The Most Dog Friendly Community Online
Join and Discover the Best Things to do with your Dog

Register

Hi need Border Collie help...

Maxi

Maxi

New Member
Registered
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Hi all, I have a 18month old Border Collie I’m struggling to teach him to stop barking when told, does anyone have any good tips?
 
The first question to ask is why is he barking in the first place? What is the underlying emotion - boredom, excitement, fear, need for attention? Is he getting enough mental stimulation as well as physical exercise so he's able to relax during 'downtime'?

I'm not up on training a dog to stop barking as my dog doesn't bark much anyway, but the first step is to train your dog to bark on command. I taught this using a hand signal as well as a verbal cue, because it's great for convincing little children that your dog can count and do simple sums;)
 
Kikopup on YouTube has some excellent videos to help with training on this. Border collies can be pretty sensitive - if you need extra support, say which area you live in and we might be able to point you towards someone who can help.
 
JudyN said:
The first question to ask is why is he barking in the first place? What is the underlying emotion - boredom, excitement, fear, need for attention? Is he getting enough mental stimulation as well as physical exercise so he's able to relax during 'downtime'?

I'm not up on training a dog to stop barking as my dog doesn't bark much anyway, but the first step is to train your dog to bark on command. I taught this using a hand signal as well as a verbal cue, because it's great for convincing little children that your dog can count and do simple sums;)
Click to expand...
I would assume excitement, he barks mostly when he sees, hears or even thinks there may be another dog near by. As he’s still young he is so giddy & just wants to play with them all but I’d like to beable to control it a bit more. Thank for that
 
JoanneF said:
Kikopup on YouTube has some excellent videos to help with training on this. Border collies can be pretty sensitive - if you need extra support, say which area you live in and we might be able to point you towards someone who can help.
Click to expand...
I’m near Wigan. Thanks I’ll have a look at those :)
 
.

seconding the sugg to teach "Speak" & "Hush". :)
U need to teach the "on" behavior before U can install the "off" switch, but don't forget - both bark-on-cue AND hush-on-cue are rewarded; neither one is 'bad', they are just behaviors, & the dog is doing WHAT U WANT. :D

Once U have stimulus control [bark on cue, hush on cue], life gets easier.

If he's overstimulated by the sight of passing dogs, get him away from windows, & if it's barking, praps U could close the windows, to reduce the sound? - just a thot.

- terry

.
 
.

almost forgot - SILENCE his tags.
Wrap them with a wide rubber-band or slip 'em into a made-to-purpose tag bag, such as Quiet, Spot!, a neoprene bag that encloses them.

Other dogs will hear him coming from afar, & it sets THEM scanning for the approaching dog - then he reacts to their excitement, & things just ratchet up. :( . All behavior is a conversation - their reaction to him, his reaction to them, it's a snowball effect.

- terry

.
 
My geography may be off but the APDT page suggests these people in the Manchester area

APDT
 
.

to look up APDT-UK trainers by area of service -
APDT

Each one lists their specialties - puppy-training, B-Mod, & so on. I'd look for a trainer who is experienced in B-Mod, & works with adults - at 18-MO, he's not a puppy any more. ;)
Please let us know how U get on?

Happy training,
- terry

.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top