The Short Answer Yes — and no. Border Collies are often called the easiest dogs to train because of their intelligence and eagerness to learn. But their brains don’t always come with an “off switch,” which means if you don’t guide that intelligence, they’ll start training themselves (and not always in ways you’d like!). Why Border Collies Learn Quickly Problem-Solvers : Collies naturally look for patterns and solutions, which makes them brilliant at obedience, sports, and tricks. They were after all bred to be independent thinkers and to react quickly when controlling a flock. Work Ethic : They were bred to work closely with humans, so they’re motivated to listen and engage. They are also known for repeating behaviours again and again so have a good work ethic. Food and Play Driven : Most Collies will happily work for treats, toys, or praise. But they also find movement incredibly rewarding The Challenges of Training a Border Collie Too Clever for Their Own Good : If you’re inconsistent, they’ll spot the gaps and make their own rules. An unemployed Border Collie will happily find his own jobs to do and will try to train you if you don’t train him. Easily Bored : Repetition without variety can lead to frustration and refusal. They don’t just need physical exercise but they also need mental training to be a happy and satisfied pet. Sensitive Souls : Harsh methods can damage their trust and confidence — they need positive, fair training but with clear boundaries. Herding Instinct : Ignore this to your peril. Most unwanted behaviour is linked to what the Border Collie was bred to do. Training the Border Collie without considering their natural instinct will not be as effective. Tips for Success Keep Sessions Short: 5–10 minutes often works better than long, drawn-out sessions. Mix It Up: Rotate between obedience, tricks, and games. Focus on Calmness: Don’t just teach high-energy tasks — balance it with settle training. Final Thoughts So, are Border Collies easy to train? They’re easy to train if you know how to train them. Their intelligence is a gift, but it’s also a responsibility. With consistency and creativity, they’ll thrive — and you’ll avoid the common pitfalls of frustration, over-arousal, or unwanted inappropriate herding behaviours. 👉 If you’d like breed-specific guidance (and a library of training videos to follow step by step), check out The Border Collie Academy . It’s designed to help you channel that incredible Collie brain in the right direction.

The content of this blog may surprise some but read it all before you jump on me! Over the recent few years people have started to look more at what dogs were bred to do and there is a greater recommendation for looking into breed specific outlets for our dogs. But... For the last few years I have worked with just one breed, the Border Collie, and in doing so have seen problems arising from this suggestion. Yes that's right I've said it! Herding type activities will not solve all of your Border Collies training and behaviour woes. It is now common to see people on social media asking for help with the training or behavioural issues of their dogs. Unfortunately for Border Collies most of their unwanted behaviour IS related to their natural instinct BUT this is where the problem lies. Many will then say the Collie should only live on a farm or they need to be herding and given herding outlets to make them happy and relaxed. But this isn't true as it is just scratching the surface. Let's take the example of a Border Collie who reacts to cars and either lunges, barks, pulls or tries to chase. Taking him to work on sheep isn't going to change how he walks on a lead around cars. And, put him back in the same scenario of walking along the same road at the same time of day and he will likely still react to the cars, because he hasn't been taught what he should be doing instead. The same applies to Border Collies that are inappropriately herding their humans or those that are dog reactive that are reacting due to their sensitivity to movement rather than being scared. Some don't suggest sheep but instead some of the many herding type games now available such as The Herding Game, Trieball or herding balls to name just a few. But the fall out can be exactly the same. In fact it can actually make some behaviours worse. This is because is we have unwanted behaviour that is driven by the Border Collie's natural instinct and then we ignite that instinct further then we can increase the unwanted behaviour. Border Collies are bred to work repetitively for long periods of time and igniting this desire can make them want to do it even more. Instead we need to work on our Border Collie's basic training. Just like any farmer or shepherd would do with their dog BEFORE putting them on any livestock. Get the basic training right first. But even then we need to understand our Border Collies and what drives them to train them. Many use a ball and the Collie repetitively gets the ball, drops it near the persons feet, and then runs back out into herding mode so they can eye and watch for any movement. This again can create issues in the training where if recall hasn't been taught they may not want to be caught at the end of a walk or when needed as they have practiced staying away. There are many nuances in the Border Collie's training. If they are all taught first then herding type outlets can be fun and a rewarding thing to do with your Border Collie but get the training right first. There are also thousands of happy and well trained Border Collies that don't partake in specific herding type