Maintaining Obedience Skills in Collies
Many times after a collie owner completes a group training class or private training lessons, the collie�s behavior is wonderful. However, after a few months the collie is back to pulling wildly on leash and does not respond to basic commands. Why the transformation? The hard reality is that for training to stick you need to continually practice. Collies do not stop learning after a basic puppy training course is completed.
The best way to be sure you are practicing your collie’s training is to incorporate obedience skills into your daily routine. A common mistake owners make is to discontinue reinforcing new behaviors too quickly. Remember, behaviors that are not rewarded will eventually disappear!
Simple strategies to maintain your collie’s training:
1. Keep clear containers filled with treats in several rooms of your home. You do not need to give your collie a treat every single time he performs a behavior you like, but you do need to reward him intermittently. You will be more likely to reward desired behavior if the treats are readily available. Additionally, you will remember to refill the containers if you can visually see when you are running low.
2. Ask your collie to sit or lie down at doorways. If your collie does not comply, simply close the door and ignore him for half a minute before trying again. Do the same thing at every entrance, or even better, do this with interior doors too.
3. Identify routines that enable you to practice training skills every day. For instance, tell your collie to hold a down stay while you cook dinner.
4. Incorporate training with play. Ask for a sit or a down before tossing a ball, giving your collie a new toy or giving your collie access to anything he enjoys.
5. Continue to bring treats on walks so you can periodically reward your collie when the leash is loose. Remember never to continue to walk in the direction of a tight leash.
6. Take up a collie sport such as agility or enroll in obedience lessons with a professional collie trainer to ensure that you do not allow your collie�s training to fall apart over time.
7. Keep your collie’s life fun and interesting by including him in your activities. Plan vacations to collie friendly locations, take your collie with you on errands and include activities for your collie in your weekend plans. Practicing training skills in different settings is essential.
8. Notice changes in your collie�s behavior and do not wait to get help if you see a problem. Talk with your veterinarian to make sure your collie does not have an underlying medical condition. Getting professional help from a qualified collie behavior consultant can prevent small problems from turning into big ones.
Maintaining your collie’s training skills is much like getting into great physical shape - you cannot just work out for two months and then hope for the best. You need to incorporate permanent changes into your lifestyle. Fortunately, if you do make a concerted effort, you can not only maintain your collie’s skills long after your last training class, but actually improve upon them!
—-
Author:
Veronica Sanchez has a Masters in Education, A Bachelors in Psychology, certified in Animal Behavior Consulting and is endorsed by the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors. She is a dog trainer who trains puppies, dogs and solving behavior problems. Visit www.cooperativepaws.com
What Next? Read more!
- Intro to Clicker Training
- How To Get Your Dog To Listen To You
- Dog Training Online: How Good Are Home Dog Training Courses?
- Teaching Your Collie to Sit
- Causes of Bad Breath in Collies
Discuss this article with others!
Leave a Reply
Our Latest Posts
