Working sheepdog pup..... giving it the best start.

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Sorry it's me again!!!! Looking for any hints, tips and advice regarding giving a working collie pup the best start possible.

My OH and I have both had collies before, OH's working, mine pet, but it's been a while since we've had a pup. We are soon getting a collie pup - collect him on Friday - and I'm looking for help as to what to do to give him the best start.

What I mean is how much command training do you do with a pup and at what age? I had a lab pup several years ago and failed her by not giving her good basic training. Thankfully she's found a brilliant working home and is happy.

I don't want to make the same mistake with this pup so all advice is welcome please. I have a training DVD to help with training at a later stage but it doesn't cover the early months as it were.

Thank you for reading and look forward to reading your replies.
 
Round her they do puupy socialisiation and training classes, I would have thought that would be a good start. If it is a good working pup the instinct will be there to round anything up so you can work on it from there.
 
At our club the baby puppies are already learning sit, recall etc. As long as it is fun and incorporated with play I see no harm in it.
This is all basic training advice, not herding! So someone can correct me if any of these methods will conflict with herding training.

The best and first thing you can teach a puppy IMO is the word 'no'.

Re sits and downs, I don't like doing too much pushing and shoving when they are young and their bones are still quite rubbery - you can encourage a pup to sit by holding a treat right over its' head and back a little to encourage the pup into the position naturally.
With down it is something similar - place the treat between the front paws and coax it long and low into the down.

With heel, keep the pup on your left side and have a treat in your left hand, so essentially the dog is looking at your hand all the time.
It is our style that every time the handler stops, the dog should sit automatically, but like I say, you probably won't want or need that.

Recall! Copied and pasted from a thread a few topics below!
Get a closed space. Get a pal who can hold the dog's collar and prevent him following you or getting to you, they must not talk or offer reassurance - he needs to want to be with you. Turn your back and jog away a few metres. Keep your back to him. Then turn around and HERE! very up, very positive, very fun, clap your hands or pat your knees if that gets him going and loads of praise, fuss, food treat or ball when he comes.
Gradually increase the lengths and as you do, you can introduce a long line, so he gets used to wearing it.
Introduce this in different places away from home, like the park etc.
Basically, he will think that he is being restrained and kept away from his fun person, and that getting back to you and having fun is what he needs to do.

This is a great way to get baby puppies to recall.

As he gets older and you are out and about, take him out on the long line and let him run around as if he were off lead. Recall him every so often, reward, then let him 'free' again.
Hopefully if he is focused on you, he will return and then you can gradually do away with the long line.

Focus training is also a good idea for any dog.
Introduce a command of 'watch'. When he looks up at you, reward him. If he wants something, he needs to be looking at you to get it. The longer he holds your gaze, the more praise you give.

If the dog isn't food driven, use a ball or toy instead. Another good one for heeling is to stick a ball under your armpit
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So that the dog is looking up to you.
 
Thanks guys.

Pup will get plenty of socialisation as we have 3 terriers and I'm hoping he'll come to work with me too, when old enough - work at a vets. So that should get that started fairly well.

Love the thoughts on sitting etc will try them out, not sure whether food orientated or not yet!

Re the recall will keep that in mind and use relevant bits for working dog needs. Don't want pup mistaking a herding command as a recall once working
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Aiming for it to come back to me once he's give the "That'll do" command. Teaching myself how to blow a shepherd whistle at the moment and it's proving to be entertaining!!
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I have a working border collie (in training!!!).....
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I made the mistake and left basic (professional )training a bit late which gave him a few bad habits on walks etc but now he is working sheep he is amazing!
He listens to me so much more around sheep then say at the park! Not that he is bad but just not as obedient as I would like!
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I would say start basic training as soon as possible and then start on livestock.

Seamus started sheep training when he was 16 months old, best thing we ever did with him and it keeps me fit!
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