training. Instead they have their needs met for both physical and mental training by taking part in many of the different dog sports and activities. It is their natural abilities that make them good in dog sports as they like to work with their person, they enjoy repeating behaviours again and again and are incredibly intelligent. So before you think about herding type games think why does my dog need them? If it is because of unwanted behaviour then do you need to address your dogs impulsivity, movement sensitivity or frustration levels first? Or may be you need to teach them what you want them to do instead. If you want to learn more about understanding your Border Collie then follow our FB page and keep an eye out for our next free training https://www.facebook.com/sarahhedderlydingbattdogtraining Also check out my YouTube channel for a chat on this exact topic with fellow trainer Emma Lee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8yTa5Enyyw&t=13s

Just because I am a trainer doesn't make me bullet proof. It has been hard living with a dog that did not fit the constructs of the 'norm'. The last 2 years have taken its toll on me and a couple of weeks ago I felt broken and traumatised. I burst into tears daily at the smallest things and was not enjoying life with my dog. Sparkles was operated on 6 weeks ago for occult tethered cord. We finally had a diagnosis and a surgeon that understood so I thought my life would get easier rather than harder. How wrong was I! The fact is the accumulation of stress over the last 2 years of living with Sparkles, working with her behaviour and trying to get a diagnosis has left me empty. Sometimes when we are still pushing forward we can keep going, running on adrenalin and auto pilot but when that stops there is nothing left in the tank. I didn't need to push anymore and the exhaustion took over and emotions came out. Pets are more commonly known for having a positive effect on people but less is shared about the negative effects that can occur which is why I am uncomfortably sharing this blog. There are many not so positive parts to owning a dog. Even loving a dog hits hard when you lose them, the grief. For some the dog is not what they thought they were getting. The second dog didn't match up to the first dog, the disappointment. Owners of reactive dogs may feel their world getting smaller rather than bigger, the frustration. The disappointment of a dog not enjoying the same activities as you love doing. All these situations can affect how we feel just as much as a dog that is ill, unwell or injured. It isn't easy to stay strong all the time, regardless. And I just want to let others know who are going through the same thing that you aren't alone. Although I am beginning to build a little resilience again certain things are still triggering for me. I really appreciate when people find the time to ask how Sparkles is doing but I am finding answering hard as she is struggling again this week and showing signs of nerve pain. I was pre-warned this could happen at around this time post surgery thanks to others in the tethered cord group but now feel vigilant and stressed in another way. The future is uncertain and I like to have a clear plan. Clarity makes me feel safe. When well meaning people say that she is fixed or so much better I just want to scream - but my dog still isn't right! In reality I am still pleased she had the operation as she has improved welfare and quality of life but I feel desperately sad for both me and her that we are still going through this. Without tethered cord she would have been such a fun and talented dog but now all I want is a happy dog and less stressful life. We have both been living under so much stress for the last two years which has been her entire life that we have a lot of parallels. It has effected both of our sleep and ability to rest. We both get frustrated and grumpy and some days have a short temper. I hate feeling like this and then give myself a hard time for snapping or shouting. It's a vicious cycle for us both. It is a shame I let myself get to breaking point before I started to address it as I had been working all along trying to calm Sparkles nervous system so she could cope better with life. I always described her as needing a nervous system reset. What I am doing to help myself I've taken my foot off the gas. I have c ancelled obedience shows and training. This was hard to do as I love training but I need some time to heal even if only for a month or two. I chatted to my mindset coach who gave me permission to not have to fix myself straight away. By nature I am a fixer but this had made me put pressure on myself to feel better which was in fact making me feel worse. I have been doing some easy breathing exercises. These have helped me be more present and in the moment rather than worrying about what could or should happen. Mindfulness and trying to practice gratitude in the positive things around me. This is easier some days than others. Having friends who understand has also been a blessing. Thank you, you know who you are. If you are going through the same struggles then I hope this helps a little. I wish you more good days than bad so you can build some resilience and find a better way forward. Be kind to yourselves in the process. If any of you can relate and have a dog with big emotions and know that you effect each other then check out the new course being released Regulate to Relate - Nervous system regulation for dogs and their owners which will help you both learn to relax, recharge and relate to each other more clearly.

