I write sometimes about fear being a geography, a space to cross and I see that Red confronts this same issue sometimes. Border collies are intense and strange and they constantly surprise us with their quirks, sensitivities and obsessions. Red is an easy-going, even fearsomely confident dog, at ease almost everywhere, but he is frightened of smooth floors, especially tile or linoleum floors. I’m not sure if its the smooth surface of the sound of his claws clacking, but he sometimes freezes, seems to panic, and then, after some encouragement, makes a mad dash across to what he sees as safer ground – carpets, concrete. If I am there calling to him, he will make a run for it, sometimes he just freezes.
It is ironic to me that a dog who will think nothing of smacking a 150 pound sheep around – or even a bunch of them – navigating around big donkeys, permit chickens to peck at his coat – is traumatized by a linoleum floor. I’m working on some ideas to train him out of it. Our kitchen floor is a source of dread for him. Border collies are a test of patience, training skills.I call it Border Collie Chess. They make a move, you make a move, and the game never ends.