Collie Encounters

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Collie Encounters

I help stressed out owners of High Energy Dogs to create calm, content and well behaved family pets.
(8)

20/08/2024

I have recently started spending more time around a particular lovely horse who is owned by a wonderful new friend and its been quite eye opening.

So what does this have to do with dogs?

I know nothing about horses, literally nothing. In fact, they scare me a little bit, so I decided to learn more about horses and why they do what they do.

I went to good old Google and YouTube, and I couldn’t believe some of the videos, advice, and so-called knowledgeable professionals giving horse owners advice in the name of training and behaviour.

There was so much information out there that I had no idea whether it was true or not. There was so much about dominance and how to "control" your horse and whether your horse is being "pushy" or "disrespectful".

Some even showed training that looked so quick and simple, backed up with the words, "Look how calm and well-behaved he is now, and it doesn't hurt them," they say as they yank and push around the horse.

It made me think about the parallels in the dog world and when owners are really stuck and they want to learn more about their dog and jump into YouTube and google and are then given so much awful and damaging advice that appears to be quick, easy and painless....unless you really know and understand dogs and then a lot of this "advise" is painful and sickening to watch.

How hard it must be as a dog owner to know what is true and what is not. It's a minefield full of awful information. How do you know what’s right? How do you know what’s wrong? Is this training ethical? They seem to make sense, but the animal does not look okay.

It's terrifying out there with all the easily accessible information.

It took me a really long time to find someone who spoke about positive methods with horses, understanding their body language, putting the horse first before their own needs, and building trust, relationships, and confidence.

Thankfully, I have some amazing horse professionals in my corner who I know will always be kind and trusting and have the knowledge to train horses effectively and can guide me.

If you are struggling with your border collie, I can promise you that I will never do anything that makes you or your dog uncomfortable or scared. I will always have your relationship at heart and use effective and positive border collie specific training methods.

I currently have some spaces opening for new clients, so please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected]

17/08/2024

Lovely review from a wonderful client!
Super proud of them both ❤️

14/08/2024

Is your border collie not taking treats?

Don't worry; it could be as simple as switching to a softer, wet treat that’s not only easier to chew but also more appealing and easier to swallow. This change could make all the difference in your collie accepting treats🍗

It's important to remember that if arousal levels are too high, your border collie may have gone into its sympathetic system. This is the fight-or-flight system, and your collie just isn’t able to take any type of food at this time.

Helping your dog calm down and return to its parasympathetic system, which is the rest and digest system, will help them to take food again.

13/08/2024

Hello, and a huge warm welcome to my page 👋

You may have noticed a few changes around here! I'm very proud to officially introduce my new business name, Collie Encounters.

If you are new here and we have never met before, my name is Jessica Richardson.

I am a border collie specialist trainer.

I help and support border collie owners who are struggling so much with their collie's behaviour that they are at a crossroads and don’t know who or where to turn next.

Border collies make the most fantastic companions, but they can also come with lots of challenging behaviour, making living with a border collie very stressful.

Having had my own challenges with my now wonderful border collie, I can identify with the struggles that come with sharing your life with a border collie.

As a professional with 20 years of experience in dog training, my aim is to support border collie owners in training and living effectively with their dog to build the relationship they always dreamed of.

Encountering your collie with new eyes, we can delve into their unique problems and tackle any underlying issues together. Alongside specialised border collie training, I implement a comprehensive approach, blending unique strategies like health, herding activities, nutrition, and holistic methods for successful training!

If you have any questions or would like to know more about how I can help you and your border collie, you can send me a direct message.

Or Email me: [email protected]

Love of love

Jess ❤️

📣 I am also so excited to share some more really exciting news with you soon. If you are struggling with your border collie, ensure you like and follow me to be one of the first to know!

*I am APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) and ABTC (Animal Behaviour & Training Council) qualified and have a lifelong passion for learning.

12/08/2024

Are you ready to get your border collie walking well on the lead?

💪 The ultimate goal is to teach your border collie that the space by your side is the most rewarding area, encouraging them to stay close to you on and off the lead.

