Collie Puppy Training

Going to get your puppy will be one of the most exciting days of your life and most definitely one that you will remember.

Typically breeders will have already started some very basic informal Collie puppy training, particularly with the puppy coming to humans and responding to the sound of a human voice.

Collie puppy training can actually start the very first interaction you have with your puppy and it needs to be positive, loving and consistent each and every step of the way.

Getting Started With Collie Puppy Training

Many trainers and breeders recommend starting immediately with the basic commands of sit, come and down. This is a highly intelligent breed so teaching the dog the right way to behave rather than allowing bad habits to get started is very important.

The first step in Collie puppy training should be the come command followed by the sit and down commands. The stay command is a bit more difficult for the puppy to master since being close to you is what they want most of all.

These basics then allow you to build to the more complex commands that will really wow your friends and family.

Ideally Collie puppy training is natural and done not as a specific training routine or activity.  When you enter the room the puppy will naturally run or walk towards you, simply say his or her name followed by the word “come”.

The puppy will keep heading for you and in fact will likely speed up as he or she hears your positive tone of voice. Once the puppy arrives immediately say “Good dog” and give some type of positive reward.

The reward can be a small food treat or just some love and attention. Follow this with play time or a short walk, something the puppy really enjoys. This is very natural Collie puppy training and will reinforce both the dog’s name and the command.

It is important to keep repeating the puppy’s name with each command and with verbal praise. This helps the dog understand that when you use their name something good is going to follow.

Establish Yourself As The Alpha Dog

It is important to not punish the puppy because of something he or she does during the command. For example, if the puppy runs to you when you say “Come” but then jumps up, don’t punish for the jumping as it will confuse the puppy on the come command.

Instead, teach the sit command as an alternative to jumping. Remember that puppies need time to learn and you can’t expect them to master everything in a single training session or even a few training sessions.

Work on one or two commands at a time, starting at the most basic and moving to the more complex. This builds confidence in the puppy and helps you establish yourself as the leader.

Correction may need to occur with Collie puppy training and ignoring bad behavior is the best option. Break eye contact, step back and ignore the puppy. As soon has he or she is back on track, sitting or standing patiently provide praise and a reward.

In this way the puppy learns that doing the right thing gets the reward, doing the wrong thing gets ignored. With the natural need of these dogs for human attention and interaction this is a very powerful training tool.

Housebreaking Your Collie Puppy

Housebreaking is an important part of Collie puppy training and one that most owners are anxious have in place. Most Collie puppies can be housetrained within two to four weeks provided the owners are consistent with outside potty time after waking up, exercise and eating.

Again, positive rewards and a bit of play time when the puppy eliminates outdoors will quickly shape the behavior.

Collie puppy training needs to be very consistent. Don’t allow bad habits such as nipping, biting, jumping or barking to be rewarded. It is much easier to teach an acceptable alternative behavior than it is to stop a behavior that has been learned and now needs to stop.

Remember that cute little ball of fluff is soon going to weigh 60 to 70 pounds or more so you don’t want bad habits to get started.