The Old Trainer: Working with border collie to nip unwanted behavior in the bud

DEAR OLD TRAINER: We just adopted Lola, a 12-week-old border collie. I follow your column and enjoy getting ideas for training her. She is learning, but does like to nip at our heels and play tug of war with our pant legs (especially the kids, ages 10, 8 and 6).

We are teaching the kids to make her sit when she starts nipping and to housebreak her. What else do we need to do?

A: Sounds like you are doing everything right, Sara. Patience and love are the two requirements for training a puppy and Lola is getting plenty of both. Border collies learn faster than most, but you still start with the three basics of puppy training – housebreaking, coming when called and learning what “no” means.

Nipping at the heels is part of Lola’s DNA. You are dealing with it correctly. She is only doing what comes naturally so don’t scold her. Instead, in a calm voice, address her by name and tell her “no biting.” Touch her on the neck to interrupt her concentration and make her sit. Pet her and love on her as soon as she does.

Border collies are so smart and full of energy that it is almost impossible to tire one out. And Lola will get smarter and more energetic for the next few years. That can be a bad combination unless she gets lots of exercise and you refocus that energy on learning and working at some task.

One way to do it is teaching her to retrieve. It comes naturally to herding dogs so she will learn it the instant you show her. Start with a rolled-up sock. Make sure she sees it, then toss it a few feet in front of her. When she brings it back, say “drop,” make her give it to you, then toss it again. If she runs with it instead of bringing it back, don’t chase her. She must learn she has to bring it to you.

Move outside and substitute a ball for the sock. Border collies are the greatest Frisbee dogs on the planet so add that to the daily workout. Start with a cloth Frisbee until she learns how to do it. The more energy she burns, the happier she is and the easier she is to train. Start walking her on an expandable leash right away and teach the kids how to walk her. Walk her every day and work on commands every day. I put my dogs through every command they know every day.

Explain to the kids that Lola needs her rest and they are to leave her alone while she naps. She likely has already selected a spot where she likes to lie down and rest. Put a rug or towel down in that spot and let it become her refuge. Lola knows where the food and water is by now, so the only other consideration is where she sleeps at night. Put a bed down for her where you want her to sleep.

I just emailed you instructions on how to teach a series of commands and tricks to Lola. The more she learns and the more she works, the happier she will be.

This story was originally published April 3, 2015 at 1:25 PM with the headline "The Old Trainer: Working with border collie to nip unwanted behavior in the bud."