I like to start off with a Hansel and Gretel trail so that the dog is always being rewarded at my side or behind me🍪 🍪 🍪

This means they don’t go in front of me, so I don’t need to pull them back or stop and stand still, which causes even more frustration for the dog.😤

Start with small, manageable training sessions throughout the day over the next few days. This gradual approach will set the stage for the next steps that I can share with you soon ❤️

11/08/2024

Tips for a happy, healthy Border Collie!
❤️

28/07/2024

Happy Sunny Sunday!

Reds is helping out in the secure field today at Chapel Farm with some of my clients dogs who really struggle around other dogs!

He is doing a great job and having a well earned break 🤩

27/07/2024

We are half way through Bonny’s training program and the difference in her is amazing! ❤️

Today Bonny was full of confidence and radiating pure pleasure in the training. Training should be fun 🤩

When Bonny is worried she becomes fixated on the thing that is worrying her. Today she was able to move around and carry on as if another dog wasn’t even there 👏

She even got to train around a big loud tractor on today’s session too! ❤️

12/07/2024

How absolutely perfect is this!!!

As Red is on a very restricted diet I have to make all his treats by dehydrating venison. I always end up with little crumbs when cutting them up and it feels such a waste binning them but this would be a great way to use them up. ❤️

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/w5MCGEPHz7FpfWiU/?mibextid=WC7FNe

09/07/2024

Is your collie always on the go?

I had a message pop into my inbox from someone asking about an “overflowing bucket” that I mentioned in my previous post. What did that mean?

If you haven’t seen that post then go check it out!

If your dog has an overflowing bucket, they are likely to be overwhelmed with day-to-day activities going on around them.

You may see behaviours like

🔺Constant barking at every noise and “sleeping with one eye open”
🔺Always throwing a toy into your lap and encouraging you to constantly play
🔺Ignoring your every word even though you know they must be able to hear you
🔺Having a short fuse and snapping out
🔺Being restless and unable to go and lie down
🔺They may always be trying to find things to do like digging at the carpets, wanting to chase the squirrels in the garden, chewing the coffee table

If this sounds like your collie, they may have an overflowing bucket. If you keep adding to your dog's bucket and they aren’t getting adequate rest and cannot settle down, you may fill it even more.

The bucket will be pouring everywhere, and your dog will be unable to make good choices or learn new behaviours.

Think about your own dog and what activities they do over a 24-hour period, and see if you can empty their bucket a little bit by recognising what fills their bucket up, and how you can limit or get rid of that activity altogether.

For example, if your dog shouts out the window all day, can you limit access to that room? Or if your dog pulls you towards other dogs to play or to grumble at, can you walk at quieter times of the day?

An emptier bucket means your dog is more likely to

✅ Offer calm behaviours
✅ Have a healthier immune system
✅ Are more content and happy
✅ Can listen and connect with you
✅ Able to focus and learn new appropriate behaviours

Every dog is unique so you will also need to consider adequate physical and mental exercise and ensure your dog is getting enough. You should see a content tired collie and not exhausted to the point where they conk out and then jump to life again an hour later.

It is also important to rule out pain, discomfort and diet intolerances.

If you need any help with your herding breeds overflowing bucket, please reach out to me at [email protected]

05/07/2024

As a collie owner, I'm sure you’ve heard the phrase, “You need to teach an off switch to your dog.”

But what is an off switch, and how do you get your dog, who always seems to be high on life, to switch off?

An “off switch” in dog training terms is a dog’s ability to calm down and relax when asked and progressing to a dog who starts to choose to switch off without being asked to do so.

It is not a down stay like you would see in obedience training but a true relaxed lying down and calmly taking in the world around them, perhaps even drifting off for a snooze.

For dogs that are genetically inclined to be up and ready at a second's notice, collie dogs can find switching off and relaxing difficult.

Many owners feel like they can't tire their collie out, and they always seem so full of energy. I often hear that they are trying to tire their dogs out with more and more walks, ball throwing, and playing, often with the misconception that their collie is bored.

If your dog gets adequate rest and can relax more often, they are far less likely to run on adrenaline and create mischief, like barking out the window or throwing toys in your lap.

