Picture taken from www.dogbreedinfo.com
Hi and Welcome Everyone!
This is Sharda with another Collie puppies newsletter!
Today, learn some effective and efficient Border Collie potty training tips!
Usually very high on the list of training priorities for a Border Collie puppy or Collie dogs is the issue of house training.
So, let’s start discussing this training process today shall we?
Teaching your Border Collie to avoid eliminating in the house is important for several reasons – the most obvious of which is the odour and mess that a non-house broken dog will make.
In addition, there are health concerns for the humans, dog and other animals if there is fecal material in the same area that food is prepared or consumed.
Often Collie dogs will eat their own waste, so keeping the animal away from this material is also important to prevent bad and unsafe habits from forming.
HOUSE TRAINING YOUR BORDER COLLIE
CRATE TRAINING
One of the most successful ways to train Collie pups is to use the crate training method. The crate is seen by Collie dogs as a safe area or den that he or she can in, or just to spend time.
There are several benefits to crate training your puppy that will continue to be useful as your Border Collie dog matures.
A crate provides an excellent environment for transporting your Border Collie, a comfortable yet confined place when you are not at home, a method to control challenging behaviours such as digging and chewing, as well as a tool for scheduling toileting, sleeping and other activities.
It is important to allow your Border Collie puppy to adjust to the crate and to learn that the crate is a good place to be, not a punishment.
- Start by placing the crate on the floor, and place inside some dog treats and toys.
- Close the door, and let the puppy sniff around the crate.
- Praise the dog for wanting in, and open the door. Leave the door open, but don’t praise the dog for coming out. The puppy needs to learn that inside is better than outside.
- To get the Collie puppies to go back into the crate have a few more treats and toss them towards the back of the crate.
- Positively reward the puppy for walking in and eating them.
- Gradually begin to close the door behind the puppy. If the puppy does start to whine or bark make sure that you do not let him or her out until there is quiet, or you will be reinforcing the whining behaviour.
- Always have a treat or two inside the crate, and start saying “Crate” to alert the puppy to go in for a treat.
- Never force the puppy into the crate or it will start to be seen as a punishment.
- Increase the time in the crate but do not exceed thirty minutes to avoid any accidents or stress on the puppy.
Collie puppies can sleep in the crate, but should be taken outside if they cry or whine and need to toilet.
If they are whining or crying for attention, do not take them out, or it will cause this behaviour to increase.
Crate training can also be used when you leave the house. Once the puppy is comfortable in the crate, they will be happy to remain in there while you are away.
Avoid any excessive amounts of time in the crate, as this can make housetraining more difficult.
Watch for any signs of separation anxiety while you are gone, and address these with a trainer to correct this situation as early as possible.
Soiling the crate, excessive drooling or panting, or frantic behaviour when you return may be signs that the puppy has some separation anxiety.
Remember that Collie puppies have very small bladders, and that their control is not as good as a more mature dog.
After a short period of confinement, the puppy must be taken immediately to the area that it is to use to relieve itself.
Once the puppy does urinate or defecate in the selected area, it should be immediately praised for the positive behaviour.
To start the crate training process, take the puppy out of the crate every hour and allow them access to the outside area.
As soon as the puppy does urinate or defecate, provide immediate praise and attention. If the puppy does not do anything, return them to the crate and try again the next hour.
Usually in two to three weeks after starting crate training the puppy will be basically housetrained.
Avoid using the crate too often or for long periods of time as a punishment, as it will no longer be a positive and secure place for the puppy.
Too much time in the crate will limit the socialization of the puppy, and will also decrease the amount of exercise the puppy has.
That’s it for today’s newsletter!
I hope that you learned a lot of things today!
All the best and take care.
Warmly,
Sharda Baker