First time border collie owner

[welshgirl]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum, we have recently got a border collie pup and would like to hear from other owners of this breed - any tips you can give me? We have two other dogs, a terrier x and a westie. I know that Borders need lots of mental stimulation. I really want to get her well trained, this is something I sadly failed with with the lakeland , any advice will be very helpful. I have been doing some research on clicker training, appreciate its not for everybody (for example a dog trainer I spoke to said it is no good in a class situation), does anyone on here clicker train?

[Nicola]

I do

I am recently converted to clicker training.

Please read anything you can get your hands on by Karen Pryor - for ideas and inspiration!

[welshgirl]

Hi Nicola,

I think the book I have is by Karen Pryor . I went out and got a clicker today! I get a bit confused by when you introduce a word, I think you get the behaviour established first? Sure I'll be back with more questions!

[LisaBC]

Hi you could also look at Hetty's club, she is an expert when it comes to Collie's and clicker training. If you go to her video section you will find a few for starters.
http://www.blackjackdtc.com

[Hetty]

Hiya,

Clicker training can be done in class situations. The dog knows perfectly well if you are clicking or if someone else is clicking their dog. All people click differently on their clickers and even us mere human beings can differentiate between the click sounds, so for dogs it is even easier.

Make sure to establish behaviour before you put a cue to it. People often start talking way too soon and when you are building up your dog's dictionary you do not want to confuse him. Also make sure what you are clicking for. Often people think they click for something but they also click for the behaviour just previous to what they click for and then seem to chain 2 behaviours together without being aware of it.

Clicker training is a perfect way to teach your dog things, but also make sure to set boundaries and do not let your dog get away with being naughty. Withholding a click it pretty good to nip that in the bud, but some people are a bit click-happy and also click for things that are not so good.

A click should basically mean what you are doing right now is perfect. Everything that is not perfect can not be clicked for. Saying so, you need to break down your exercises and make sure that your dog can earn his click as well.

I would advice you to try to find a clicker training club in your area or get your self some clicker training DVDs so you can learn more about when and how to click.

[Nicola]

Hetty,

Is it ok to clicker train 2 dogs at the same time. For example if you were in the garden with more than one of your dogs and one of them was doing something that you wanted - would it confuse the dog who WASNT being clicked - or make him/her immune to the clicker.

I ask this because Carl loves the clicker at all times, but Bella feels a bit overawed but if Carl is in the background she tries harder to please for attention - but I dont want him to get bored with it.

[Hetty]

I think if you are interacting with 2 dogs at the same time that you can't really make clear which one you are clicking. In advanced clicker dogs you should be able to, but I feel strongly that you should train your dog in one to one situations as you can then control everything that influences the behaviour, while otherwise your other dog will influence behaviour of the dog your are clicking as well.

[Hetty]

If you have one dog on the side (on a lead or in a wait) then you could train with another dog in front of it using the clicker without any problems as the dogs are not influencing each other. But if you are interacting with both dogs or if a click will work as a release for the dog waiting at the side then it might be confusing for the dogs.

[Nicola]

Thankyou Hetty, thats really helpful

Bella is the only one benefiting from what I described, but Carl has to be a priority as far as training goes and much as I would like Bella to enjoy the clicker, it is vital that Carl doesnt get bored

[welshgirl]

Hetty, thanks for your helpful post, I think I am probably one of the people who click too often sometimes I find I have clicked without even meaning to. Also I find it very hard not to speak and find myself saying 'good girl' as well as clicking, which is probably unnecessary? I've been trying to get puppy to touch a target but not really sure how to go about it, she seems to touch it a couple of times which I click and treat for then either grabs it with her teeth (not sure if I should click for that?) or loses interest and goes to look for something else to do. Any suggestions please?

Nicola - good point, I was wondering about that too, gosh its all a bit confusing isnt it?!

[LisaBC]

I only ever tried clicker training with both mine at the same time once! and never again It happen by mistake I was working with Boo when other half came home and let Pop in and they shoulder barge each other out of the way and when I did click I nearly lost my finger because they both snatched to compete with each other, I do sometime let Pop watch and wait for her turn and this gets her all fired up for her training and she is much eager than normal but that has its draw backs too:shock:

[janz]

Can I ask how old the lakeland is? Only seeing you say you 'sadly failed'... well, thers no such word in here...I have been encouraged with 9,10 and an 11 year old dog! The 11 yro is now 12 and fairly deaf...and his behaviour is so much better than 6 months ago! We now have a 9 year old just joined us, and his commands are much better, but there are some areas we have to retrain in him too. Its as satisfying as it is with a pup when things come together