--- title: "6 Border Collie Training Tips" id: "5740" type: "post" slug: "6-border-collie-training-tips" published_at: "2026-09-30T02:44:07+00:00" modified_at: "2026-09-30T02:44:07+00:00" url: "https://www.allbreeds.au/6-border-collie-training-tips/" markdown_url: "https://www.allbreeds.au/6-border-collie-training-tips.md" excerpt: "The most important Border Collie training tip is to combine 15 to 20 minutes of daily mental stimulation with physical exercise. That pairing keeps a highly intelligent dog focused and prevents boredom. Without a job, a Border Collie will create..." taxonomy_category: - "Dog Training Blogs" --- # 6 Border Collie Training Tips The most important[Border Collie training](https://www.allbreeds.au/breeds/border-collie-training/) tip is to combine 15 to 20 minutes of daily mental stimulation with physical exercise. That pairing keeps a highly intelligent dog focused and prevents boredom. Without a job, a Border Collie will create one. It might chase birds, herd the children or bark at every noise at the door. Whether it is your first time with the breed or you are wondering why your pup never settles, these six tips will help. ## **1. Work the Brain Every Day** Aim for 15 to 20 minutes of focused brain work every day, split into a few short blocks. Brain work tires a collie in a calm way. Running only tires the legs. Good options: - Nose work and scent trails around the garden - Treats hidden in the grass - Puzzle toys and interactive feeders at mealtimes - Obedience drills using hand signals - One or two[new tricks](https://www.allbreeds.au/top-tricks-to-train-your-dog-easy-and-fun-techniques/) each week Rotate them so nothing gets stale. A collie that has solved the same puzzle 50 times is no longer thinking. ## **2. Teach an Off Switch on a Mat** Border Collies do not switch off on their own. Teaching a place or stay command on a bed or mat gives them a job to do while family life goes on around them. 1. Reward the moment all four paws are on the mat. 2. Ask for a sit, down or stand, then build duration a few seconds at a time. 3. Add distractions: someone walking past, the fridge opening, a ball rolling. 4. Release with a clear word so your dog learns they stay until told. Practise in one quiet room first. Once it holds there, use it at the front door and when visitors arrive. Calm behaviour indoors is a skill, and it has to be taught. ## **3. Vary the Rewards** Food works, but many collies value other things even more. A game of tug, a thrown ball, praise, or the back door opening onto the garden can all be rewards. Rotating rewards stops your dog working only when it can see a treat in your hand. It also keeps sessions dynamic, which matters with a breed this easily bored. A[balanced approach](https://www.allbreeds.au/balanced-dog-training-vs-positive-reinforcement/) is the best thing you can give a collie. Rewards teach the behaviour. Once your dog clearly knows a command, a calm, fair correction holds them to it, so they listen whether or not food is on offer. ## **4. Don’t Build an Exercise Addict** Pure running builds stamina, not satisfaction. The more you throw the ball, the fitter your collie gets and the more it needs tomorrow. A good run is fine, as long as it comes with thinking work. For most adult collies,[a couple of hours](https://www.allbreeds.au/how-much-exercise-does-your-dog-need/) of physical exercise plus about an hour of mental work covers it. Make the physical side count: - Walking on a loose leash, with no pulling, is training as well as exercise - A well-fitted harness helps while lead manners are still developing - Add sits, drops and recalls throughout the walk In a Perth summer, walk early or late, and swap the midday outing for brain games indoors. ## **5. Redirect the Herding Instinct Early** Watch for the classic stare and crouch. It is usually aimed at kids, bikes, cars, cats or backyard chickens. That fixed stare is the first thing to interrupt, because the chase comes straight after it. Redirect your dog to a known toy or a cue such as sit or “look at me”. Then reward the choice. Nipping at heels is herding, not aggression, but it still needs stopping. It is one of the most common forms of biting in young collies. If aggressive behaviour starts to escalate, bring in a trainer early to protect your dog and the people around it. Give the instinct a proper outlet too. Herding balls, fetch with rules, or even herding lessons on sheep all let a collie do what it was bred for. ## **6. Start Young and Socialise Early** A Border Collie puppy can start learning sit, its name and recall the week it comes home. Short, varied sessions of a few minutes keep its focus, and every bit of progress sticks. Start crate training and potty training from day one. Pop your pup outside first thing in the morning and after meals, naps, and play.[Crate training](https://www.allbreeds.au/what-is-crate-training-for-puppies/) gives them a calm place to rest instead of patrolling the house. Early socialisation builds confidence in a sensitive breed. Introduce people, other dogs, friends’ pets, busy paths and the wider world a little at a time. With cats,[introduce slowly](https://www.allbreeds.au/how-to-introduce-your-dog-to-a-cat/) , keep your dog on lead, and always supervise. Treat other animals the same way. Diet matters as well. High-quality food is worth it for a working breed. Ask your vet for advice on protein levels and supplements, because overfeeding can make a collie harder to manage. ## **Does Your Border Collie Need Training? Contact Allbreeds Today!** A Border Collie is one of the smartest dogs you can own, and that intelligence needs somewhere to go. Give it a job, and you get a focused, settled dog. Leave it to its own devices, and it will herd, chase and bark its way through the day. The formula is steady: work the brain daily, teach a proper off switch, vary your rewards, and redirect the herding instinct before it takes hold. If your collie never seems to settle, or the staring and nipping have crept in, that is where[we can help](https://www.allbreeds.au/) . [Contact us](https://www.allbreeds.au/contact-us/) today, and let us help you channel your collie’s energy the right way.