You can relax after a hard day's work with your dog calmly snoozing beside you.

Sounds like Bliss, right?

Training your dog to have an off switch typically involves:

✔️ Creating a calm environment so that your dog has a quiet, distraction-free area to help them relax.

✔️ Removing excessive excitability and/or stressful daily triggers by analysing your dog's bucket so it doesn’t create too much adenosine for your dog to switch off.

✔️ Use positive reinforcement and reward your dog with treats at very specific moments, such as when your dog is offering you more settled behaviour, such as resting on one hip, lowering their head down, softening theirfeatures, and lying out relaxed.

✔️ You can then gradually increase the duration, starting with short periods of calm and gradually extending the time you can ask your dog to remain relaxed.

✔️ Practising regularly: Consistent practice helps reinforce the behaviour and make it a habit.

❤️ Having an off switch benefits your collie's overall well-being and behaviour.

You can get a free copy of my webinar on teaching settles and calmness by clicking on the link in the comments.

Enjoy! 😊

04/07/2024

Does your border collie stop about 6 feet away from you when you call them into you?

It's common for collies to create a gap between themselves and their owners and then insist on keeping that open space when their owner reaches for them.

I call it sticky, sticky border collie!

If this is happening to you, you'll know it can be really difficult for you to recall your dog and take hold of them to pop them on lead, especially in an emergency.

It can feel embarrassing and frustrating, and thoughts of “why can't I just take hold of my own dog” can create real anxiety about taking your dog out for a walk.

Or you may have a consuming feeling of guilt that your collie is stuck on the lead rather than running free like other dogs you see in the park.

🔊I want to tell you about a gem of a game I call the Proximity Game and it will make a real difference for you and your sticky collie.

The game helps your collie realise there is a huge benefit in moving towards you and being in close proximity.

And when your dog learns the value of proximity… well, that means your dog learns that coming in close to you and you taking hold of them is super rewarding and lots of fun 🤩

Your dog will regularly start to come in closer and closer, which means you can clip a lead on with no problems.

How amazing would that feel? 🤗

This simple game can be life-changing and help create an stress-free recall.

1) First, have your collie on a long line and practise the game at home in the garden.

2) You can then introduce it on walks but still keep that longline on until you and your dog are smashing the game, and you can easily take hold of your dog's harness mid-game.

3) Once you and your dog become experts at the proximity game, you can add simple tricks mid-game to improve your dog's response, creating even more connection and fun.

I like teaching the middle trick so that my dog can really find the fun and value in being right with me instead of 5 feet away from me out of hand reach.

*Tip—To ensure your collie dog doesn’t feel like the lead is going to go on every time you play the proximity game, include lots of “false” lead clips and let them run again.

So grab your treats and your longline, get practising, and you'll have the best proximity recall in the park! 👌

30/06/2024

What’s one of your favourite pictures of your dog? I’d love to see so pop a picture of your beautiful puppa below ❤️

28/06/2024

You may have heard the term “eye contact” and that it's great to teach your dog if they are easily distracted… but what is it, and can it help you and your dog? 👁️

Eye contact is putting a dog's behaviour of looking at a person in the eye on a cue in the hope that they will look at a handler rather than reacting to a distraction in the environment, such as a car or a dog.

Eye contact can, however, feel threatening for many dogs and increase their anxiety if they are unable to look around them. I'm not a fan of teaching eye contact to dogs as a way to get a dog to stare at us in the eye until a distraction has gone.

I always look at the dog in front of me (pardon the pun) when considering teaching eye contact as an exercise to a client and their dog.

Instead of a stare in the eye, I like to think of it as a check-in. A dog's check-in is recognisable as an intentional orientation towards us to investigate and read our intentions. They should only offer eye contact if they wish to do so.

Many owners feel their dog doesn’t listen to them and only looks at other people and dogs.
Teaching eye contact and check-ins correctly can benefit owners who feel they have no connection with their dogs when out on their walks.

To teach eye contact to encourage check-ins, I like to capture the behaviour. I’m not looking for a stare into the eyes or making the dog hold my eye contact.

