I’ve got a 5-year-old border collie named Mackie who I adopted 5 months ago. He’s super sweet with my other dog, Benny, but the issue is when my daughter’s Puggle comes over. Mackie doesn’t let the Puggle play with Benny or even me if I’m playing with Benny and his squeak toy. He pushes her away or grabs the toy every time. I walk Mackie and Benny daily and give them plenty of playtime, but this is becoming a big problem. Any advice on how to handle this?
It sounds like Mackie might be showing some possessive or alpha behavior. Have you tried training him to ‘leave it’?
LeashLegend said:
It sounds like Mackie might be showing some possessive or alpha behavior. Have you tried training him to ‘leave it’?
I haven’t thought about using ‘leave it’ for this. Does it work for things like toys and other dogs?
@Ronald1
Definitely! It’s super versatile. It teaches them to stop what they’re doing and focus on you instead.
You might also want to look into the ‘nothing in life is free’ program. It could help establish boundaries with Mackie.
clarice said:
You might also want to look into the ‘nothing in life is free’ program. It could help establish boundaries with Mackie.
What’s the ‘nothing in life is free’ program? I’ve never heard of it.
@Ronald1
It’s where the dog has to work for everything—food, toys, attention. It reinforces your control over their behavior.
Have you tried clicker training? It’s great for teaching commands like ‘leave it’ and improving focus.
Mickey said:
Have you tried clicker training? It’s great for teaching commands like ‘leave it’ and improving focus.
I’ve used a clicker for basic stuff before. How do I use it for this kind of behavior?
@Ronald1
Start by rewarding small wins, like when he stops grabbing the toy. The click marks the good behavior.
You might also want to get Mackie’s temperament tested by a trainer. It can help pinpoint the root of the problem.
julia said:
You might also want to get Mackie’s temperament tested by a trainer. It can help pinpoint the root of the problem.
That’s a good idea. I’ll look into local trainers who can help with that.
@Ronald1
Good call. They can also guide you on how to work through specific triggers like the toy issue.
It might also help to keep Mackie and the Puggle separated during playtime until he’s better trained.
Ethan said:
It might also help to keep Mackie and the Puggle separated during playtime until he’s better trained.
Yeah, I’ve been thinking about doing that. Hopefully, the training helps us get past this phase.
@Ronald1
It should! Just stay consistent with the training. Mackie sounds like a great dog otherwise. 