Herder Training Methods for a Border Collie

Border collies are one of only a few dog breeds still being bred for its herding abilities. From actual farm herding in Europe to agility trials around the world, the border collie stands out as the top herding breed for small livestock. Training a young border collie to herd is not for the faint of heart. Attempting such with an inexperienced handler, dog and livestock may result in injury to one of the species. Proper training of the handler and the dog allows for safe herding.

  1. Temperament and Instincts

    • Evaluate the border collie without livestock to determine a starting point for training. See if the dog has any learned skills such as clicker or whistle training. Observe if the puppy has excellent herding instincts; for example, does it attempt to herd household pets or children? Decide if the puppy is old enough to settle down into training mode with sheep in the same field. Have a professional dog trainer work with the border collie for the most accurate evaluation. If the puppy is not ready for herding training yet, put it on hold for a few months. A puppy that is started too young will get frustrated during training.

    Beginning Commands

    • Teach the dog some basic commands (sit, stay, come) to test its learning curve and provide a background for herding training. These should be taught and tested in a variety of situations with distractions. Start by teaching the dog to sit and stay when you stop. Then teach the dog to sit and stay while you remain walking. Finally teach the dog to sit and stay while you run excitedly making noises (like clapping). The dog will likely not respond immediately to commands when first introduced to livestock, but will do much better than if no previous training is provided.

    Meet the Livestock

    • Introduce a new border collie to herding training by letting it meet the livestock out in the field. Most dogs will be extremely excited the first time, but should calm down quickly if old enough. The beginning lesson is to just let the dog control the herd from the outside perimeters of the flock or field. Team with an experienced dog herding trainer for best results.

      Border collies respond almost immediately to vocal commands from an experienced handler. If a dog is moving in too close to the livestock, or worse yet mounting it, a stern "no" will usually work to ease the dog off. Move up on the dog if it is moving the herd too close to you and say "get back" or just "back" in a sharp tone. Keep beginning training sessions short and focused.

    Balance and Border Collies

    • Balance is known as the ability of the dog to keep the herd together and in between the trainer and itself. Most well-bred border collies are born with a good sense of balance, but all dogs vary in abilities. A dog that has a weak balance will still be able to herd, but will always need direction in the field. Dogs with strong balance can move a herd around obstacles with little or no direction from a caller.

    Advanced Herding Training

    • Find a strong herding trainer in your area to work on advanced methods of herding or to get prepared for a show. All breeders have different training styles so interview several until you find the one that works best with you and your pet. Join herding clubs to learn new advanced training methods and to meet up for practice sessions.