1. Grab some natural treats and start in a low-distraction environment, such as a bathroom in your home.

2. Whenever the dog looks at you, even a glance, praise and treat.

It doesn’t take long for a dog to release its value and orientate towards you.

3. Once your dog gets the hang of it, you can practise in other areas of the house and then out on walks too.

Another great thing to start doing is to reward and acknowledge any check-ins when your dog is out on a walk. Many clients are surprised at how much their dog is actually peeking up at them when they actively start to look for these moments of connection.

Once we start to reward the check-ins, they can help build more connection and trust. Some dogs will start to check in and make eye contact as if to say, “Hey, Mum, there's a dog over there, and I'm not sure about them.” When we start to notice these moments, we can be proactive and help our dogs so they don’t need to react.

If you have a dog that loves to leg it off and ignore your pleas to get them to listen (don’t worry, we've all been there), then rewarding these check-ins will really benefit your relationship with your dog and create engagement and proximity to you.

So go grab your treats and start practising.

Let me know how you get on ❤️

27/06/2024

Some collies love to rollick with other dogs, and then some would rather put their tennis ball in a blender and pulverise it!

As I was walking into a field, I saw two labradors who I knew were young and frisky, and Red would not appreciate jumping on him, rightly so, and I didn’t want them to get told off for charging at us, so we waited until they had left.

It's important for me to be considerate of any dog's needs. If I anticipate an interaction that might not be enjoyable for Red, I'll put him to one side and give him the space he deserves. As you can see he is very happy to watch 😇

For us to be alert at gateways, the end of a hedge line, or a blind corner and asking our dog to be close to us whilst we assess the situation is something we can all do regardless of whether our dog is “friendly” or not.

I discuss this respectful approach with my clients to help them avoid unnecessary stress. It's also easy for them to do on their walks, making them more enjoyable.

Less stressed dog, less stressed owner, tranquillity for both ☮️

25/06/2024

It’s okay to skip a walk in hot weather. A dog hasn’t died from missing a walk, but they have died from heat stroke.

Tomorrow is Highs of 29c tomorrow which is too hot for me, so I’ll be sitting in front of the fan trying to stay cool 😎

Keep your dogs safe 🐾

25/06/2024

It was my first day back, and I got to spend some one-on-one time hanging out with this delightful girl.

I hadn’t seen Bliss for a while, and the difference in her was amazing; it really did bring a tear to my eye! 😇

When I first met Bliss, she was a very insecure and confused border collie who often hid away from other dogs or shouted at them. She had a love-hate relationship with her sister and was often “bullied” by her, which really knocked her confidence and kept her stress levels very high.

This made life very difficult for her owners, and Bliss was rather dispirited She wasn’t able to learn, listen, take food, or relax. But now she is shining in her full collie-ness.

During our time together today Bliss was joyful and confident and found pleasure in everything around her. When she saw two young labradors belting it over to her, she was confident enough to carry on doing her own thing and not bat an eyelid at them.

We even got to play with some herding balls, and it was great to see the true collie come out in Bliss. ❤️

When I dropped Bliss home, Bliss’s owner and I had a chinwag. She told me how grateful she is that now she really understands what makes Bliss tick and that re-learning about border collies was essential for a happy companionship between them.

Im grateful to be able to help such lovely people and their dogs.

I'm lucky enough to be able to spend some more time with Bliss one-on-one over the next few weeks, and I can't wait to share more of her collie spirit with you.

24/06/2024

Tomorrow is my first official day back to helping owners and their dogs after having a whole week off! It’s been great spending time with my two boys, mum, sister, nephews and niece who came over all the way from the states.

I’m a huge advocate of self-care, and although it may sound like a cliché looking after myself is essential so that I can look after my wonderful clients and their collies.

Taking good care of ourselves is something I speak into a lot with my clients as it can be very stressful living with an active herding breed when things aren’t quite how you want them to be.

I am soooo looking forward to getting back to it though, especially as there are some very exciting things happening in the next few months. I promise I’ll let you all know when I’m able to spill the beans!

Tomorrow I’ll be catching up with all clients and admin so if you have reached out for training help I will speak to you very soon!

