Are you planning to get yourself a Border Collie and worried about how to train or handle him?
As it’s a medium from the Borders of England and Scotland they are known for their tremendous levels of energy and intellect, as well as their natural drive to herd.
So training them is always fun and ends in a tremendously loyal, protective, and entertaining companion for yourself.
You can train your Border Collie with simple commands like fetch, catch, and no. With persistent training, you can then introduce difficult commands like walk with me and go to bed.
Here in this article, there are all the points written you need to keep in mind while training your dog with basic commands that will help you and your dog to live a healthy and happy life.
Do You Need to Train Your Border Collie?
In a nutshell, “yes.”
- Training your Border Collie is absolutely necessary.
These dogs have a strong herding instinct that, if not properly managed, can lead to behavioral disorders. Despite the fact that they are highly clever and eager to please their owners, these dogs have a strong herding instinct.
- It has been determined that Border Collies are the most intelligent dog breed in the world, even more so than German Shepherds.
On average, a new command can be learned by a Border Collie with fewer than five opportunities to practice it. Even while these dogs have a high potential for learning, that does not guarantee a problem-free experience with them.
- It is still necessary for you to be aware of the special needs of the breed in order to successfully train your dog and have a wonderful relationship with them.
- In addition to the above, it is essential that you maintain a consistent routine with your training.
It is essential to constantly practice orders, as dogs are creatures that learn best through repetition.
You should make an effort to keep training sessions brief and pleasant, and as your dog becomes more self-assured, you should progressively increase the level of difficulty of the orders.
- It is essential to make use of strategies that involve positive reinforcement when you are tutoring your Border Collie.
Instead of punishing your dog for misbehavior, you should use reward-based training or positive reinforcement, which entails giving your dog a treat when they behave well.
Treats, praise, or time spent playing with their favored item are all great options for motivating your pet child.
- Training can be made more fun for both you and your dog by using techniques that involve positive reinforcement, which helps to establish a positive relationship between you and your dog.
Key Areas to Focus on While Training
1. Addressing their Herding Behavior
As was just said, Collies have inherited a powerful tendency to herd.
It’s important to train your dog to listen to what you say and stay away from potentially harmful situations like running behind automobiles or cars, even if you’ll never be able to entirely erase the instinct it was born with.
2. Leash Training
While they are young, Border Collies are prone to become easily distracted due to their high levels of energy and their persistent desire to investigate their surroundings.
This can result in problems, such as the dog pulling on its leash or attempting to take you in another way than the decided way.
Hence, leash training is very important.
3. Socialization
Border Collies have the disposition to be quite loving towards their owners. However, at an early stage, if not given proper training, they can be reserved with strangers.
Apart from this, usually Border Collies get very excited when they see other dogs. It is imperative that pet owners should provide their Collies with the socialization that they require.
4. Biting
It is important to satisfy a dog’s natural instinct to chew. So providing them with chew toys is a good option. Apart from this, you can also provide treats that they can gnaw on.
You can include these things as a part of training your Border Collie.
For instance, if your young dog has the impulse to chew something, you should reprimand it if it goes for something inappropriate, such as the shoes that belong to you. Instead, you can offer him a suitable item to chew on instead.
Your furry friend will eventually develop the habit of immediately reaching for the thing he plays with or the toy whenever he has a need to chew.
5. Barking
Due to the fact that Collies are those dogs that like to herd, they usually have a strong bark that can be used to their advantage while working. With this, they too have a propensity for making a lot of noise inside the house.
If there are nearby neighbors or in case your Border Collie has a habit of barking and disturbing you while you are trying to be on your schedule, this could be a significant issue for you.
It is OK for your dog to make a single or two short barks in order to inform you of anything important, such as the presence of someone he has met for the first time or seen for the first time like any courier guy; or the depletion of the water dish they use.
It’s also possible that he is reacting emotionally by barking excessively without any concrete explanation for it. Some Collies, for instance, will bark in case they are getting bored or if they simply want some attention from you.
In case you are sitting in another corner of your house then your dog, they may also be suffering separation anxiety or feeling concerned about being apart from you.
6. Crate Training
While crate training a young puppy, it is best to use positive reinforcement, such as food, rather than coercion to persuade the puppy to enter its crate. This will help the dog feel more at ease.
When you start shutting the way to the crate, make sure that your pet is at ease in devoting time inside the crate on his own.
Your pet will eventually seem to be habitual with this area being a secure haven where dogs can relax while you are busy outside or working on something.
It is important to avoid crate training young puppies for an extended period of time because they do not yet have the same level of control over their emotions and actions as old dogs.
In general, crating a dog for over 8 hours is not a good idea, not even for an adult dog.
Benefits of Teaching Your Border Collie Training Commands
One of the most beneficial things that you can do for your Border Collie is to teach it some basic training commands. Training your Border Collie offers a variety of advantages, not just for you but also for your pet dog.
