Border Collie is fearful and soulless on the lead and doesn't respond to you at all (not even for real chicken or praise/petting). What can I do?
I have been trying to help my neighbours deal with their three year old Border Collie. He is a bubbly, affectionate and lovely family dog. He's not the most obedient dog but inside he will fuss and lick you and sit when told to if he's not excited, but on the walks he is very difficult to communicate with.
Getting the harness (they use a head collar but I don't) on him is not easy because the moment he realises he is getting outside he becomes ridiculously giddy. This is fairly normal but he seems almost manic? He doesn't seem afraid of the leash itself but the instant you put it on him his ears flatten and his tail goes right between his legs - this behaviour will continue until he is off lead. He really pulls on the way to the field which I deal with by going in a circle every time the lead gets tight (doesn't seem to be working yet but at least it breaks up the constant pull). He doesn't react to treats (even chicken or cheese or anything like that) because all he wants is to be released and then fetch things.
I would love to improve his leash manners but I feel I can't progress with this until I change his emotional response to being on the lead (and treats and praise don't work, he ignores you!). It's the fact that he looks and acts so absolutely miserable on the lead that gets to me. He doesn't look at me when I call him, he doesn't react to me at all but is still hyper aware of the person at the end of the leash (in this case, me). If I stop he takes a few steps back (and sort of half sits) because he has been taught to back up but he just looks so MISERABLE!!!!!!!
When he gets off he is like a completely different dog - the dog I'm used to seeing. He is happy, runs around, fetches things, acts like a normal Border Collie. I just do not know how to deal with his miserableness. The only thing that he seems to be responding to is when someone throws something for him, which I have used as a reward for general recall training etc. but obviously it is much more difficult to integrate this into the leash training. He even ignores his favourite toy when on the lead. His owners said they got a "Border Collie specialist" for him when he was a puppy and from what I have gathered the trainer sounded like he used some punitive methods on him (forcing him to lie down when meeting other dogs etc). I am assuming this is what is taking a toll on him when it comes to his reactions on the leash? It seems to me that he's had nothing but negative associations on the leash from day one. The owners themselves are kind, well meaning people who clearly didn't think to question authority.
He doesn't appear to have much confidence. The only time outside he seems happy is when he's chasing his rubber stick, which he will stare at until it is thrown for him (even in favour of going to the toilet - and he doesn't sniff or scent mark at all).
So yeah. How would you make a manic Border Collie happier on the leash? Thank you for your time, guys!
