Brain games for a border collie?!

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RockinRudolph

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Ok so I have 2 pups, one a terrier cross and the other a border collie. The terrier is a pretty straight forward dog, just started walking them both and he is no problem, just the regular type of dog really. Im starting to think that the collie is a different kettle of fish altogether! He can be a little nervy and sometimes quiet, and not too sure on the whole walking thing yet. Today he just lay down and it was hard work getting him moving again (especially hard at the mo as hubby is away and im trying to walk them both on my own!). I know that collies are bright, so I need to get his brain working more. Puppy classes don't start for another 2 weeks so does anyone have any ideas on ways to engage his brain? Any tips for home made things I could use? I have downloaded some samples of a few training books for my kindle so will have a look at those later.

Any ideas welcome - sorry for the essay!
 
Sounds like a dog who will need a job when it is older.
You can trawl YouTube for some clicker training tricks and tips, Kikopup gets a good word on here.
Nina Otteson (sp?) does actual toys but might be a bit young for that yet.
The Culture Clash by Jane Donaldson is a good read. I have loaned my copy out AGAIN!
An interesting link first posted by Goya, I think!
http://www.agilitynet.co.uk/training/bordercollie_suekitchen_leewindeatt.html
 
Thank you very much, the article you posted a link to made a lot of sense! I plan to take him to agility when he is old enough. I will look up the names you mentioned, thanks!
 
You could always try some basic obedience work in very small chunks so as not to overdo things as he is very young.Collies are great at learning tricks so again look at various games which are fun and rewarding,but beware putting them together as Collies learn so fast they are likely to repeat a repertoire even when they have not been asked to do so.Little and often to keep him occupied and gradual exposure to the world around him with lots of positive experiences as it sounds as if he could be the nervous .As he matures you can build up the work level and then introdude more challenging concepts in the trainiing.If you can work him that would be great but otherwise look for agility clubs.
 
Thank you. I've learned that ignoring him and turning away when he parks himself on a walk is the best way of getting him to move - its like making him think it's his decision to get up again which he seems happy with! I have been doing short clicker sessions with him, hes not too good with the stay command yet but fab with sitting and getting good with lying down. There is an agility club in my village which I'm
hoping to join when he is older. We have been meeting new people and dogs on our walks, he usually seems more interested in the person than the dog though! I have been looking on YouTube for ideas, a resource I always forget to use!
 
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