Sparkles story Sparkles has always been difficult to live with but the last 6 months have been even more challenging to say the least. November 2024 Sparkles went lame on her right hind and so saw the vet. We decided to do full X rays and to spay her at the same time so we only had to knock her out the once. All X rays came back clear and the spay healed well so in January I visited a rehab vet who treated Sparkles a couple of times with acupuncture, chiropractic and laser and she started to use the water treadmill. After 3 treatments the vet was not happy and suggested we needed further investigations and MRI. She suggested it could potentially be a condition called tethered cord. This shocked me as I had heard of this rare condition a few years ago when a friends spaniel was diagnosed but at that time he was only about the third dog in the country to have the diagnosis. As a side note Sparkles had been sound since those initial 2 days of lameness but was sore throughout her body. Many who saw her could see nothing wrong with her. Sparkles was booked in for a dynamic MRI and also ultrasound to see if we could get a diagnosis and this is where even more complications started. Sparkles found it difficult to squat to go for a wee for a couple of days post MRI. The findings were also a bit muddled and I had different conversations with the vets than what was written on the reports so we weren't really any further forward. They said they couldn't see tethered cord but that she had a transitional vertabrae at the thoracolumbar junction and a hyper mobile lumbar sacral joint with a protruding disc when in extension. They said she would not be able to do sport and so I needed to try and get her comfortable as a pet dog. On the stance analyser she only put 9% of her weight through her left hind and the rehab vet always felt her tail was slightly to the left. In the mean time I had been researching tethered cord. I had looked at scientific papers as well as joined a Facebook group for people with the condition as well as a separate one for dogs. It was info shared mostly in these group that helped me piece her case together. Links to papers are shared in a separate section at the bottom of this blog for those who are interested in reading more. I discovered in the human group there was a form of tethered cord that did not show on MRI and was referred to as Occult tethered cord. Parents spoke about a sacral dimple being visible on their children. Many also had issues with incontinence, UTI's as well as bowel issues such as constipation. There were also signs including nerve pain in legs and back with some toe walking. Sparkles had always had a dip which I now could recognise as a sacral dimple. I had never palpated this before despite spending over 20 years in Animal chiropractic so knew it was not normal but did not know what it was. She kicked out with her hind legs which I assumed was nerve pain. She had done this intermittently since being a young pup. She then started to be incontinent at night after long journeys in the van and had developed a UTI which we couldn't clear up despite being cultured so using the appropriate antibiotics. Many vets dismissed the sacral dimple as they hadn't seen it before. While a sacral dimple by itself is not necessarily something to be concerned about, when it is connected with other symptoms it is usually a sign of tethered cord or spina bifida. They also dismissed the kicking out of the hind legs as they never saw it and as one vet said she didn't have more severe neurological deficits. I found this response disappointing as didn't want to wait for her to progress to having more permanent damage if we could intervene sooner and prevent it. I already knew she was in pain. Sparkles hair pattern had also changed over time. She naturally had straight hair but it initially started to stand up over her pelvis and gradually progressed up her back to lots of waves and flicks. Sparkles has always been a 'difficult' dog. She couldn't lie down and settle in the day and was over reactive to life. In teaching her mat work she would yawn and show stress behaviours because lying down was uncomfortable. She had also been an aggressive puppy and we had a lead on her in the house from day one as she would run at you, bite and hang on. This was so much more than puppy biting. She didn't like being touched and handled, had span and tail chased when we brought her home. She took plaster off the walls in our house which I believe is also linked due to poor gut function. This was despite so much management being put in place. The barking was unbearable but I now see she was shouting for help as felt so bad. Her hair also changed and she developed hair patterns on her otherwise straight coat. The hair started to stand up over her pelvis and over time she also developed kinks all along her back showing underlying tension. Other signs were being sensitive to touch on some days and ducking away from touch along her back and not liking her front legs being touched. Her behaviour was extreme in all senses. She was a child genius and hugely talented but while her behaviour could be outstanding it could equally be horrendous. She counter surfed but this became a frantic seeking behaviour rather than just searching for crumbs or treasure. She spent her life on her back legs and I couldn't understand the findings of the disc protrusion when in extension because she always wanted to be in extension and not flexion which is why she didn't want to lie down. She could work around cars and dogs but when in pain would want to chase them and attack from hundreds of metres away even if she just heard them and couldn't even see them. On her worse days she was also getting a bit noise sensitive. All of these things went against her actual character. She is a very strong Border Collie but she actually likes dogs and can work in the presence of distractions when she is comfortable to do so. Sparkles had always has a sensitive gut. I had had consults with nutritionists to help this and it had taken a while to help settle her gut. Interestingly