Kettle Haven Ranch Working Border Collies

Border Collies with Heart and Instinct to work beside me all day long, handling any job asked of them.

Intelligence | Temperament | Working-Ability

STRONG WORKING BORDER COLLIES!

Considered to be one of the best herding dogs in the world, Border Collies are well known for their intelligence and instinct. The breed originated on the border between Scotland and England and over a period of many years, was selected for its ability to go out and retrieve livestock. What makes this breed so unique is its ability to go out around the animal and bring it back as opposed to “driving” dogs which push the animal away. They do this by wearing (staring) the animal with a predatory eye.

Border Collies can be found in a variety of different styles. The classic border collie has a long haired coat with black and white markings. However, they can also be short haired and can be red and white. Variations of all of the above are possible and sometimes will contain a little of all the traits. Don’t be alarmed if you see a tri-colored (black, red, and white) medium haired border collie. The looks of a border collie have little to do with how well it can work. Many farmers do not care too much how their dog looks, they simply care that it has strong working ability and instinct.

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Stock Dogs can be Incredible Partners to you in your livestock operation.

If you are wanting to explore the possibility of developing the ideal working relationship you have come to the right place.

That Partnership requires things from you as well as from the dog.

COMMITMENT
RESPECT
TRUST
COMMUNICATION
the RIGHT DOG for YOU and the WORK that needs done with the RIGHT STUFF to do it well

THE RIGHT STUFF ?
INSTINCT
NATURAL ABILITY
ABLE TO READ STOCK
POWER & GRIT
KEEN
WANTS TO WORK WITH AND FOR YOU

The 10 Safety Tips for Training Your Border Collie

Properly leash your dog when in public spaces.
Maintain a safe distance between the dog and livestock or other animals.
Familiarize yourself with the tools used for herding, such as whistles and shepherd’s crooks.
Teach verbal and visual commands to ensure clear communication during training sessions.
Establish a positive working relationship with your Border Collie through reward-based techniques.
Reinforce desirable behaviors through praise and treats to encourage repetition of desired actions.
Set up practice sessions in controlled environments, gradually increasing difficulty as the dog’s skills improve.
Monitor progress regularly to evaluate the effectiveness of the training plan and make necessary adjustments.
Practice frequently to ensure the dog’s proficiency increases over time.
Utilize additional resources, such as professional advice or seminars, when needed.

Training Your Border Collie to Herd Like a Pro: The Complete 10-Step Guide

Training Your Border Collie to Herd Step 1: Ensure Your Border Collie has Strong Herding Instincts

While herding comes naturally to most Border Collies, some show little interest or aptitude. Gauge your individual dog’s drive by their response to toys or treats moved in a circular pattern. Does your dog intensely stare, stalk and attempt to control the movement? If so, their obsession indicates strong potential.

Puppies can be tested for herding instincts as early as 7 weeks of age. Dogs lacking “eye” and the right intensity are poor candidates for herding work. Your Border Collie should exhibit focus, intensity, and determination in their response to potential “prey”.

Training Your Border Collie to Herd Step 2: Manage Your Border Collie’s Environment

Eliminate rehearsal of inappropriate herding behaviors from the start. Never allow chasing or nipping at people, cars, pets, etc. Redirect obsessive staring at objects like shadows or lights rotating from fans. Managed environments prevent bad habits. Provide outlets like toys that mimic herding. Balls, oval discs, or stuffed prey on ropes allow your Border Collie to exercise their herding style. Reward circling, staring, and stalking of appropriate objects. Manage the environment so these skills only get practiced on toys during training.

Training Your Border Collie to Herd Step 3: Master Obedience Commands

Solid obedience is crucial to apply their herding skills appropriately. Train and proof commands like “sit”, “down”, “stay”, “that’ll do” and “come” in both low and high distraction environments. They must respond to your cues, not just act on their own instincts. Hand signals should also be taught, as verbal commands may go unheard from a distance in large herding spaces. A long training lead provides control until your Border Collie is reliable off-leash. Obedience is the foundation upon which herding skills are built.

Training Your Border Collie to Herd Step 4: Introduce Livestock

Find a herding training clinic or mentor. Begin by letting your Border Collie quietly observe calm livestock like sheep or ducks from outside a pen – reward neutral behavior. Allow brief, structured introductions on lead, praising gentle investigation. Let their interest build slowly. Avoid flooding your Border Collie suddenly with too much stimuli. Give them time to gain confidence reading livestock body language and sounds. Rushing this foundation work can make some dogs reactive or fearful. Build their bond with stock gradually using positive associations.

Training Your Border Collie to Herd Step 5: Practice Herding Commands

As your Border Collie’s introduction to stock progresses, put obedience commands to use in the herding context. With lead on, walk perimeter and reward stopping on command when focused on livestock. Teach directional commands like “come-bye” (go right) and “away to me” (go left). Link known commands to desired herding behaviors until your dog associates them with controlling stock. Develop an instructional vocabulary tailored to your needs.

Training Your Border Collie to Herd Step 6: Let Instincts Emerge

As your Border Collie’s confidence grows, allow them brief, successful off-lead interactions to display their natural herding abilities like gathering, driving, and circling stock. Avoid too much pressure at first that may cause scattering the livestock. Keep early sessions short, structured and positive.

Praise natural stalking, circling wide, and staying behind stock. Allow their eye, orientation and balance instincts to emerge while maintaining control with your commands. Let livestock respond before reprimanding incorrect actions like gripping. Build successes.

Training Your Border Collie to Herd Step 7: Correct Unwanted Behaviors

Apply fair corrections for unwanted herding behaviors like excessive nipping, fixation, or forcing stock. Quickly interrupt undesirable conduct with commands like “leave it”. Remove your dog from the situation for a brief timeout when needed. Some pressure on stock may be appropriate but monitor closely. Reward only calm, controlled herding behavior in line with your cues. Untrained Border Collies often become over-stimulated and exhibit poor conduct like constant nipping. Corrections are a normal part of shaping their raw abilities into controlled skills. Keep communication clear and fair.

Training Your Border Collie to Herd Step 8: Increase Difficulty Incrementally

Gradually increase challenges like working larger groups, obstinate stock, longer sessions, distractions, or unfamiliar locations. Vary training to build skill and avoid boredom. Occasional setbacks are normal. Keep a record of successes to highlight progress over time.

Achieving well-rounded competence requires exposing your Border Collie to diverse herding situations. But difficulty should be raised in small increments, not giant leaps. Make challenges slight extensions of previously mastered work. Their skills will develop steadily with varied experience.

Training Your Border Collie to Herd Step 9: Encourage Instinctive Moves

While applying obedience, allow room for your Border Collie’s good instincts to come forward. Less direction from you allows greater expression of their natural style. Provide opportunities for them to show intuitive “power”, “fetching”, gathering, driving, and olfflanking without micromanaging constantly.

With a foundation of training, your input simply hones their genetic abilities. Let your commands support their herding talents rather than restrict them. Carl Jung said, “The mother of intuition is experience.” Trust yours to guide your Border Collie’s inherent skills.

Training Your Border Collie to Herd Step 10: Proof Commands in Distraction Environments

Test your training by periodically working in high distraction settings like unfamiliar locations with sizable crowds present. Ensure your Border Collie responds reliably to commands despite heavy disruption. Solid proofing cements their training for real work applications.

Avoid relying on physical corrections even in high stimulation environments. Use clear communication, praise, and the removal of livestock pressure as rewards for compliant behavior. Aim for a harmonious partnership directing your Border Collie’s amazing instincts toward productive work.