BREED GUIDE
YOUR BORDER COLLIE PUPPY
I've lived with Border Collies for years, and my rescue collie Sullivan is the brightest one I've ever had, which is a double-edged sword. They're bred to work sheep with that famous eye and crouch, so a collie puppy notices everything that moves and needs help to switch off just as much as to learn.
WHAT I'D START IN THE FIRST WEEKS
SWITCHING OFF
SLEEP IS TRAINING TOO
Collie puppies will keep going far past the point where they should stop. Plenty of sleep in a quiet space, short training sessions and a settle on a mat matter more than another long walk.
MOVEMENT
GET AHEAD OF THE CHASE
Bikes, joggers, cars and running children can all set off the herding side. Notice what catches their eye early, and reward them for looking back at you before the chase becomes a habit.
BRAIN WORK
BRAIN WORK COUNTS
Sniffing games, scatter feeding and learning tricks tire a collie far better than more running. A tired body with a wound-up brain is not the same as a settled dog.
