Collies!

My foster collie is Reserved and due to be collected next week, which is great.
I think I`ve found out why he was taken to be pts - he is confident enough to push boundaries now and today decided he didn`t like a man in the Park and circled round him barking, making little rushes forward, then back, threatening to nip.
Obviously I put him on lead and did some training but can Collie people tell me...
to me that was herding, not agression. Am I right? Yes I know it was undesirable behaviour, but is it what would be natural behaviour for a Collie? Or have I misconstrued it? To me it seemed like a control thing, not an attack.
It also transpired he is whistle trained, which is good, as recall is much swifter.

That sounds(without seeing the dog)like fear aggression & not BC "herding behaviour", lack of socialization & training spring to mind

Needs to be retrained to concentrate on his"handler"& to be desensitized to reduce his fears

That's what my Springer used to do to men who came into our house, because he was scared. Fortunately he is easily bribed by guests with treats!

I agree with Dyane, and it sounds more like fear aggression and a lack of socialisation.

Brilliant news about him being reserved. Do the new owners know about his behaviour?

I agree that it is not herding behaviour but fear based, but the style is typical of a poorly socialised collie.

Stumpy was very similar to this, except she would've gone the step further and actually nipped. she would try to get round the back- for people's heels or other dogs' bums. To my mind she is trying to 'see them off' i.e. get them to run away rather than her having to.

Stumpy is much better now, though I still don't fully trust her and will usually call her close as we pass strangers, particularly tall men, or men with sticks. It was really nice the other day when I met two guys out walking and had put her on the lead. After a couple of minutes talking to them, she actually went to them for a pet, I was so pleased with her (and them because they acted very sensibly around her).

I agree with Dyane, it is nothing to do with herding. Nothing "natural" about it at all.

Apparently the owners stopped taking the dog out when started doing this.
I don`t know about fear - he has shown no sign of it apart from a lady carrying hula hoops, then immediately after a man with a shopping trolley. Both in the Park where he has been walked for a week with no signs of this behaviour - on and off lead. He has happily greeted strangers and other dogs, been petted by children and sat outside the cafe with me. All calmly.
It reminds me a little of the Bossy Shepherd behaviour - where they try to control their space.
I`m wondering now if he just finds it fun to do?
Yes the owners will be apprised of all his faults and will train him.
There`s no malice in the dog - he just seems to have been taught no manners.

These things can take a while to emerge after moving home. We found that with a springer we had for a short period. Was told he had no problems other than house training and not knowing any commands at all, but friendly and easy going. After 3 weeks his true personality came out, he started doing the exact same thing but I knew straight away from his body language it was all fear based.
We saw two behaviourists, both said that at first he was too nervous and had pretty much shut down which is why he was so laid back, but once he felt more confident and safe with us he started this behaviour.
Just saying this might be why he hasn't done anything before, this spaniel was the same, lovely in kennels, didn't even bark at people or other dogs, just joined in when other dogs were barking, met us fine and a few family members and friends fine and then suddenly started and got much worse.

Sounds like a typical sheepdog behaviour! How many times have you gone into a farm yard and been nipped in the bum or ankles by a circling sheepdog.
For me at least 5 times.
Louise

That has nothing to do with breed and everything to do with dogs not being a) correctly controlled and b) correctly trained.

The same could be said for many breeds.