post op her tummy is a lot better and her poo much healthier so I now suspect this was involved too and was a symptom I hadn't linked. Due to what I was reading in the tethered cord groups I was sure this was what my dog had but many vets had looked at the MRI's and dismissed it. Eventually in my search I found a paper by a vet in the UK about Occult tethered cord. She had operated on a 5 month puppy due to incontinence. In the paper she discussed all the things I had questions about. The condition not showing on MRI, incontinence, sacral dimple, the intra and extradural operations. It spoke about the condition in both humans and dogs and linked to the people who I had found to be the go to people in the field for both humans and dogs. I asked my vets to refer me and they did straight away. My own vets, despite not having heard of tethered cord, were extremely supportive. I have a lot of respect for them in admitting they hadn't come across the condition. Sparkles case was looked at by many vets but was dismissed due to them not seeing it in a specific way on the MRI. None of them mentioned Occult tethered cord or seemed interested in the symptoms after they had looked at the imaging. One referral centre who had operated on a couple of tethered cord cases even said they thought she was behavioural rather than having a physical condition. How kicking out of legs and incontinence could be behavioural I do not know but it showed me they were not the right people to see and I needed to keep looking. When I had a phone consult with the vet who eventually operated on Sparkles I finally knew I had found someone who understood the condition. She answered all my questions with full understanding and I decided to take Sparkles to her in Essex for an in person consult and exam and to proceed with surgery if appropriate. Sparkles was operated on 25th June 2025. What is tethered cord and occult tethered cord The links I have shared below will give a much better description of what tethered cord actually is but in short it is a neurological condition where the spinal cord tethers or is abnormally attached inside the spinal column to surrounding tissue so can not smoothly and freely move as the dog moves. It can cause nerve pain in the legs and back, bladder issues and constipation/gut health issues. Nerves can become so damaged that even with surgery to detether there may still be permanent damage caused. Sadly there is also a chance of it retethering so while the op can provide great relief it is not always a total long term success. Occult tethered cord is not seen on MRI but is diagnosed on symptoms and confirmed through the operation. The most recent paper I have shared also found that some dogs are so damaged mentally from living in chronic pain that their behaviour never recovers despite training and for some behavioural meds too and these dogs have still been euthanised. Tethered cord can be present at birth or occur later due to injury or other factors. It is a progressive condition that will worsen over time if not treated. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to minimise long term complications. While tethered cord may not yet be scientifically considered hereditary it does appear in family members and has also been found within litters. It is believed there could be a genetic component. Again I have shared a paper below discussing this. I have written this blog to help raise awareness of the condition as so little seems to be known about it. I have no question in my mind that many dogs are not being diagnosed after the experiences I went through on our journey to diagnosis. Many have said they wouldn't have done the research themselves and would have just accepted the vets saying that she didn't have the condition without considering Occult Tethered Cord. This isn't a dig at vets as they are only human and I do not expect them to know everything but hopefully by more cases being talked about awareness can be brought to more people and this horrible condition helped. How is Sparkles now At the time of writing this blog Sparkles is 6 weeks post surgery. The immediate change in her was huge. She could lie down and settle during the day almost like a 'normal' dog. She also looked more comfortable when going to the toilet and now goes more often then prior to the op. This suggests to me that it was uncomfortable to toilet and so she hung on until she had to go but she was not fully emptying her bladder hence the constant UTI's that we could not clear up. Initially post op there was more kicking of her hind legs but that has subsided as she is healing. She has started to see her rehab vet again for laser and acupuncture. Interestingly prior to the op she never reacted to any of the needles going in where as now she does feel them so the sensations in her back have changed. She has also now started back in the water treadmill and is slowly building back up her fitness. She is on lead for 8 weeks due to them drilling the bone in her spinal column to access her filum terminalle to detether her. She started with 10 minute lead walks but has increased by 5 mins each week. The rehab has been, and no doubt will continue to be, a bumpy road. In general it has been positive but she has odd rougher days. She has skipped on her right hind for a couple of steps the last couple of days and some days she appears more agitated and barks more again and is much more reactive. Over all I am pleased I did the surgery. She now has a better quality of life than she has ever had but only time will tell how much benefit she gets and whether it lasts or not. I am cautiously optimistic that as a pet dog she will have a better quality of life. Whether she will ever be able to be a sports dog is not yet known and I am less optimistic about this happening. I will continue to work with her rehab and her behavioural modification and see what the future has to offer us. She enjoys trick training so at the moment that is what we are doing so she can still work her busy brain and we can have fun together. Links to info about tethered cord Here are