The border collie part is a very high energy, working dog. I know someone who had to give up their b.c. mutt mix because it was aggressive and bit everyone in the family. This dog is for herding sheep and getting a lot of exercise. Maybe you can call the Dog Whisperer to your house. I would lock this mongrel in a kennel outside to punish her bad behavior.

Your dog is probably bored -- a border collie should get about 2 hours of exercise a day -- more is better. If they don't get enough exercise, they will go crazy. I know some people that got some chickens, they had their border collie watch the chickens -- Border collies can find hours of entertainment from watching a herd of anything. Meanwhile -- to regain control of your dog -- you might consider getting a kennel/crate that is your dogs space in the house -- maybe your dog has to sit in his kennel while you have dinner -- that would probably be a good time to feed your dog... in the back of the kennel. Take your dog to obedience class -- a dog trainer can help you come up with activities to redirect your dogs behavior back to good dog behavior.

I have an aussie, similar high energy working breed. I recommend looking for herding lessons in your area. It is what they were bred to do and they love it. I really enjoy it too. You can go just for exercise, or you can really train and go to local competitions. We've herded cattle, sheep and ducks. http://www.stockdog.com/clubs/usorg.htm

I agree - your dog is bored beyond belief. Look for ways to use her herding skills and also consider obedience training. Obedience gives them something to work at and something to do as well as teaches them 'manners.'

I agree with Persky Bunkermeister. Never hit your dog. In my experience, I've been more successful by either dropping a book in causing a loud noise that distracts what they're doing. I had a border collie it's true they do love to work, I also feel that he is bored and is looking for something to do;)...Good Luck

If she has never, ever done these things before you need to consider what possible changes in her environment may have recently happened that have likely stressed her out. Is she getting enough activity? Have the levels of activity changed recently? Has anyone moved out, or moved in. Has there been uncommon stress in the family, more yelling, crying, a death, a kid who left for college, changes in your work hours? Dogs do not always handle stress as well as we might think they do or should! Stress typically causes dogs to begin to behave in ways we find unacceptable as well. Could there be any sort of possible MEDICAL problems that you may be unaware of...worms? A bang on the head, when was she last Vet Checked? Vaccines? Vaccines can also cause problems that appear "out of the blue" and can include not only skin reactions, but EMOTIONAL, BEHAVIORAL reactions as well...not unlike what you are describing here! I had a client with one of the sweetest Retrievers ever born who began to suddenly act aggressively at age 6. Trevor, it turned out, had a BRAIN tumor...cancer. With treatment he lasted about a year and a half, before it was necessary to have him put down. So, I suggest you start with a Vet visit, take in a stool sample and a urine sample...RULE out that there is something medical wrong first. (about $12 to $15 to run the samples usually...if you do not take the dog along, but drop off the samples) I would say to have her checked physically...to be sure she has not developed any sort of neck, shoulder, or back pains that COULD affect her normal behaviors. Also, I'd have a blood check run...to rule out thyroid, diabetics...and so on. If her health is peachy keen...then look to the level of activity she gets...these dogs ARE, as mentioned, HIGH ENERGY DOGS, they will create their own entertainments if we fail to provide an acceptable, regular program of play, training and work for them to do! Until she is "back to normal" REMOVE your stuffed toys to where she cannot get to them...also remove anything else you think might tempt her...SET HER UP TO BE SUCCESSFUL at changing her behaviors! Read up on and begin using NILIF (Nothing In Life, Is Free). This means that you will be working on TRAINING...reviewing or teaching all of the basics. Sit, Stay, Lay Down, Come, Off, Back Up, Go, (go to your bed, go get your ball) She needs to SIT before being fed, or lay down, and before getting her lead attached for a walk or run. In other words..she gets NOTHING without doing SOMETHING that you ask for..and then PRAISE and give what you are offering...be it a treat, or her dinner, or simply happy praise...always praise, even if she is getting a toy or food reward too. Assuredly, if you have the time you would both benefit from some classes in either agility, herding, or even Fly Ball! For now, please do NOT set her up to fail and disappoint you by leaving food out where she can easily reach it...set her up to do the correct behaviors and support her by giving her OTHER acceptable behaviors to do, until she is back on track with GOOD habits. If you normally feed her dry in a bowl...try loosing the bowl. Ask for a sit/stay or a lay down/stay and then toss the dry food around for her to have to FIND IT. This gives her things to do, and also helps to relieve stress for some high energy dogs and slows down their eating a bit too. Teaching her to PLAY FIND IT is another good activity for a smart and willing over achiever to work on...IT can be a toy, a treat, or a person who hides from the dog! If these unacceptable behaviors have only recently developed...if she was a model canine good citizen up to now...I can promise you SOMETHING in her life has changed and triggered these problems...your mission, if you choose to accept it...is to figure out WHAT has changed...and to substitute these behaviors with acceptable ones she can start doing!

I can tell you what NOT to do: Heed advice from any dog “trainer” that you may see on television (or in print). Not only might HIS or her methods be archaic, they might border on inhumane and might not help your situation at all. To illustrate my point, I’d like to refer you to the following articles, written by some of the country’s leading canine behavior specialists. These people are PhDs in the field and have had extensive experience and education. http://www.urbandawgs.com/divided_profession.html and http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/10/15/CMGPHL9D1N1.DTL&type=printable and http://www.seattledogs.com/seattledogsdiscussionarchive_1_Cesar.htm