Jess x

16/06/2024

Happy Dog Father’s Day to all the wonderful doting dog dads ❤️

14/06/2024

Have you ever considered which way your feet are pointing when your dog pulls you off track and you ask the dog to come with you in a different direction? 👞👞

Are they pointing in the direction you want your dog to move, or are they facing your dog giving unclear signals?

Our body language says everything, and our dogs, whether we are aware or not, are always watching and assessing our intentions.

If we are facing one way, but want to move in another, then how do our dogs know that we actually want them to move in a different direction with us?

A quick tug on the lead or repeatedly calling them?

A simple way is to point your feet and hips in the direction you want to go! That gives a clear direction of the path we are taking.

Recently, the incredible Tina Constance recommended looking where you want to go is even more effective. Literally, imagine pebbles dropping down and lining your way – I think of them as stepping stones to follow.

Using clear body language and positioning yourself in the way you intend to move off whilst looking in the direction your imaginary stepping stones are being placed gives your dog a clear picture of which way you intend to move so that they can adjust their movement and move with you.

Of course, we don’t want to just pull them on.

Acknowledge that your dog has pulled off to sniff or wants to go in a different direction. Then think about relaxing your body, dropping your shoulders, taking a calming breath, and then looking where you see your stepping stones.

When ready, your dog is then likely to move in the right direction with you, and you can verbally encourage and praise them, too.

Give it a go, and let me know how you get on.

❤️

10/06/2024

Barking in the garden can be a nuisance to neighbours, highly stressful for owners, and a really hard habit to stop.

Border collies are notorious for being alert and sensitive to their surroundings, so owners often struggle with this behaviour and seek support.

Misty loves to patrol the bottom of her garden and tell off all the people walking past. She takes her garden duty very seriously and refuses to go back inside the house when asked.

Misty also finds it hard to toilet in the garden as she's so busy chasing off strangers, which makes house training very difficult for her owners. They often have to take her out on a lead so she can relieve herself, which can be exhausting and dangerous at night when walking the streets on their own.

Each dog and family are unique, but some things to think about for your own garden barker that Misty's owners are putting in place to help are

✅ Creating different designated areas in the garden for chilling or toileting

✅ Blocking off access and view to the bottom of the garden nearest the road where Misty fence chases strangers

✅ Using a lead so that she can be more easily encouraged to move away from the pesky strangers invading “her” garden and to manage her chasing behaviour when she is supposed to be toileting

✅ Most importantly, changing the habit and association to what happens in the garden by putting down different obstacles for Misty to forage around which helps create calmness and promotes a different way of just” hanging out in the garden” while people go past instead of reacting to them

✅ We are also adding a “pleasure party” every time Misty comes into the house so that she finds coming in a pleasant experience and no longer needs to be manhandled and herded up, making the whole experience stress-free for all!

Making changes in behaviour takes time, patience, and consistency, and I will be supporting Misty's fabulous owners through the process.

If you have a dog that is “difficult” in the garden, then please feel free to reach out for support.

❤️

09/06/2024

I recently spoke to someone about their dog who likes to pick and pull apart their toys and they felt it was pointless giving their dog a stuffed toy because it would be ruined within minutes. 🧸

Shredding and destroying toys is a very common behaviour that dogs exhibit.

When your dog is pulling all the stuffing out of their toy they are playing out the predatory prey sequence where they get to kill and dissect their prey.

However some dogs will do it because their bored.
Some because they are stressed or nervous.
Some are puppies still learning.
And for some it’s just great fun and it’s intrinsically rewarding for them to practise such behaviours.

It all too common for toys be taken away as it’s viewed as the dog is just being destructive and lets face it, it is painful when you’ve just laid £10 for a toy to be destroyed in less than five minutes! 😳

The person that I was talking to about this topic had stopped giving their dog toys. He now dissects their sofa and cushions instead. 😬

I urge you if your dog is not ingesting the toy and stuffing to let them shred and dissect their toys, you’ll have a far more content and nourished dog for doing so.

Forget the expensive toys though! Just nip down to your local charity shop and stock up on soft teddies that are safe - no plastic or glass eyes or parts and they are not filled with beans etc

Happy shredding! 🧸

08/06/2024

Do you ever think about your dog's personal space?