some links to papers and information I used to help me understand the condition of Tethered Cord and Occult Tethered Cord. Breakthrough Surgical Procedure Relieves Dogs From Chronic Pain. This article is written about Dr Parsley who seems to be one of the most experienced people in this field. I later found out she had been an intern for Dr Uriate who was the surgeon who operated on Sparkles. https://vet.tufts.edu/news-events/news/breakthrough-surgical-procedure-relieves-dogs-chronic-pain Occult Tethered Cord Syndrome in the Canine. This paper was written by the surgeon who I used to operate on Sparkles. It was through this paper that I felt she was the person I needed to be referred to as she mentions so many of the symptoms here that I knew related to Occult tethered cord through my research but that other vets were dismissing due to not knowing enough about the condition. It also gave me even more confidence that her co author was related to Tufts University where Dr Parsley was based and also mentions Dr Klinge who seems to be the go to person in the human field https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221475192030164X#:~:text=The%20filum%20terminale%20is%20a%20band%20of%20fibrovascular%20and%20neuronal,and%20a%20sacral%20or%20caudal Tethered Cord Syndrome in Dogs. This is a blog from another trainer who's dog was diagnosed with tethered cord syndrome https://demarinisdogtraining.com/tethered-cord-syndrome-in-dogs/ Dynamic Lumbosacral Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Dog with Tethered Cord Syndrome One of the earlier papars written on tethered cord from 2017 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2017.00134/full Occult tethered cord syndrome: insights into clinical and MRI features, prognostic factors, and treatment outcomes in 30 dogs with confirmed or presumptive diagnosis. The newest paper released on Occult tethered cord and Sparkles surgeon as one of the contributors. When she did Sparkles operation she mentioned this paper was about to be released. It highlights an important factor that some dogs do not recover mentally and behaviourally post op due to living in pain for so long before diagnosis. This is one of my concerns with Sparkles and only time will tell how much damage has been caused that is not able to be worked through with training. The operation does not guarantee a life there on with no problems as physical damage can also have been caused that is irrepairable. I have seen this in both human and canine cases and is one of my driving forces to help bring awareness of this cruel condition as the earlier in life it is diagnosed and treated the better long term prognosis. But even then some have permanent damage for life https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1588538/full Tethered Cord Syndrome A paper finding that tethered cord runs in some families which suggests it could have genetic links https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/tethered-cord-syndrome Facebook groups I joined to learn more about the subject This group was invaluable for me piecing together all the symptoms. It is for people rather than dogs Tethered Cord Support Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/133604640090762 This group have been really supportive and share stories of their dogs. But it has also been incredibly supportive for the humans involved too as the stress this has all caused me is beyond what I dreamt of. I may write a separate blog about the mental toll this has taken on me too. Dogs with tethered cord syndrome https://www.facebook.com/groups/970334601658738 If anyone in the UK thinks their dog may have this condition then I highly recommend Dr Ane Uriate from Southfield Vet Referrals in Essex

If your answer is yes! You are not alone. There can be different reasons for this but it is usually when they have seen something coming such as a car or another dog. They stare at the trigger intently and often when it gets level they may jump up and lunge. These dogs could be nervous or they could be anticipating a chase, lowering themselves to the ground so they aren't so visible while they watch the approach and decide their next move. These Collies are often referred to as clappers. I am often asked what to do when a Collie goes splat on the floor. Usually the owner says the dog can't respond to them and are too strong to be moved. This is because they have got stuck in eyeing mode. To work through this problem I teach a 'Let's Go' cue. It means I am changing direction so come with me. I first teach the dog the understanding away from any triggers using the following steps. Say 'Let's Go' and place a treat in front of the dogs nose. Change direction and give the dog the treat Say 'Let's Go' change direction and when the dog turns with you give the dog a treat. If your dog is slow to turn then run for the first 1-2 steps to encourage a speedier turn to you. You can use a toy instead of treats if that is more rewarding for your dog. Make sure the cue is cheery and sharp so it is a clear attention cue. Once your dog is responding well you can introduce the cue in the presence of triggers. Start at a distance you know your dog can respond. It is important to cue your dog before they go into the down so they can still respond so if you see them start to stare or lower their head use the cue to keep them on their feet and moving. With repetition you will be able to reduce the distance to the trigger. And finally be able to walk your dog without them going splat onto the floor. If you want to learn more about Border Collies then check out our course Understand Your Border Collie If you would like help with training then sign up to the waitlist to be notified when our online membership the Border Collie Academy opens again

