ONTARIO BORDER COLLIE CLUB

by Kent Kuykendall  

This article first appeared in the OBCC newsletter in 2001. Descended from three generations of shepherds, Kent’s life’s work has encompassed his passion for border collies for decades. His long and distinguished trialing career includes Reserve Champion at the USBCHA 1999 Finals. Find out more about Kent and family at www.kuykendallbc.com.

First exposures - taking your young pup to stock for the first time is an exciting time for both of you. You know the pup has good bloodlines and you really wanted to start working right. It's important to remember that the first few times the pup sees sheep will have a powerful impact on its future training. Your goal for these first few sessions is to see what his unique style is going to be, not to start training or putting pressure on the pup.

If this is your first border collie pup, you'll probably want to find an experienced trainer to help you. These first few sessions on stock should be a positive start for your pup and you! I'll give you some tips on what to look for in a trainer at the end. In this article I'll be talking about what you should look for in a young 6- to 12-month-old dog’s first exposure to stock. Older dogs may have developed some habits that will require a different approach.

I like to expose pups to stock as early as 4 and 5 months of age, but only a couple of times a month at that early age. I use gentle, dog broke sheep that will not fight or panic if the pup gets too close or chases them. I want the pup to be able to get close to the sheep without the sheep running over or fighting. If a young dog is too slow to head or stop the stock, he may become frustrated or lose his confidence and start to chase or even grip out of desperation to keep up. Chasing and gripping can be hard habits to break later on. The goal of these first exposures to stock is for the pup to have a relaxed and calm memory of the experience instead of the memory of a negative encounter.

Pups start out on stock a variety of ways. Some go right around the sheep, find the balance point, and work the sheep back to the handler the first time on stock. Others may circle stock or lie down and stare at the stock. Some will try to pin the sheep up against the fence. If your pup carries his or her tail high when with the sheep, that tells you the dog doesn't have confidence. I continue exposing it to stock until its tail is down before I put any training pressure on it.

Remember that your dog is different from any other dog, so common sense is always the best rule of thumb. These are just some of the signs that the dog either needs more time to mature or needs more exposure to stock before the pressures of training are added to the equation. Most times it's better to wait for a pup to mature than to keep pressing a matter with him. Take your time in making your decision to train or not to train yet. Many good pups are set back, or even permanently damaged, because they are trained before they are physically, mentally, or instinctively ready. I see it all the time.  

Maybe a pup has a confidence problem, so I decide to put the dog away for a week or two, maybe even a month. When I take the dog out the next time, poof, the problem, or the lack of enthusiasm is gone, and the dog is beginning to work the way I want! I didn't spend time pressuring the dog or doing something to it I didn't want or intend to. What are a few weeks or even a few months of waiting in a dog's life compared to the years of working partnership that will follow? If in doubt wait!

I am very flexible in my methods and try to change my training techniques to match the pup’s strengths and weaknesses. We humans can reason and change quickly. A young dog does not have the mental capability to change as well as we do. So, analyze the situation, ask questions, and don't compare your dog with any other dog. What worked for one dog probably won't be right for yours.

Border collies have an amazing desire to please their two-legged partners. So, it's a good investment of your time for you and the dog to become bonded, to begin that partnership, so that it will have a strong desire to please you and so it will respond to your encouragement. A young dog must trust you to excel and give you his all. This is true whether you are starting a pup that you have raised, or a young dog you have just acquired. I don't do much obedience training with my pups. I do want the pup to come when called. I also want him to understand what a correction is and how to accept it. That tells me that the dog is paying attention and ready to begin. I do not teach a pup to lie down before I start him on the stock. I used to, but found I was using it as a crutch when I took the dog to stock. I want to see the pups develop a natural feel for the sheep, balance, and pace. I also want him to be relaxed and working naturally before I add the pressure of teaching commands.

A novice or beginner should always seek firsthand help and advice from a professional trainer in starting a dog. It's also a good idea to get a second or even a third opinion as well. I would avoid a trainer who discourages you from seeking input from others.

A good way to find a trainer is to go to clinics as a spectator. This gives you the chance to analyze the methods different trainers may use. Pay close attention to how he or she deals with different types of dogs and their good and bad qualities. It is also important for you to be comfortable with the trainer’s style, and believe me, at a clinic with 20 or more strange dogs a day, you'll get to see how he or she responds to stress or being dog tired.

If you find a trainer you like, then seek his or her advice. You should stay with the same trainer long enough to see if the dog is responding. It may take several sessions for the dog to become comfortable with this new person. If you do change trainers, be understanding and give the dog extra time to adjust. This just says no two dogs are alike, no two trainers are alike. By changing trainers, you have changed the whole picture that you were presenting to the pup. Good luck!

Here are signs that your pup may not be ready and what you can do to help: