Training tips

Foxford

Foxford

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Hi there!

I have just acquired a rescue border collie, 8 weeks old. House training (crate method) just started and going fairly well. My family got a rescue German Shephard at ~9 months so have no experience with puppies but some with older dogs! Have read up and got advice (professional advice on hand if needed)... But I was wondering what are your best training tips at this age and onwards?

Thanks
 
Never ever feed them off the table...that's when begging starts...always give them their food after you've gotten your own. Always greet anyone else in the room before the dog, never let it sleep on your bed. Actually most of this kinda stuff you already probably know!
 
Go to a good training school that will help even at this age you can go along yourself and get some advice and start when jabs completed puppy social classes.

Get a good book on basics and stick with it.
As with horses note everytime you are with your dog you are training it. What you do now is set in them far more then later in life so try to make it the way you want it for the rest of their life.

Think of them as children. Would you want them running amok of your house, possibly not.
Dont let them lick your faces as they lick their ownselves and it isnt good or healthy and they will do same to children. They should allow you to touch their feed bowls and not fear it. Start as you mean to go on. They hear a pin drop no need to shout.
The tone says it all.
Do not fed titbits. They can earn them, start small and make it fun.
Most of all enjoy and let them enjoy you.

A dog is for life not just for Christmas.
 
There is lots of fab information on the link below:

http://www.canineconcepts.co.uk/ccp51/cc/dog-training/puppy-training.shtml

Also see if you can get a copy of "After You Get Your Puppy by Dr Ian Dunbar" - I found the advice in it invaluable when our dog was a puppy. Particularly important are early socialisation with both other dogs and people, plus learning bite inhibition.

I also found clicker training very useful - see if you can find a puppy class where they use this method.
 
Would also second clicker training. I've got an 8 month old lab and started clicker training from day one (9 weeks old). It is wonderful. I just did it from a book and found it so easy. He was house trained in about a week, learnt never to pull on the lead straight away etc. He is a joy to work with and just thinks it's all one big game.
 
Dogs work very well with clicker training.
The book
They shoot dogs dont they is extremely good and not about shooting dogs.

But note Borders are extremely bright and energetic and often teach owners without you realising it. They get bored easily if not occupied and boredom like children leads to unwanted behaviour as they seek stimulation.Puppies only learn is short time spans so make it short and always leave on good note and fun.

They are a working breed so hours left alone will not be good for them.

Lots of good advice here as well.

Did you watch Dog Borstal this week it had a border on it and typical of a dog not stimulated but so willing to please. The trainer Lynn is my daughters trainer at Barking Dogs in Gravely in Herts near Stevenage. That lady has now joing their training club and doing some agility. It will excell at that and have a much happier life using its brain. So if you can get the pup out when little older you will also get so much more and the club I talk of also work with working trials if owners want to do it. See if you can find somewhere similar near by.
They all work outside as well not closed in a room. far better.
 
Thanks, I did see dog borstal! It was a very good advert to train him properly. He will get plenty of walks and time down at the yard to run around (it's private, so no YO to get annoyed!). And I'm planning on puppy socialisation next week after 2nd lot of jabs. After that hopefully we'll try agility. He won't have time to get bored - haha! Oh and the occaisional mountain or two once a month or so.

Thanks for the advice so far everyone. Not sure I would let myself in for kids after this experience though!! At least he will be grown up in a few months.
 
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