Border Collie
Developed to herd sheep, the Border Collie is known for intense focus, speed and an appetite for work. It learns fast, and it needs plenty to do.
Photo: IketaniDaisei · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Bred for
- Herding sheep
- Typical energy
- Very high
- Size
- Medium
Where to start
Usually motivated by movement, play and work. Use that in training and keep sessions short and rewarded.
First focus
Teach "leave it" and "stay" early to manage the urge to chase moving things.
Next
Provide daily brain work: puzzle toys, scent games and new tricks.
Daily habit
Teach settling on purpose, because a dog who never switches off will find its own jobs.
Breed notes describe tendencies in a group of dogs, not your dog. Every dog is an individual, and Dogify does not assess your dog. This is general training information and not a substitute for a qualified professional.
Chosen for the Border Collie
How to teach "leave it"
Teach your dog to ignore what is on the floor, on the sidewalk or on your plate, in five stages that build real self-control.
Teach your dog to settle on a mat
A calm default behavior you can use at the cafe, at meals and when guests arrive: how to teach "go to your mat" in short sessions.
Sit, down and stay: the three foundation cues
How to teach the first three cues with a food lure, then make them reliable with the three Ds: duration, distance and distraction.
