I have a border collie; he isn't really interested in other people. I wish they wouldn't try and pet the 'nice doggie' - He doesn't want to know you!
He's very well behaved when we're out, and has been taught not to chase sheep, or birds, or rabbits. So I know he isn't going to harm anything. He'll walk close to me if I tell him to...
...being as the point of all these 'Keep your dog on a lead' signs are for the safety of livestock, if he isn't a threat to livestock, why keep him on a lead?
By the way, I also have a daft lab, who though very good natured is a bit boisterous. He is on a lead 90% of the time, because he needs to be. I understand that lots of dogs aren't properly controlled, or are difficult to control, but some dogs and owners are quite trustworthy. Not ALL dogs want to run up to every living thing they meat and rip their innards out, as some people want to think.
As a ex puppy walker for guide dogs, I know what a well behavoived dog should be. I hate to see people with dogs on a lead, where the dog is pulling them all over te pavement, and going where it wants to go.
I can remember being in the dales, and a farmer was rounding up his sheep. One of his collies decided to try and include us in the roundup, a command was shouted, and that dog dropped like a stone, and didnt move a inch until he got the command to move again.
People should really train their dogs properly, even a boisterous dog can be calmed.
I've tried with my lab, but he just gets daft around other dogs. He doesn't bark much, but just wants to run up to them and then he's too much 'in-your-face' for most dogs to put up with for long. ALso, his recall (or mine?) is not at all reliable, especially if he's distracted.
Somehow, me and the collie just clicked; I don't really even remember trying to train him to do stuff, he just seems to understand what's required.
Its a thing with labs, they are "Bringers" they want to find what their looking for, and then come back. Comes from the instinct to bring stuff back, they never want to come back empty.
Collies aint botherd, they get called, they come forgetting everything else.