These commands help to reinforce positive behavior, enhance communication, construct trust and respect, and strengthen the bond you share with your dog.
You should consider training your Border Collie for a number of reasons, including the following:
1. Promotes Qualitative Behavior
Instilling proper manners in your Border Collie can be accomplished by teaching it several training commands.
You may educate your dog on how to act appropriately in a variety of settings by using commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “come.”
These commands assist in teaching your dog basic manners. Negative behaviors like jumping, barking, and chewing may become less frequent as a result of this.
2. Enhances Communication
The ability to communicate more effectively with your dog can be facilitated by training commands.
It will become much simpler for you to communicate with your dog if you give it a variety of instructions since the dog will eventually learn to comprehend your cues and body language as you progress through the training.
This can help to improve the overall quality of your relationship with your dog as well as the bond that you share with him.
3. Builds Trust And Respect
Building mutual respect and trust with your Border Collie can be accomplished by teaching him or her basic training commands.
When you teach your dog using methods that involve positive reinforcement, your dog will learn to respect your authority and trust in you as the pack leader.
This can be helpful in preventing behavioral problems, such as excessive barking or hostility towards other animals.
4. Provides Mental Stimulation
Because of their exceptional intelligence, Border Collies require a great deal of play and mental exercise.
The mental stimulation and difficulties provided by training orders are beneficial in warding off destructive tendencies and preventing individuals from becoming bored.
In addition to this, it assists in providing an outlet for their boundless energy and intuition.
5. Ensures Safety
Teaching your dog basic commands is one of the best ways to keep him safe. Your dog should know some basic commands, such as “come” and “stay,” to prevent him from escaping or getting into potentially hazardous situations.
This can both give you peace of mind and assist in maintaining the safety of your dog.
6. Enhanced Social Skills
Tutoring your Border Collie with some basic commands for training can help to improve their ability to interact with other people.
When you bring your dog to obedience lessons or other types of training sessions, they will have the chance to socialize with both other dogs and people.
Their ability to interact with others and their level of comfort in a variety of settings could both benefit from this.
7. Improves Overall Health And Well- Being
Improving your Border Collie’s welfare, health, and well-being as a whole can be accomplished by teaching them training commands.
Physical activity and cerebral stimulation, both of which are provided through training, can contribute to the prevention of obesity and other health problems.
It may also assist in lowering the levels of tension and anxiety that your dog experiences.
20 Essential Border Collie Training Commands
Your Border Collie should try to master each and every one of these basic training commands.
1. No
Border Collies, like most dogs, are incredibly curious. It’s difficult to keep them under control when they catch an intriguing scent or catch sight of anything they want to chase.
Teaching your Border Collie “no” should therefore be one of the first commands you teach it.
2. Sit
One of the first and most fundamental obedience orders is “sit.”
It is done by keeping your hand near to your body and raising just your forearm above the dog’s head and training him to learn this action by rewarding him with a treat.
3. Down
Using this command, your dog will be instructed to lie down. Dogs can be soothed and taught not to jump on people with this command.
This can also be helpful if you’re lying on the bed, and you want your furry down to lay down with you!
4. Come
To have your dog come to you, use this command. It’s useful when your dog is off-leash or when you want to keep it from bolting.
5. Stay
With this command, your dog will stay in place until you give the “all clear.” It can be used to keep your dog in a safe place or to prevent them from rushing after anything.
Your body posture while teaching the dog this command should be just like we measure one hand distance i.e., full arm open pointing over the dog’s head.
6. Heel
You can make walks more pleasurable for you and your dog by teaching her to “heel” once you’ve trained her to walk well on a lead. Heel will essentially train your four-legged friend to walk parallel to you towards the left hand side.
Use your dog’s favorite treat or toy as a training incentive.
7. Off
You can teach your dog not to jump on people in a few different ways. When they jump up, one typical technique is to gently grip their paws.
Most dogs aren’t fond of having their paws handled, but you won’t hurt them if you’re careful.
8. Leave
It’s a basic command, and teaching it is straightforward. It teaches the dog to get rid of something which is harmful or not right for them. For example, food, etc.
A dog should be made familiar with the wave of your hand pointing towards the dog or the treat by rewarding him with treats.
This can also be taught with various toys and treats in which if the dog chooses the wrong ones they are reprimanded and vice versa.
9. Take It
The command “take it” is the polar opposite of “leave it,” yet it’s just as useful to teach your dog. It’s also one of the simplest to teach, as it takes advantage of your dog’s innate inquisitiveness.
Keep a treat handy and your dog’s favorite toy handy. While holding the toy in front of your dog, say “take it.” Give her a treat after she takes the toy from you. It won’t take long for her to grasp the gist of the order.
10. Fetch
Although “fetch” is a simple order, teaching your dog to obey it could take some time. The success of this strategy depends on successfully educating the dog to return the ball.
To begin, your dog needs to be piqued by the ball or toy. You can probably skip this step if they already are.
