Hi Aidan.
First I would like to say how much me and my family enjoy Positive Petzine site. We have found some very useful info here.
Just been reading the latest article 'Dogs on the Loose' about the Border Collie, Charlie who got a little ruffed up by another dog. Since we collected Summer (Huntaway Cross) from the SPCA at 10 weeks old, we have had a lot of hard work with various issues, e.g. extreme resource guarding, very very nervous of adults, particularly men, amongst many other things that we manage (not cured) - but manage. The main problem, which we have been unable to get under control is her approach to other dogs. She is now 19months old and after puppy classes, obedience classes, socialisation, positive reinforcement, gradually introducing dogs step by step, as mentioned in the said article, etc, we cannot trust her with other dogs. She is very, very unpredictable. Some dogs she will walk towards and cower. Other dogs, no matter what size, colour, breed, sex, she will go straight in for the "I'll get you first". We cannot, for the life of us, (and we have had many different breeds of dogs over the years), pinpoint what is clicking her buttons. If she was a human, I'd say she had a split personality!. We don't walk Summer with our Border Collie Harley, as she won't allow him to walk anywhere except next to us, while she goes off to explore, and that's not fair on him, particularly as, he too, is a high energy level dog. To make matters worse, she occasionally attacks Harley in the house or garden. Again there seems to be no reason that we can see for the attack (no food/toy guarding, jealousy). Obviously something is going on, but we are at our wits end here, as what to try next. Your input would be greatly appreciated here.