I remember once being told that a dog's social and personal space was around 2-3 metres and being so shocked. 🫨

I realised the average pavement is 3 metres in the UK. That means every time a dog is walked on the pavement and something head-on comes towards them and invades their personal space of safety it must be exhausting and anxiety-producing for some, and frustrating as hell for dogs who need to check everyone out and are restricted by a lead.

I couldn’t find any more information about dogs' personal spaces, but I did find it interesting that for humans, it's around 1 to 2 metres.

From that day, I always create space for my dog, whether I think he's okay or not. It's such a natural behaviour that I don’t even think about it; I just do it.

If someone or something is coming towards us on a pathway, I will arc around them and give at least 2-3 metres of space. On a pavement, I will always cross over, and on a narrow built-up path, I will backtrack if I am not able to create distance.

These simple changes in my behaviour, which don’t really cost any extra energy, have made a huge difference to Red's behaviour and emotional well-being. It's something simple and effective you could start doing with your dog, too, and that will positively impact their well-being and behaviour. ❤️

07/06/2024

Have you heard the term “dog selective”?

If a dog plays with some dogs and takes a dislike to others, the term “my dog is dog selective” is often used as a label for their dogs' behaviour.

My border collie lad, Red could absolutely fall into the “dog selective” group if I really wanted to put a label on it.

But really, what is "dog selective", and is it okay?

Do you get on with all people? I know I don’t.

Sometimes, there's a person with whom we clash, and we find them hard to tolerate. But do we call people “people selective”? It sounds a bit odd, doesn't it?

Dogs can be the same.

They may have great playmates and social skills. And then other dogs they take a dislike to.

As owners, we can feel embarrassed about our dogs' behaviour if we think they are not behaving socially correctly, but know that your dog is not aggressive or bad or there is something wrong with them. They don’t get on with some dogs, the same as we don't get on with some people.

And that is okay
❤️

30/05/2024

I just had to share my HUGE win with you all!

To some it may seem something so small, yet anyone who has a dog that struggles with allergies, pain and irritation know that when their dog hasa flare up and need treatment it can be distressing to try and apply creams, ointments and washes!

Well…

Red is really ye**ty at the moment and for the first time EVER he has let me clean his ears with Dogs First Propythuim yeast products!

Seriously happy dancing!!!💃

🙌💃🙌💃🙌💃

20/05/2024

Did you know throwing a ball for your border collie to chase may not be the best thing for them?

Repetitive dashing and sharp twists, turns, and stops when charging after a ball can cause

🔺Sore muscles and ligament tears
🔺 Long-term joint problems
🔺Stiff and Lameness

It also impacts your dog mentally and can cause

🔸Ball addiction which is when your dog thinks of nothing but the ball on walks and cannot enjoy the simple pleasures of walking, sniffing, listening or connecting with you.

🔸High frustration, and a lot of it! Continually chasing the ball that keeps escaping is hard work for a breed bred to control movement and keep things contained.

Although it may look pleasurable, it's highly frustrating for a herding breed to continually “lose” the ball, aka the sheep!

And did you know that stress and frustration can exacerbate behaviour problems at home?

Do you throw a ball for your collie that also

✔️ Never stops?
✔️ Alerts to every noise at home?
✔️ Nags you for attention when you want to put your feet up?
✔️ Reactive to guests and people/dogs out on walks?

High arousal and stress contribute to behaviour problems, and throwing a ball for your dog definitely counts as one of the high-frustration and stress-building activities that you may be practising with your dog.

Instead of creating extra stress on your dog by chucking the ball around on your walk, I like to create a connection between owner and dog through activities such as SheepBalls®

✅ When played right sheepballs® create a great interaction that releases and shapes the innate behaviours your dog has inherited instead of chasing the wrong things, such as cars and joggers.

✅ SheepBalls® creates lots of lovely, happy hormones, which in turn build confidence, help relieve stress, and leave your dog mentally tired and content.

It's a joy to play SheepBalls® with your border collie and a much healthier way of using balls to connect and have fun together.

A Happy Collie equals a Calm and Happy Home.

