I highly recommend this book! It explains how puppies speak to us, if we understand that then we can better speak to them in a way that helps them figure out what their person needs from them. The book can be ordered via google search - there is a link below to Amazon.

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Link to purchase book on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Control-Unleashed-Program-Leslie-McDevitt/dp/B0077BTNFS/ref=asc_df_B0077BTNFS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312111868535&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12440492167473235554&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021358&hvtargid=pla-571308469377&psc=1

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As mentioned multiple times on this website, I highly recommend Absolute Dogs as a great training resource. They offer a complete training package with DVDs and downloadable videos, books and have an informational training and resource website.

 

Tom and Lauren have developed some outstanding games that are also fun, quick and they really work! Their training videos are worth every penny as the 3 minute games make teaching and developing so much fun for both you and the puppy. Ditching the food bowl and playing a 3 minute game seals the bond between family members and their pup and adds consistency to all handling in the family.  

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Link to Absolute Dogs website:

https://absolute-dogs.com/

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Link to Absolute Puppy on Absolute Dogs website:

https://absolute-dogs.com/products/absolute-puppy

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Link to Pup2Perfection Digital Download on Absolute Dogs website:

https://absolute-dogs.com/products/pup2perfection-digital-download

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If your pup is trying to herd you and nipping, here is the source that has the solution you are looking for!

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Link to video on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loPuYVA_u8Y

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The ultimate guide to dog training: dog training secrets every pup parent should know!

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Link to website with The Ultimate Guide to Dog Training blog articles:

https://www.homeoanimal.com/blogs/blog-pet-health/the-ultimate-guide-to-dog-training-dog-training

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Links to individual blog articles: 

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Why Every Pup Parent Should Work With a Professional Dog Trainer... Including You!

https://www.homeoanimal.com/blogs/blog-pet-health/why-working-with-dog-trainers

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The Biggest Mistakes to Avoid When Training Your Dog

https://www.homeoanimal.com/blogs/blog-pet-health/dog-training-mistakes

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Top Dog Training Tips Used by Professional Trainers

https://www.homeoanimal.com/blogs/blog-pet-health/dog-training-tips

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Canine Body Language 101

https://www.homeoanimal.com/blogs/blog-pet-health/canine-body-language-101

 

Aggression, Separation Anxiety, incessant barking: How Trainers Deal With the Most Difficult Dog Behaviors

https://www.homeoanimal.com/blogs/blog-pet-health/aggressive-dog-training

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Looking For a Dog Trainer? Here's How to Find the Right One

https://www.homeoanimal.com/blogs/blog-pet-health/finding-the-right-dog-trainer

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How Hiring a Professional Dog Trainer Can Change Your Life

https://www.homeoanimal.com/blogs/blog-pet-health/hiring-a-dog-trainer

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Trainer Nancy Tanner of Paws and People, lives in Bozeman, MT, does Freestyle Dancing, Herding, Triebball and Agility with her Border Collies. This is such a great way to teach a puppy manners without butting heads....great for active puppies. She has a school in Bozeman and does private and group classes. Her website has hundreds of articles on health, vaccines, diet, and training. You can find hundreds of training videos on her YouTube channel. She has a great approach, kind and fair.

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Link to Nancy Tanner's video "CALM gets everything, PUSHY gets nothing" on YouTube:

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxU9ZRHhR7s

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Link to Paws and People Website:

https://pawsandpeople.com/

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We get questions all the time about how to potty train pups. Here is an article with some great tips to get you started.