Get their attention once they return with the ball. Get hyped up and make a big deal out of it. If he doesn’t return right away or if he drops the ball or toy on the way, try not to take it personally. Time is needed.
11. Go to Bed
By teaching your dog to go to bed, you can prevent them from getting in the way of you as you work around the house or from distracting guests who aren’t dog lovers.
Never use this as a form of discipline for misbehavior. Your dog should associate the bed with pleasant memories.
12. Watch Me
Sometimes, Border Collies require more assistance than other canines in maintaining attention. This is especially true in noisy or crowded environments.
Teach this command with another person so that the dog has someone to focus on while you do something to distract it.
13. In
It might be frustrating to try to train an outdoor-loving dog to enter the car or the house. Having them memorize this command, however, can save you a lot of time and trouble.
You can utilize a reward system that includes your dog’s favorite food, toy, or even you! Do that to entice them into the car or home.
Say “in” as many times as necessary as soon as your dog shows curiosity. When your dog finally makes it through the door, lavish praise on them.
14. Out
Teaching the “out” command is quite similar to teaching the “in” command. Use the same treat and the word “out” to coax from the home or car.
This separate command can be useful for reining in your dog while he’s engaging in undesirable behavior.
15. Find it
With this cue, your dog will sniff out any concealed item you specify. It can be used as a fun game or to train your dog to seek objects.
So, the next time your pet friend is getting bored, indulge in a game of treasure hunt. Hide his favorite toys randomly, and tell him to find them!
16. Speak/Talk
While training your Border Collie to reduce its barking, it is essential that he understand the “talk” command. This command will help your Border Collie bark only when you tell him to.
While training your dog for this command, it’s best to have some treats or toys in hand. When your dog is scared, anxious, or lost, these will be useful.
Immediately give your dog a treat when he responds to the speak or talk command. A verbal appreciation like a “Yes” will also serve as positive reinforcement for your furry friend.
17. Quiet
When Border Collies become bored or startled, they may bark excessively. You can stop the dog from barking using the “quiet” command. If your dog already knows “talk,” teaching him “silent” will be a breeze.
The “talk” command must be issued first for this to work. A loud, authoritative (but not violent) “quietly” will silence them when they bark and give them positive reinforcement if they follow the command.
18. Catch
The command “Catch” is a lot of fun to use, but it also has some serious applications. It is important to train your dog to catch something small to begin with because you can teach it to catch almost anything.
Hence, even if it hits him in the face, he won’t feel any pain from it. Start things off right with some tasty treats!
19. Give Me
This command is used when a dog has fetched something or picked something you wanted and you have to take it from its mouth.
For this command, you should keep both your palms near the object held by the dog in his mouth. It will automatically release the object it’s holding.
20. Walk With Me
Walking outdoors is one of the main training a dog should be given. It should know how to behave with the people outside.
By learning this command a dog will stay by your side while you walk without being distracted. You can start training for this command at home.
Start by training your dog while walking in your house, and making him understand which side he needs to walk.
Conclusion
It’s no surprise that Border Collies are so popular; they’re fantastic dogs. However, not everyone’s daily routine can accommodate them.
Training a Border Collie properly requires a significant time commitment. They will continue to require a great deal of care and attention even as adults. When you adopt or buy a dog, you’re establishing a bond for the rest of your life.
When properly stimulated, however, these smart canines are surprisingly simple to train. Certain dogs may suffer from nervousness, and some owners may have trouble getting the hang of training.
If you’re having trouble getting started, dog training school is always an option.
You and your dog can get off to a great start by taking one of these classes together. Nonetheless, many Border Collies can be trained successfully in the home environment.
We hope that our list has served as a useful resource and that you feel better equipped to deal with your Border Collie as a result of reading it. Now, are you planning to get yourself a Border Collie?
FAQs
1. Are Border Collies hard to train?
Because of their great intelligence, enthusiasm, and work drive, Border Collies can be a little more difficult to teach than other breeds.
They may be slow to pick up new skills at first, but with persistence, patience, and praise, they may quickly become proficient in any endeavor.
2. How many commands can a Border Collie learn?
The number of commands a Border Collie can learn is very variable from dog to dog and is proportional to the amount of time and effort invested in training.
Nonetheless, they can learn a wide variety of commands and frequently do admirably in obedience and agility contests.
3. What tricks can you teach a Border Collie?
Border Collies can learn many different tricks, including how to jump through hoops, play dead, retrieve specific items, and even solve puzzles.
They are highly trainable and eager to please their owners, so they take on new challenges with enthusiasm.
4. What age is best to train a Border Collie?
A Border Collie should begin training as soon as possible after it is brought into the home, preferably between the ages of 8 and 12 weeks.
Puppies’ brains are still developing, but it’s an excellent time to start teaching them proper conduct.
While it’s always ideal to begin teaching a Border Collie at a young age, training, and reinforcement should continue throughout the dog’s life.
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