Please put the ball thrower away and think about playing sheepballs instead ❤️

Kay Laurence - SheepBalls® https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n_31T5tUrU

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+447919052392

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https://collieencounters.co.uk/

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Videos

Are you ready to get your border collie walking well on the lead? 💪 The ultimate goal is to teach your border collie that the space by your side is the most rewarding area, encouraging them to stay close to you on and off the lead. I like to start off with a Hansel and Gretel trail so that the dog is always being rewarded at my side or behind me🍪 🍪 🍪 This means they don’t go in front of me, so I don’t need to pull them back or stop and stand still, which causes even more frustration for the dog.😤 Start with small, manageable training sessions throughout the day over the next few days. This gradual approach will set the stage for the next steps that I can share with you soon ❤️

As a collie owner, I'm sure you’ve heard the phrase, “You need to teach an off switch to your dog.” But what is an off switch, and how do you get your dog, who always seems to be high on life, to switch off? An “off switch” in dog training terms is a dog’s ability to calm down and relax when asked and progressing to a dog who starts to choose to switch off without being asked to do so. It is not a down stay like you would see in obedience training but a true relaxed lying down and calmly taking in the world around them, perhaps even drifting off for a snooze. For dogs that are genetically inclined to be up and ready at a second's notice, collie dogs can find switching off and relaxing difficult. Many owners feel like they can't tire their collie out, and they always seem so full of energy. I often hear that they are trying to tire their dogs out with more and more walks, ball throwing, and playing, often with the misconception that their collie is bored. If your dog gets adequate rest and can relax more often, they are far less likely to run on adrenaline and create mischief, like barking out the window or throwing toys in your lap. You can relax after a hard day's work with your dog calmly snoozing beside you. Sounds like Bliss, right? Training your dog to have an off switch typically involves: ✔️ Creating a calm environment so that your dog has a quiet, distraction-free area to help them relax. ✔️ Removing excessive excitability and/or stressful daily triggers by analysing your dog's bucket so it doesn’t create too much adenosine for your dog to switch off. ✔️ Use positive reinforcement and reward your dog with treats at very specific moments, such as when your dog is offering you more settled behaviour, such as resting on one hip, lowering their head down, softening theirfeatures, and lying out relaxed. ✔️ You can then gradually increase the duration, starting with short periods of calm and gradually extending the t

Does your border collie stop about 6 feet away from you when you call them into you? It's common for collies to create a gap between themselves and their owners and then insist on keeping that open space when their owner reaches for them. I call it sticky, sticky border collie! If this is happening to you, you'll know it can be really difficult for you to recall your dog and take hold of them to pop them on lead, especially in an emergency. It can feel embarrassing and frustrating, and thoughts of “why can't I just take hold of my own dog” can create real anxiety about taking your dog out for a walk. Or you may have a consuming feeling of guilt that your collie is stuck on the lead rather than running free like other dogs you see in the park. 🔊I want to tell you about a gem of a game I call the Proximity Game and it will make a real difference for you and your sticky collie. The game helps your collie realise there is a huge benefit in moving towards you and being in close proximity. And when your dog learns the value of proximity… well, that means your dog learns that coming in close to you and you taking hold of them is super rewarding and lots of fun 🤩 Your dog will regularly start to come in closer and closer, which means you can clip a lead on with no problems. How amazing would that feel? 🤗 This simple game can be life-changing and help create an stress-free recall. 1) First, have your collie on a long line and practise the game at home in the garden. 2) You can then introduce it on walks but still keep that longline on until you and your dog are smashing the game, and you can easily take hold of your dog's harness mid-game. 3) Once you and your dog become experts at the proximity game, you can add simple tricks mid-game to improve your dog's response, creating even more connection and fun. I like teaching the middle trick so that my dog can really find the fun and value in being right with me instead of 5 feet away from me ou

What’s one of your favourite pictures of your dog? I’d love to see so pop a picture of your beautiful puppa below ❤️

