dog training?

Question

i have booked my 6 month border collie into obedience classes, to be honest he is a very well behaved pup, no real problems with him but just thought some training would be very helpful, i have 3 children and the trainer has said that they would be welcome to come along, i want them involved as much as possible but am a bit concerned them being present will distract alfie because he loves them to bits, is it a good idea to take them with me or should i take alfie on my own. any thoughts from anyone.

Answer 1

You want your dog to listen to all members of the family at all times. You also want your dog to be able to respond no matter what the distraction is. So the more distractions around when he is training the better. Take him alone a few times to learn the routine and the commands, then bring the kids. EVERYONE in the house should work on training him.

Good luck

Answer 2

I love Border Collies... okay, I have one too, so that makes me a bit biased :)

Taking your children to the obedience classes is a good idea. Part of what you learn in these classes is for your dog to work with and still obey you even with distractions present. Actually, it's really important that your dog will "come on recall" with distractions, especially if you end up in an unfortunate situation where your dog is headed towards the road with a car coming.

We took our children to our Puppy Kindergarten class, but for the competition obedience classes I am currently in, they don't go with me. I would say to give it a try and see how it goes. If you feel they are such a distraction that you are not getting what you should out of the class, then I would go without them. This also depends on the age of your children. Mine are 3 and 5, so it's hard to train the puppy and chase the kids at the same time. But if your children are old enuf to participate in the training process, then it can be fun for them too!

Great to know you are persuing training with your Border Collie! This breed really needs that kind of mental stimulation daily to keep the boredom at bay! Have fun with it!

Answer 3

Hi, congrats on having a border collie - they are the most rewarding dogs I have ever come across - but a word of warning they are working dogs and your pup will need some mental exercise. Taking him to obediance class is an excellent start. If your trainer has said he will be happy for your kids to come then take them. If you find it a problem at class then you could look again at whether you take them or not, but try it, you won't lose anything, and your kids will benefit from going to class as well. I do obediance competitivly with my collie and it is so much fun. It's really rewarding to try and teach your dog something and succeed and watch themget what you want from them. Your dog will also be much happier and more content for working.

Take your kids and try the classes. Its a lot of fun for both you and the dog. Expect your pup to be rather overwhelmed the first few times and don't expect too much at the start. After class expect your pup to be really tired that evening - he will come home and sleep for quite a long time.

Answer 4

I think it`s a fab idea to get your pup into training..I know collies are very intelligent and active so you will find the classes most helpful. I dont see why you shouldn't take your children along. The instructor wouldn`t have suggested it if she thought it wasn't a good idea..I guess time will truly tell..Well done you for making a right move. It`s good to hear of responsible dog owners for a change instead of all the horror stories..Wishing you Alfie and the children much fun and many happy years ahead.

Answer 5

I would say that this is a good opportunity for your kids to look at the world of dog training and learn a few things. If the trainer says that they're welcome, then I would take advantage of it and take them along if they want to go. I wouldn't be too worried about Alfie getting distracted -- there will be lots of distractions there, but the whole point is learning to overcome those distractions and be obedient. The trainer will help you with that.

Good for you for taking your dog to obedience classes. A well-trained dog that knows his place in the "pack" will be a happier dog.

Answer 6

Believe me, Border Collies love kids. I have 2 'grandsons' aged 6 and 3 and I love them to bits. However Border Collies grow at an alarming rate and need a lot of attention to keep their active minds going. Boredom and destruction go hand in hand. And CHEW!! We chew anything. Take the kids and train them all together. That way, when you are out, you are a family and he will know where he fits into the pecking order. Plenty of exercise please. We are working dogs and used rounding up animals so lots of long 'runs' and chase games. If you jog, take the Alfie.

Answer 7

Take them and ask the trainer's advice on where they should be during training.

But absolutely make them a part of the training classes if you can and they are old enough.

If they distract too much, have them as far away from you as possible or watching from outside the room.

Remember: A good part of training is getting the dog to pay attention to YOU.

If, on the other hand, YOU would prefer to train alone skip the kids.

I had my 9 year old come to puppy K, intro obedience and beg. agility with our puppy. It was very helpful for the pup, the kid and me.

Answer 8

It is always good to teach your kids how to control a dog. Maybe try taking one at a time so they are less of a distraction to the dog and each other. This is a good opportunity for the trainer to help you train your Border Collie to ignore distractions. All the trainers that I talked to say to bring everyone in the family....Good Luck

Answer 9

i would definatley not take them to the first class. at your first class you will basically get instructions and start just with some preliminary work. go to the first class alone, see what the class is like and how your dog reacts to the classroom setting. then you are the best judge of how you children and dog will react if there together. personally, good for the trainer to allow your children to come. personally i would take the dog alone to half the classes. see how the dog is doing. and spend the time between classes teaching your children to use and do what you've learned in class with the dog. the majority of training work is done outside of class, the class just gives you direction on how to work with your dog. if you are having trouble with the children getting it, or the dog getting what the children are asking, then take them to a class. this way the trainer can explain to the children what they need to do and also give you hints on getting your dog to respond better to their commands. plus i think it's great you see the need to take a well behaved pup to classes. those are the dogs that usually do much better, and respond well. you will have one of the best dogs around. good for you!

Answer 10

A well-trained dog makes everyone happy, including his owner. Take a little time training him, and you'll never regret it; you'll always have an obedient dog by your side. Find more https://tr.im/H6FOU

By their nature, dogs are pack animals with a well-defined social order. Through basic training, you need to consistently make sure your puppy understands that you are the leader, not him. So in teaching him the basic rules, you take on the role of pack leader.

To fit into the family circle, your dog must be taught to recognize his name and such commands as come, heel, lie down and sit.