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Border Collie


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Collies are good retrievers, I have used a few as gun dogs over the years. Beware that the collie brain can have a tendency to be obsessive. make sure that you add more to your training routine than just retrieving. otherwise they will fetch anything and everything at the expense of any other desired task. They will drive potty and never stop doing it. good luck!

 

They're doing that already and I havent even started doing owt yet.. They go out in the garden and bring anything and everything back in from leaves to bits of cement and stones.. Im starting to teach one to come to be on command and and sit.. Hes took to the sit straight away but there both a bit excitable..

 

One question I do need to know though.. When should I start introducing them to the sound of a gun? I dont have a SGC as yet so couldnt use that so was thinking of using a starting pistol.. Would that work? Also maybe take them to the shooting club I go to but all the bangs at once might be a bit overpowering to begin with..

 

Thanks, Shaun

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dont be in a hurry to introduce them to gunfire to early as a lot of collies

are prone to be gunshy. I start by knocking 2 metal feed dishes together

just before they get fed not to loud at first but getting louder as they

get used to it. so they associate noise with some thing pleasant.

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Collies are good retrievers, I have used a few as gun dogs over the years. Beware that the collie brain can have a tendency to be obsessive. make sure that you add more to your training routine than just retrieving. otherwise they will fetch anything and everything at the expense of any other desired task. They will drive potty and never stop doing it. good luck!

 

They're doing that already and I havent even started doing owt yet.. They go out in the garden and bring anything and everything back in from leaves to bits of cement and stones.. Im starting to teach one to come to be on command and and sit.. Hes took to the sit straight away but there both a bit excitable..

 

One question I do need to know though.. When should I start introducing them to the sound of a gun? I dont have a SGC as yet so couldnt use that so was thinking of using a starting pistol.. Would that work? Also maybe take them to the shooting club I go to but all the bangs at once might be a bit overpowering to begin with..

 

Thanks, Shaun

 

take them for walks near the shooting ground so that the sounds are only faint. start some training/retrieving so as to give them an association with the sounds and a "game". once they are comfy working like that move closer. them move onto more formal training to noise. an air rifle is a good starting point

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It would be entirely unfair to concentrate on one and leave the other with no training, apart from which the untrained one will be a liability, unable to be let off a lead anywhere.

You have to train two pups separately, away from each other.

 

I foresee a sad end for either or both of these pups unless you really start accepting responsibility for both. Just because one is slower and you think you can treat it like a pet is the reason there are so many out of control pet dogs these days. PET DOGS NEED TRAINING TOO, even if it is just for recall and socialisation.

 

Just because one comes to you quickly and the other doesn't, is no reason to ignore the slower one. In fact, this pup needs more encouragement and training at the moment. IT IS JUST NOT POSSIBLE TO TRAIN TWO PUPS TOGETHER.

 

Shut one away in a crate or kennel while you train the other, and spend 5 minutes, three times a day, training each pup in turn. That's all the time you need at the moment.

 

Recall and having a little play together, just you and one pup at a time, is all you need to do at the moment. Though something as intelligent as a Collie should be able to sit, lie down and do baby retrieves by now if you know what you are doing.

 

My advice would be to take both pups, you and your wife take one each, and go to some local puppy training classes, every week. You have by your own admission, little experience with dogs: by taking them to training classes both you and the pups get an education at the same time.

Good luck

 

Edited to add: it is not always the most forward puppy that has the greatest potential. At only 10 weeks old, it would take a real expert to say which one is more likely to make the grade. I've had several dogs which were 'slow' to begin with, and ended up superb in the field.

 

Also, be aware that Collies need an enormous amount of stimulation and exercise if they are to be happy and fulfilled and not end up frustrated, yappy and possibly aggressive. Great intelligence in a dog needs much greater input from the owner if everyone is to live happily ever after.

Edited by skycat
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Thanks for all the replies. I think it will be hard to train 2 dogs. I was going to train them. Both separately anyway but thinking about it it will take far too much time. I've been trying some stuff out and managed to get one to sit on command within 5 mins and now when he sees me he comes and sits at my feet. The other is a bit less interested. I couldnt possibly rehome one of them. They are also going to be pets for the family. So perhaps just concentrate on training the one thats already responding and leave the other as a pet. Would that work? And could they still live happily together? Thanks. Shaun.

You'll be saying next week that the other one is better at something else and you'll go back and forward wondering what one is better at what. There still pups yet, lots of great advice already and training them both at seperate times is a must. Yes its very time consuming but you'll have to do it if you are persistent you want to keep both.

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