Do you live with an adolescent Border Collie? Adolescence is the age range where most Border Collies are rehomed or are put into rescue. It can be a challenging time for some. As the cute innocent puppy grows and their body develops they become stronger and more physically able. Then hormones kick in. For some this is an easier ride than others. Many develop cloth ears and lose their recall. They may have sailed through puppy class but this is why training should not stop. Hormones change and can make them braver in investigating the environment and their person becomes discarded from being their puppy safety net. Some may experience further fear periods as they try to make sense of the constant changes in their body's becoming sensitive to novel items. They may suddenly change from a sweet and innocent puppy to having BIG feelings about... well anything really. For some car chasing may start during this time. Just like teenagers their sleep patterns may change and let's face it no one is pleasant with lack of sleep. And let's not forget the Collie eye that develops later in some than others. Sensitivity to movement can become heightened and this along with cloth ears and bravery can lead them into trouble by chasing inappropriate things. Girls with have their first season and boys will become more interested in girls. With hormones raging sniffing may become of even more interest and frustration type behaviours show aplenty. Owners can now feel totally overwhelmed as their sweet innocent companion becomes a velociraptor. Frustration can creep in on both sides of the relationship which helps no one. To survive adolescence don't be afraid to use management. In fact I actively encourage it. If you don't have a solid recall put a long line back on so they can't practice running off and getting into trouble. Just like teenagers there is no point shouting at them to go to their bed or room otherwise you risk ruining your relationship. They are much more likely to shout back and stand their ground. Remember they may look more grown up but they are still a puppy just in a more adult looking body. The truth is if you can get through adolescence then your dog usually returns to the sweet temperament they had before as long as you haven't allowed them to practice unwanted behaviour. I choose to actively ignore certain behaviour and not become reactive myself. One bad walk does not make a 'bad' dog. Next time I will observe and see if this is a problem that I then need to set up a situation better for. Keep up the training but work with the dog in front of you. If you feel they are giving you a hard time then they are likely having a hard time themselves. If in doubt play with your dog. Games of tuggy can release any frustration and within the game you can teach necessary skills like impulse control. Play will help build and maintain your relationship. Never underestimate the power of play. With my present adolescent Border Collie Beau I have mostly had to work on his movement sensitivity with impulse control work and focus on me. We have mostly rewarded this through play. There have been days where he has been sensitive and lacked confidence but I know that inside there is a wonderful loving dog. Have patience with your adolescent. Work out what they need. Work out how you can help them navigate this time so they can come out the other side and shine. And if all else fails there is always wine 🍷 and chocolate 🍫

5 Common mistakes made when working with reactive Border Collies. Here I have taken a previous blog about dogs in general and added in the relevance to Border Collies. 1. Using no measurable data to know if you and your dog are improving or not. With out tracking your progress you will not know whether to continue with the training as it is or whether a change is needed. This is relevant to all dog breeds. 2. Working at too close a distance to the trigger so the dog is in a state where he can not learn. He is also practicing the unwanted behaviour here and thus getting 'better' at it. This can be difficult with Border Collies as they have been bred to detect movement at up to 900 metres away and so just increasing distance may be difficult to get enough distance. So if your Border Collies reactivity is due to movement sensitivity then just increasing distance may be difficult. 3. Working on the dog's most difficult trigger first. This is the same for all dogs. 4. Not knowing your dog's most valuable reinforcer to use in the training. Ignoring the fact that herding type behaviour is reinforcing in and of itself will set you up to fail. A food scatter will never over ride herding 5. Becoming a reactive owner. This is the same for all dogs. To successfully help our reactive dogs to transform from reactive to relaxed we need to be strategic in our approach. 1. Keep a diary/record of data. Rather than just looking at whether your dog lunged and barked include factors such as intensity and recovery as well as frequency. By breaking it down you will be able to be reinforced by seeing the progress you are making which will motivate you to keep up the training. 2. Learn how to read your dog's body language so you can gauge the distance you need to be able to work at so that your dog can learn from the training in a positive way. This will also help you from working at such a great distance that your dog is well within their comfort zone and so no change is made. If your Border Collie's body language tells you there is herding behaviour driving the reactivity then you won't be using counter conditioning as a training approach. Instead focus on impulse control training. 3. Know all of your dog's triggers and work on the easiest first. This will make learning easier for you and your dog and as your dog builds confidence this will also make it easier to work on the more difficult triggers later. 4. Understand what your individual dog finds reinforcing so you have an effective reward to motivate a change in behaviour and a change in emotional response. If your dog won't take food or play with a toy then you won't be able to use them to train so will need other options. 5. Be the calm and confident one in the relationship so you can pass confidence to your dog. If you are feeling tense and clutching the lead each time you see a trigger before your dog then you are passing a message to your dog that all is not well and it is something to worry about.