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​Read or download PDF of article by clicking HERE.​

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Link to read article online:

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/potty-training-your-puppy-timeline-and-tips/

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Link to view accompanying video posted on AKC:

https://akc.tv/watch/6/5459/episode/event-dogcenter-top-stories-kathy-santo-socialization/event-dogcenter-top-stories-kathy-santo-socialization

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I love this as socialization cannot be a list so much as setting up positive experiences for sure in the first 14 weeks but forever really. It is you we want the pups to focus on, once they are totally invested in you, they will meet new situations and living things in a more positive way as they will feel safe with you, you and your family being the center of their world. This doesn’t mean do not socialize in the first 6-7 weeks you have your pup, just handle it in an appropriate manner and after you have the pups trust and full attention. REMEMBER this is a newborn baby, so think how would you introduce your human baby to new things and people? Sure not shoving it in a stranger's arms and expecting the pup to feel comfortable. The first few days in their new home, keep it calm and about you and the pup. As exciting as it is to want to share your new family member, wait a few days until the pup is comfortable in the home and focused upon you.

 

It does not take long for a puppy to focus on you if you take the correct measures. Learn your puppy's body language (i.e. Control Unleashed - the Puppy Program as an example) and the correct ways to develop your relationship and shape your pup into a perfect family member and good citizen (i.e. www.absolute-dogs.com).  Keep up reinforcing your bond forever, make your feeding time, your going out to grab a few things in the hardware and ranch supply, your watching tv time all as development time. One of our best owner/trainers even with their pup now 2 ½ years old and winning in agility and herding, at night they come up with one more thing to teach Tippy several nights a week. He learned how to go downstairs and fetch a roll of toilet paper in 10 minutes. They never forget how much Border Collies love to have their brains engaged and knowing that they are pleasing their owners daily.

 

Research has found that the number one source of stress for Border Collies is feeling they are not pleasing their owners! 

 

By the time your pup is 14 weeks old and safe to go on the ground in new places without the worry of Parvo, joining a weekly puppy class is a great way to socialize with other puppies and people. Do not ever let your pup turned loose with a large group and various size pups, some classes do this and all that happens is some pups attack other pups, rough play with new friends ends badly for everyone. Same with meeting a large group of new people all at once at this tender age. Choose one, maybe two people in the class each week to introduce your puppy to until in all situations your puppy eagerly wants to meet everyone. This may never happen with some pups, Border Collies have 125 years of history living and working with one person to a family and maybe a few other humans, but welcoming everyone was not normal over the history of the breed,  It is how they are bred and first handled by the breeder and then the new owner that ensures a calm, well mannered, and emotionally secure and confident puppy who can grow into a dog who will excel in any and every task presented. They all need tasks.  

 

Good luck with your new puppies. If you have not yet invested in the two referred to resources yet, please do now. If you are not fully willing to prepare for one of our pups it is better for you to realize now so I can find a more committed home for our pups.

 

Hugs, Suzy

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​Link to YouTube video on the Absolute Dogs YouTube channel: 

https://youtu.be/tYf1bEaGPhY

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Thank you Robin Eschenbruecher for sharing John Pilley's video demo showing how he teaches his Border Collie words!

 

From Robin:

I wanted to share John Pilley's short YouTube video where he demonstrates how he teaches his border collie (Chaser) names of objects. 

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Link to Teaching Your Border Collie Words video on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw-GDJi7c_w&feature=emb_title

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John Pilley says that Chaser understands two concepts:  (1) that objects have names and (2) she has learned cues (find, chase, shake, and put ...into tub) that associate names to object.

 

John Pilley uses play/fun/praise as rewards to strengthen Chaser's memory of the name. And he employs a structured way of giving cues. He will say "Chaser, this is _____", then he'll say the name of object. He'll spend 2 days per toy in 3-4 minute training sessions (which are essentially play with the dog and the toy). All other toys are put away during this time. He repeats the 3-4 minute sessions multiple times each day for 2 days. Chaser has learned over 1,000 names (of toys I believe). She's tested monthly with random toys from the total # of toys and has a high rate of memory. Pretty interesting way to train to connect emotion with memory through play (instead of treats). Then it's good bonding time and great mental stimulation for the dog.  

 

I also randomly look for sheep herding videos on line and found this one by Thomas Longton. He has a nice way of explaining things in a quiet relaxed manner. 

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Link to Sheep Dog Commands video on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63kEtzehiXo&feature=emb_title

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​Have a nice day.

Sincerely,

Robin Eschenbruecher