite "worried" by traffic etc. at the time I took the "it's all fine if I'm not worried you shouldn't be either'" approach and she did follow my lead. Good obedience commands meant when I said heel I meant heel and she did eventually no matter what. It did take time though.
Click to expand...

I'm very much like this too, if I say something I mean it but when I say heel or don't pull (when she's allowed on a longer line) she's usually good but when the big scary trucks are going past she either lies flat (definitely in a fear way not a "I'm going to jump it and chase it" way) or runs a couple of steps away or hides behind me :cool:

CaveCanem said:
Sorry, posted it to give you an idea that it's genetic and you will have to think about managing it rather than being able to cure it completely.

You have the right idea in that you should be trying to distract her, but you have to up the attraction of what you are using, IE take her out hungry and use a very high value food to tempt her or use a ball or toy that she never has free access to that she adores.

You could take a folding chair out and just sit all day beside the road and ignore stressy behaviour and feed her when she is calm and passive.

I wouldn't talk to her too much as while as a human we would do this to reassure another human, to a dog you are reinforcing that the dog is right to be scared. Try not to tense up yourself and 'expect' something as this will pass down the lead to the dog.

Try to keep her moving and don't stop, a bit like a nappy horse, try to be businesslike and brisk rather than worrying and fussing her.
Click to expand...

No it's fine, I appreciated the link anyway :D
She doesn't get fed till after the horse visit so maybe some cooked chicken might help as her tennis ball is her favourite toy and it really makes no odds when I take it :cool:
Sorry just to clarify :o I'm not talking to her constantly but when I see something coming I'll say heel or don't pull and if she freaks out I'll tell her not to be daft and it's ok or if she's not too bad and the reaction is fairly small (like just a small start rather than running off) I'll tell her she's been good. Apart from that I sort of act like I would whilst riding in that I try to project confidence and not worry that she'll react badly so I'm not tensing when something comes along I know will scare her. I try to keep moving and just be as normal as possible but she does sometimes plank so I tell her to come on and as the lorry goes past she'll unfreeze and walk normally again. This is going to sound right fluffy bunny but I don't think I'll do the sit out with a chair option as I think it would make her pretty stressed out :o
Is there hope that with time it'll become less scary and more "normal" for her?
It's not like she's uber stressed and freaked out, my last collie would have had a heart attack but she's quite clearly frightened :o
 
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Ladyearl, I was giving the two options (try sitting/try moving) depending on what type of dog she might be/what sort of reaction she might display. Some dogs can take flooding, some can't.

Sandi, with the words make sure she does not link the words to the vehicle.
 
CaveCanem said:
Ladyearl, I was giving the two options (try sitting/try moving) depending on what type of dog she might be/what sort of reaction she might display. Some dogs can take flooding, some can't.

Sandi, with the words make sure she does not link the words to the vehicle.
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks CaveCanem you've given me some great advice :D
 
I agree with everything already said, but just wOndering, is there any way you could temporarily avoid it? Just suggesting as, it may be worth taking her away from that stretch of road for a wee while, and then training her elsewhere around traffic (low level traffic, to areas/times of high level traffic). And have your basics in training for when you tackle the big scary road again.

Appreciate its not always easy to do this, If you must pass the traffic then stick to what has already been suggested, but it may still be worth your while to,take her to a few quieter roads too with fewer buses/lorries
 
stargirl88 said:
I agree with everything already said, but just wOndering, is there any way you could temporarily avoid it? Just suggesting as, it may be worth taking her away from that stretch of road for a wee while, and then training her elsewhere around traffic (low level traffic, to areas/times of high level traffic). And have your basics in training for when you tackle the big scary road again.

Appreciate its not always easy to do this, If you must pass the traffic then stick to what has already been suggested, but it may still be worth your while to,take her to a few quieter roads too with fewer buses/lorries
Click to expand...

She's actually great in normal traffic. We pass a lot of cars and the odd bus on our usual walk and she doesn't bother at all. I am actually confident enough that on the way home she gets to walk to heel off the lead. It just seems to be buses and lorries on the main road that she's not keen on and unfortunately I have to go along this stretch of road to get up to the horses :(
 
It's not unusual if you really think about it, a bitch we had used to start howling and screaming when a lorry was half a mile away at the bottom of the road. The lorries belonging to the place up the road from us, make the house shake when they go past and the dogs are closer to the road than the house - for a nervy dog (I really don't like that sort of nerviness in a GSD, but that was the way she was) this would be quite traumatic and happening multiple times every day,
 
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