Border collie started training a few months after he was born

When we welcome a Border Collie puppy into our home, its clever appearance and energetic demeanor instantly light up every corner of our lives. Border Collies, as the top intelligent dogs in the canine world, possess infinite learning potential and abundant energy. And when to start the training journey for them has become a matter of great concern for every Border Collie owner. The appropriate starting time for training is like laying a solid foundation for the growth path of Border Collies. It can not only help them master good behavior habits but also weave a close and profound emotional bond between humans and dogs.

In the first 8 weeks after a Border Collie puppy is born, it mainly spends time with its mother dog and littermates. This period can be regarded as the embryonic stage of their socialization. From the mother dog, they learn basic survival skills, such as the correct eating posture, the pattern of defecating in a fixed place, and the proper way to get along with their companions. Although we cannot conduct formal training courses at this time, it is of great significance to create a warm, safe, and moderately stimulating environment for them. We can gently stroke their soft fur to let them gradually get used to human touch; play some common daily sounds near their small nest, such as soft music and slight footsteps, to help them gradually get familiar with the sounds from the outside world.

At around 8 to 12 weeks of age, Border Collies officially enter the golden starting point of training. At this time, their little minds are like sponges eager to absorb knowledge, full of curiosity and the desire to explore everything around them. We should first focus on teaching basic commands and expanding socialization. Simple commands like "Sit", "Stay", and "Come here" become the keys to opening the door of their training. In the teaching process, the positive reinforcement method is undoubtedly the most effective assistant. Prepare some small snacks that Border Collie puppies like, such as sweet small pieces of cheese and delicious chicken cubes. Whenever they accurately complete the commanded action, immediately give them snacks as a reward, and at the same time, accompany it with enthusiastic praise and gentle strokes. For example, when teaching the "Sit" command, we hold a snack in our hand and slowly move it upward in front of the Border Collie puppy. Its little head will involuntarily lift up following the snack, and its body will also squat down accordingly. At this moment, clearly and firmly give the "Sit" command and quickly offer the snack to its mouth. Repeat this several times, and the Border Collie puppy will be able to closely associate this command with the corresponding action and gradually form a conditioned reflex.

When a Border Collie is 3 to 6 months old, its physical functions continue to develop and improve, and the time it can concentrate its attention also extends, which creates favorable conditions for carrying out more in-depth and complex training. While consolidating the previously learned basic commands, we can gradually introduce advanced commands such as "Lie Down", "Leave It", and "Heel". Taking teaching the "Lie Down" command as an example, first let the Border Collie sit, then hold a snack in your hand and slowly move it downward in front of it, while clearly saying the "Lie Down" command. When its body slowly lies down following the movement of the snack, immediately give a reward and praise. For the "Leave It" command, we can put an item on the ground. When the Border Collie tries to approach or touch it, firmly give the "Leave It" command and quickly divert its attention with an interesting toy or snack. Once it obeys the command and stops touching the item on the ground, immediately give a reward to reinforce its correct behavior. And for the training of the "Heel" command, a suitable leash is needed. When walking, when the Border Collie walks beside us and maintains the correct position, give a reward in a timely manner; if it pulls the leash, walks ahead or lags behind, we should stop in time and wait for it to adjust to the correct position before continuing to move forward. Through such repeated training, let the Border Collie learn to cooperate tacitly with us during the walk and maintain a good heeling state.

As the Border Collie enters the adolescence stage from 6 to 12 months old, its self-awareness gradually increases, and it may show some behaviors of testing the boundaries and demonstrating independence. But this does not mean an increase in training difficulty. Instead, it is an excellent opportunity for us to further deepen the training results and increase the training difficulty. At this time, some more challenging training contents can be introduced, such as off-leash recall training and more precise and complex command training. When conducting off-leash recall training, first select a safe and enclosed place, such as your own yard or a professional training ground. Let the Border Collie move around freely in the place for a while first, and then call its name in a cheerful and urgent voice and give the "Come Back" command. When it runs towards us after hearing the command, give it the warmest welcome, which should not only include delicious snacks as a reward but also enthusiastic hugs and praise, so that it can fully feel the great joy and satisfaction of obeying the command and coming back to the owner. As the training progresses, gradually increase the distance between you and the Border Collie, as well as the interference factors in the surrounding environment, such as placing some items that other dogs are interested in the place, or inviting other people to walk around, and observe whether the Border Collie can still obey the command and quickly come back to us in the face of these interferences. If it can overcome the interferences and successfully complete the recall, be sure to give double rewards and encouragement to reinforce its correct behavior in a complex environment.

Throughout the entire training process of Border Collies, patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement are always the key elements to success. Although Border Collies are smart and clever, each Border Collie has its unique personality and learning rhythm. We should not be too hasty but give them enough time and patience to understand and master each command. At the same time, all family members should maintain consistency in training commands and methods to avoid the Border Collie feeling confused due to the chaos of commands. Every time a Border Collie accurately obeys a command, it is a shining progress on its growth path, and we should feel truly proud of it. Let us accompany the Border Collie through this training journey full of challenges and rewards with full love and patience, witness it gradually grow from an ignorant puppy into an excellent companion with proper behavior and intelligence, create countless beautiful and unforgettable memories together, and continue to write a warm and touching story between humans and Border Collies.