Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have an eight week old Border Collie pup that I got at 5 1/2 weeks old. I know that's too young now, but didn't know it then. She is highly intelligent as she already knows to come, sit, lay down and is working on crawling toward you while in the down position. Plus she will play fetch and bring it back for short periods of time already too. I am her main care giver and we haven't had any trouble with crate training, or pooping in the house. She is so young though that I've cleaned up many puddles off the kitchen floor. I don't mind that. What I do mind is that I can't get her to stop biting, chewing on or snapping at me. When she is doing something I don't want like chewing on the kitchen table I am able to redirect her attention to something else. But when it comes to me, I can't get her focus off me and onto something else. When I correct her with a "no" she will stop most times momentarily. Sometimes I have to snap my fingers at her to get her attention and that is when she snaps at the hand that snapped the fingers. Or she will stop, look at my hand and then jump at it,nudge it with her nose and then snap at it. She really seems like she is testing me to see if she can get away with biting and then is rebelling when she is told to stop. She is not left alone very much except at night when she is in her kennel. I take her to work with me, where she can romp around the greenhouse or outside. She gets plenty of exercise. If I do have to leave her at home, we have an outside dogrun that she stays in. I should mention that the biting and snapping aren't all the time. She can be quiet loveable and sweet most the time, but when she get's wound up to play I have to watch out. I would appreciate any help in this matter.

It's good you recognize that you had gotten your pup at a really early age. He is is simply lacking the social and heirarchy skills he would have learned from his mother and littermates.

Puppies and dogs in genral are very social animals and refusing to play with them can be an effective training technique. As soon as your pup starts to bite or nip, give a loud and yelping OUCH and get up and move away, ignoring your pup. After a minute or so, get a toy and try playing with the pup. If he goes for you with a nip again, repeat yelping and walking away.

There are games that we think are fun to play with pups but they only serve to encourage biting and should be avoided when working on the no biting. Tug-of-war comes to mind first and any other games that might encourage the pup to bite or nip at you. If you do play tug-of-war make certain you start the game and you stop the game...it has to be on your terms.

It is also a good idea to get your puppy used to working for things – even play time. This is called the Nothing in Life is Free approach or NILF. Before you feed your pup, have him sit and then feed him. Do the same before leashing up for a walk or initiating play time, whatever he wants to do...make him work for it. Soon your pup will learn that if he listens and obeys and does something, there will be a reward. This also helps establish humans as higher in the pack order.

It would also be a good idea to start puppy classes if you can. Your pup is also going be very energetic and has been bred to perform a job. You will need to work to give him things to do and to tire him out. Tired pups are happy pups!!
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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

Is there a certain training book/video that anyone could recommend that is specific for Border Collies?
I have come to find that the days we actually go off the farm to work, she is more tired and easier to get a long with in the evening. Though I'm not sure that she actually get's more excercise at the off farm work site vs her here at home farm activities. It could be just the excitement of going in the truck and meeting new people that wears her out. We take her lots of places with us trying to get her used to lots of new sights, sounds and smells. Is this too young an age to start? I really thought I had done my homework before we got her but now I feel like I'm playing catch up because she's so intelligent that she's keeping me on my toes.

I"m sure there is a breed specific training book for Border Collies...I'll have to see if I can find any. I don't have a BC myself but a friend of mine has two and they keep him on his toes as well. Being she is so young the ride and excitement of going to the farm could well make for a tired pup. As you know in your research these dogs are task dogs and must be given a job to do. They are extremely intelligent dogs but will become bored and mischievious if not kept occupied. As to your other question...no she is not to young for being socialized to new sights, smells and sounds. The more the better!
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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.