Collie Training

As a very general statement the Collie breed is naturally very quick at learning what pleases their owners.

It is so easy that sometimes Collie training is considered almost a second thought. The most common phrases used by first time Collie owners are that the puppy “trained itself” or “didn’t require any training at all”, or even “just seemed to know what I wanted without any training”.

Many Collie puppies learn to come in one or two training sessions and all the reward they are given is a pat and a lot of praise.

The same can be said for learning to sit, often a natural response for a puppy to look up, which leads to praise and reinforcement for the action.

Since the puppy seems to have learned the command, often this is as far as owners take training on a particular behavior.

This is a mistake as Collie training has to occur over different environments, with different people and with different types of distractions.

Training Routine Can Bore Your Collie

Usually the first sign of trouble peeks its way over the horizon the first time the young Collie becomes bored with the command and simply ignores the owner or walks away.

As a highly intelligent dog, repetition tends to bore a Collie and cause the dog to lose interest in the activity. Collie training has to take this into consideration and not require multiple repetitions of the same behavior or pattern of behaviors in a short span of time.

This is one reason why Collies, along with most herding breeds, don’t do well in the advanced levels of obedience training. It is simply too much of a routine.

The herding breeds have been trained to think on their feet, work independently when needed, but still respond to human direction and commands to get the job done.

Obedience work isn’t geared for this type of thinking on the part of the dog. Of course there are Collies that do very well in obedience; it just isn’t right for all members of the breed.

Collie training needs to focus in on the dog doing the right thing at the right time. Incorrect responses by the dog to a command can be ignored; the dog will get the message that this isn’t what you were asking for.

Yelling, screaming or using a hostile tone of voice will only make the dog either non-compliant or cowed, either option is going to prevent any learning from occurring.

Hitting or swatting a Collie in any type of training or correction is absolutely unnecessary and will severely damage the dog’s trust in you as the leader.

They are so attuned to the human voice and so aware of eye contact, facial expressions and body language that this harsh punishment is completely unacceptable and is, in fact, cruel to the dog.

Click Here NOW and Discover The Secrets To Collie Training!

Setting Up Practice Times

Collie training should occur after the dog has had time to socialize with you and excess energy run or played off.

Integrating training in short sessions throughout the day is highly recommended since it keeps the puppy or dog mentally stimulated and also prevents that boredom issue from cropping up.

Training needs to start in a distraction free environment where the dog or puppy can really focus and then start trying out the commands in more typical environments and in public places.

Ideally Collie training should be done by one person until the dog is comfortable and responding consistently to the command. Others in the family can then start working with the dog using the same command and cues.

Different commands for the same behavior and different cues and training techniques can confuse the dog until they have the basics mastered.

Collie training needs to be consistent and the human has to be the leader in the dog’s eyes. Being consistent, praising for a job well done and providing lots of practice times in short sessions throughout the day is the most effective Collie training technique for any type of obedience training with the breed.