Basic Training for the Collie

Training your collie should begin the moment you arrive home with your new pup. Most "household rules" training (i.e. off-limit furniture & rooms, table manners) will occur naturally as you go about your daily routine.  Other commands require more devoted, focused sessions of training.  Because a young pup has a short attention span, training sessions should remain short - 10 to 15 minutes at the most, a few times each day.  Depending on the difficulty of action, your collie's own personality, and previous learning experience, it may take anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of months to learn a new command. 

A collie's nature is very gentle and highly responsive to a human's mood / voice tone.  The best method to use for them is a kind, calm, easy-going guidance to show them what they are expected to do.  The collie's most adamant wish is to please you - and if done in the proper manner, they will respond excellently to your training sessions.  Training should never be rough, forced, or done at a time when you or your collie is in a bad mood.  Learning should be fun and easy.  Never, under any circumstance, should you physically hit a dog for not doing his command.  If you feel yourself getting agitated if a new command is not going well, stop the session (on a good note) and give you and your pup a break until you are calm again.  Remember, the dog is not human - and does not know the English language words that we take for granted.  They must be taught with patience, respect, and gentleness. 

 

The 6 Commands Every Collie Should Know

• Sit
• Stay
• Down
• Come
• Heel
• No

Don't feel as if your collie must go by stereotypical command words.  For instance, if you feel one word choppy commands insults your dog's intelligence, feel free to use short complete sentences such as "Have a seat", "Come here", and "Lay down" - you can rest assured that dogs can understand complete sentences.  However, you must be sure that during the training period, everyone in the household utilizes the same command.  For instance, if your daughter trains your collie to "sit" while you are saying "have a seat" and your husband is saying "on your bottom now" - you are only going to get your poor pup confused.  While later on, different sentences may be utilized for the same action, a new command needs to be instilled with only one specific word or phrase.

Other Necessary Knowledge

• Potty training
• Off-limit furniture
• Leash work
• Table manners
• Car manners
• Being around a wide variety of people & animals

Training Resources

• Training & Obedience Books  - found at the local library, bookstore, petshop, and even Amazon.com
  
• Puppy Kindergarten Classes - usually designed for pups 2 to 5 months old, and focus on the basics of training
  
• Basic Training Classes - for those 6 months old and up
  
• Local AKC Club - many different clubs to choose from such as obedience, all-breed, group, and specialty clubs
  
• Matches - informal, inexpensive practice shows put on by dog clubs
  
• Trials - formal obedience testing where titles and recognition can be earned
  
• Your Breeder