Positive training · From eight weeks

Border Collie Puppy Training Manual

From 8 Weeks

Border Collie: pair precise cue work with deliberate settling and off-switch practice.

29 chapters · English / 中文

Border Collie: pair precise cue work with deliberate settling and off-switch practice.

Breed profile

Training group: Herding and cattle dogs
Origin: The Border Collie was developed along the England–Scotland border to control sheep at a distance.
Male height at shoulder: 48–56 cm
Female height at shoulder: 46–53 cm
Common weight range: 14–20 kg
Coat: Double coat; rough-coated and smooth-coated types
Coat care: Routine brushing
Drive keywords: Eye · Stalk · Chase
Handling practice: Brushing · Hair dryer—off, then on at a distance

General reference ranges only; individual dogs vary substantially

Prepare the environment first

The 48 hours before arrival: environment & equipment

A good first week begins with a small, predictable environment—not with a house full of freedom.

Overhead arrangement of dog gear including a harness, lead, bowls, brush, puzzle feeder, bed, blanket and journal — Prepare safety, rest, feeding, grooming and enrichment gear before arrival, then fit every item to the individual dog.

Divide the home into three zones

Zone 01

Safe zone

Playpen, crate, fresh water and a washable bed. This is where the puppy rests, eats calmly and succeeds without constant correction.

Zone 02

Activity zone

Open only when an adult is actively supervising. Keep the area small enough to notice sniffing, circling and unwanted chasing before it escalates.

Zone 03

Restricted zone

Stairs, balconies, the backyard pond or pool, and the garage remain physically blocked—not merely “off limits” by verbal instruction.

Breed-specific safety sweep

Border Collie-specific safety sweep

Lift or cover hanging electrical cables and charging leads that invite chase-and-bite behaviour. Leave the robot vacuum switched off for the first two weeks; it is a powerful self-reinforcing chase target. Check rotating ceiling fans and moving curtain shadows; manage light-and-shadow triggers described in Chapter 22. Measure backyard fence security and identify gaps or soft soil where digging could begin. Schedule lawnmower use while the puppy is resting indoors, then introduce the sound later at low intensity. Physically block stairs, balcony gaps, pond or pool access, and the garage before arrival.

Equipment list

Use the listed AUD reference ranges where provided. Breed-specific additions without a stable reference range are marked for a current local price check; sizes, brands and prices vary. See the shopping chapter in FluffyWA Puppy Handbook for Australian retailers.

Buy by function: essential, useful, and not yet
Priority	Item and requirement	Approx. AUD reference
Essential	Airline crate or wire crate sized for the adult dog, with a puppy divider, plus a playpen	$60–220 for the crate/playpen category
Essential	Flat collar and properly fitted Y-shaped harness	$35–90 for the base lead + fitted harness category; collar separate
Essential	Short lead, 1.2–1.8 m	Included in the $35–90 base lead + harness reference
Essential	Long training line, 5–10 m	$20–50
Essential	Stainless-steel bowls	$12–35 for two bowls
Essential	Slow-feeder bowl or food-dispensing toy	$12–40
Essential	Enzyme cleaner for toilet accidents	$15–35
Essential	Washable sleeping mat	$25–100
Essential	Soft teething toys	$20–70 for the chew + food-puzzle category
Essential	Two tug toys	$15–45
Essential	Training treat pouch	$15–40
Useful	Snuffle mat	$20–50
Useful	Two food puzzles	$20–70 for the chew + food-puzzle category
Useful	Indoor baby gate	$40–120
Useful	Freezable fillable toy, such as a KONG-type toy	$15–45
Useful	Soft fabric flying disc; no aerial stops before adulthood	$10–30
Do not buy yet	Retractable lead: it does not teach a loose lead and can cause cord injuries	Not recommended
Do not buy yet	Laser pointer—never buy one; see the compulsive light-chasing risk in Chapter 22	Not recommended
Do not buy yet	Any collar designed to tighten around the neck	Not recommended
Do not buy yet	Hard bones or rawhide chews; puppy teeth and digestion can be at risk, so ask your veterinarian	Ask your veterinarian before choosing a chew

Approximate 2026 Perth retail ranges; actual prices vary by store.

Watercolour front view showing checks for fitting a Y-shaped dog harness — TWO FINGERS FLAT = a snug fit without pinching; Y ON CHEST = the Y sits over the breastbone; CLEAR OF ARMPITS = straps do not rub behind the front legs.

Write the one cue word every family member will use
Skill	Agreed family cue
Sit
Down
Come
Wait
Leave it
Drop / Give
Go to mat / Place
Settle

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