How to Teach a Border Collie to Catch a Frisbee

Border collies are highly intelligent dogs with a strong herding instinct and lots of energy. Without plenty of exercise and training, they frequently become destructive. Their herding instinct might also cause them to herd children and small animals by nipping at their heels. Frisbee allows border collies to exercise their herding instinct and burn off energy, resulting in a calmer, happier dog. Most border collies instinctively chase flying objects, so teaching them Frisbee requires training them to bring the Frisbee back.

Things You'll Need

  • Training clicker
  • Dog treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Show your dog the Frisbee and tell it to "sit." Click the training clicker and give it a treat, then hand it the Frisbee. This teaches your dog to behave calmly and politely around the disc, and discourages it from trying to play tug of war or run off with it. It also helps your dog associate the Frisbee with food and rewards, which will encourage it to chase the disc. Repeat this exercise five to 10 times a day for several days. When your dog is reliably polite around and interested in the Frisbee, you can begin training your dog to chase and fetch.

    • 2

      Toss the Frisbee in the air and wait for your dog to chase it. If your dog does not instinctively chase after it, throw it a shorter distance. Click the training clicker and give your dog a treat when it runs after the Frisbee. If your dog still does not chase the disc, hand it to your dog then click the clicker and give your dog a treat. Repeat this exercise five to 10 times and then begin the Frisbee-throwing exercise again.

    • 3

      Throw the Frisbee and encourage your dog to bring it back by calling it and showing it a treat. Avoid chasing your dog, which encourages your dog to run from you. When your dog returns, even if it does not bring the Frisbee back, click the training clicker and give it a treat. Continue throwing the Frisbee and encouraging your dog to bring it back. If, after several repetitions your dog continues returning without the Frisbee, calmly approach your dog while it has the disc and give it a treat in exchange for the disc. Most border collies master this trick in two to three weeks.