Border Collie Training—Stop Your Dog From Chasing and Stalking

Border collies were bred for many generations to herd sheep and to find lost or runaway sheep and return them to the fold. Consequently, teaching him or her to stop chasing and stalking takes a great deal of patience. If you can convince your children that it is fun to run and play with your border collie that could be much easier, but, of course, the neighbors and mailman might not see it that way. What can you do to extinguish this unwanted behavior?

Punishing dogs for what for them is a normal instinct will only cause them to be afraid of you, so that is not a good method of dog training. Distracting your border collie with something more interesting will work better. When your border collie sees a child, a cat, wildlife, or whatever he or she likes to herd, distract your dog by throwing a ball. Your border collie will follow his or her natural instincts harmlessly by chasing the ball and retrieving it for you to throw again. Border collies are intelligent dogs who need stimulation, so he or she is likely to get tired of the ball quickly. Have other toys that you can throw. Hide some of the toys and rotate them so that your border collie will see an old toy that has been hidden for a few weeks and want to play with it again. Otherwise you could find yourself buying a lot of toys and cluttering the house with them. Toys designed for stimulation include those that have places for treats. Your dog can amuse him or herself by first chasing the toy and then finding the treat.

A tired dog is a happy dog, so a run along the beach or in the park at times when there are few other people and dogs around is a good way to keep your border collie from getting bored and needing to herd things. Rotate the places where your take your dog so that he or she does not get bored.

Border collie training can include many activities for this intelligent dog. Basic dog training, including learning commands to sit, stay, lie down, and sit up, are a good place to start border collie training. PetSmart and many local trainers have good courses in basic doggy obedience, or you can get a book on the subject of dog training and train your friend yourself. The advantage of a professional trainer is that he or she has experience in handling dogs and can train the human as well as the pet.

Agility training can be a lot of fun for you and your border collie, and provide mental stimulation, physical activity, and a good distraction from chasing things. Equipment such as tunnels, A-frames, weave poles, jump rings and teeter-totters designed for dogs are available to make your backyard an obstacle course. Run around the course with your border collie, and motion for him or her to use the equipment. You can use a dog treat as a reward or just act enthusiastic to convince your friend that you are both having a good time. Many types of equipment are available on eBay, J and J Dog Supplies, and retailers. If your backyard is not big enough for an obstacle course, try finding a club for dog agility activities and see if they have an obstacle course you can use.

If chasing and stalking continue to be a problem, see your local veterinarian or trainer for further advice. The border collie can be a good friend and family member with a little guidance.

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