Being able to get eye contact from our Border Collies is a really important part of our general dog training. Dogs that are happy to look to their owners for permission to do things are easier to train and handle in every day life due to the connection they have with their owners. But, for our Border Collies eye contact can be difficult. This is because Border Collies are bred to control livestock and use the 'Collie eye' to intimidate, move and control. And when working on sheep they will not be expected to look at the shepherd although they are still expected to respond to their cues. So it is not a natural behaviour for a Border Collie and may in fact cause them to feel pressured and uncomfortable. Some Border Collies are reactive to people and other dogs when being approached from head on or if they are being stared at. This is totally understandable when we appreciate what they have been bred to do. We can work with our Border Collie's though to help them feel more comfortable in giving eye contact. Below is an exercise to develop the skill. Step 1 Scatter 3-4 treats on the floor Step 2 Pause and deliver the next 3-4 treats more slowly Step 3 Pause again and wait for the dog to lift their head from the floor. When they lift their head use a marker of either a clicker or a marker word like a 'Yes' and place the next treat on the floor Step 4 Repeat step 3 but wait for the dog to look higher than in step 3. Step 5 Repeat until your dog gives you eye contact. They may get stuck for a while at your hands if you have treats in them but wait until they look up at your face. Step 6 Once your dog is offering eye contact then you can add a verbal cue. First place the treat on the floor and just before they look up use your new cue. Step 7 Repeat until your eye contact is on cue Some other tips to help your Border Collie feel comfortable with your eye contact is to blink while looking at the dog. Looking away and slightly closing the eyes are also ways which will soften your eye contact and help your Collie feel more comfortable. If you would like to learn more about the Border Collie then check out this course Understand Your Border Collie

Border Collies are bred to be working dogs and so if they are given nothing to do in a pet home can become troublesome and destructive. To lead a full and happy life a pet Border Collie with not just need regular walks but also mental training. Many Border Collies excel in sports such as agility, flyball, obedience, hoopers and disk dog. Trick training is also great for mental training and can be fun for both owner and dog. But, when not at a training class what other jobs are suitable to give your Collie something to do? Here are some suggestions Collecting the post Bringing you your shoes or slippers Opening and shutting cupboard doors Taking out the recycling Loading and unloading the washing machine Finding lost items like your keys or the TV remote Giving your dog jobs to do will help satisfy their busy brains and can be part of your everyday life. By involving your dog you can both have fun together. Here are some examples of people giving Collies a job to do. One young Collie was difficult in her behaviour each time the dishwasher was emptied. She anticipated this happening and would run around barking in anticipation and potentially could also nip too. The owner decided to teach her to help as part of her behaviour modification. She taught her dog how to open the cupboard doors so the items could be unloaded from the dishwasher and put away. As any good Border Collie would the dog took her job seriously and calmly and quietly opened and shut each of the doors when the owner asked making it a fun job while also changing the behaviour. Other family members also showed more interest in emptying the dishwasher too now that it was fun with the dog helping. Another young Collie was taught to collect a bag of crisps from the bar in the local pub as a surprise for the Dad in the family who had been working away. This was fun for all the family and gained many fans in the pub too. What jobs could you teach your Border Collie? Interested in trick training? Then why not check out our fun trick training course