Living with a reactive herding breed, whether they freeze at the sight of another dog or lunge and bark, can make every walk a source of stress and anxiety. I would like to introduce Bertie who I started working with around Christmas time. Bertie finds dogs and people worrying and will react to the sight of another dog by lying down and fixing a hardy stare at her nemesis, trying to get them to back away from her. It's just the best feeling for Cheryl to take a stroll in the park with Bertie, who's not batting an eyelid at the other dogs and just keeps on walking and sniffing. 🌸 Your walks don’t have to be stressful and embarrassing. I have worked with Bertie and her committed owners for just four months. Just think where you could be with your dog come the summer if you start training now. ✌️ Book in a call by emailing [email protected]

I haven't shared much about Ruby and her fabulous owners. But I really wanted to give them a really big shout-out to them. We have been working closely together, and Missi and Liam have been working hard to understand Ruby and build on their relationship. They have been so patient, consistent, honest, proper grafting, and have always been open to the training. There have been lots of tears, mine included, and lots of love, appreciation and trust. Ruby is an absolute gem of a dog who finds the world overwhelming, but she really is one of the lucky ones to be with such fantastic owners! Well done, guys, you rock!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Are traditional lead walking training methods frustrating you and your border collie? 🤯 It really doesn’t come naturally for border collies to be on a lead and to walk alongside you. Loose-lead walking is a skill that needs to be taught, but often, it can lead to frustration and anger when our dog still doesn't get the hang of it. Consistency and patience with the right technique are vital, and I actually teach loose-lead walking off lead! Yes, you heard that right! The first step is teaching your dog to connect with you off-lead. Once your dog understands that walking with you is actually a really cool thing to do, you can add the lead. I love this picture of the connection between Ruby and her owner, who has been working on many skills, including connection and lead walking, as a part of their training program. ❤️

But Jess, I don’t have sheep to give my border collie breed-specific outlets! 🐑 🐑🐑 Don’t worry. You don’t need sheep to give your border collie a great hit of happy hormones that will leave them content and fulfilled 🤓 You can play many indoor and outdoor games that give your border collie the opportunity to eye, stalk and chase. In a world where border collies are constantly told not to herd cars, joggers, dogs and bikes, all for good reason mind, there are ways that we can meet their needs in a fun way. Red loves the food mouse game, allowing him to bathe in glorious dopamine, creating a healthier and happier relationship between us. And guess what that means? A calmer and more focused collie companion! 😍

This may look like a boring video! But for an owner struggling with their border collie who reacts to anything that moves, this calm reaction and the connection between dog and owner is just perfection👌 Did you know Red is a recovering bird chaser? Now we stroll by the birds, and the walk is relaxing and peaceful. That is how it should be when hanging out with your partner in crime 🐕 ❤️

Thank you to all my lovely clients for making 2023 the best year! I am so grateful to have been able to support some amazingly wonderful humans and their dogs over the past year, and I thank them for being the best clients and becoming the very best of owners for their four-legged companions. Your trust, patience and dedication to your dogs, and to keep training fill me with love, hope, and warmth. Thank you ❤️ A very much needed break is now due, and I can't wait to see what 2024 brings! I will be away from my office from the 19th of December and back in the office on the 2nd of January 2024. *Current clients – please don’t panic I'm still here for support and coaching!* I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🌠

Dolly

I love seeing Dolly's transformation—from spinning, lead-biting, and a nose always on the ground to willingly engaging in training! Dolly, an anxious collie x spaniel previously struggled to check in and walk alongside her owner. Now, she actively chooses to stay close, enjoy tasty treats, and experience stress-free moments. Her biggest reward is getting her “yes cue” to be able to explore! Using the environment as a reward is more valuable to Dolly than any amount of food 😊 The joy evident in both dog and owner is truly special and rewarding, considering that just a few months ago, Dolly wouldn't have opted to spend time by her owner's side. Keep up the good work guys ❤️

Something exciting!!!

Dear struggling Border Collie owners, I’m so excited to share some heartwarming news with you! I’ve been working very hard behind the scenes accompanied by my loyal office companion, and have poured my heart into creating something special that will genuinely make a positive difference to your and your border collies walks! Get ready and stay tuned – your border collie is sure to appreciate it! 🐾

Connected Walking

🥰🥰 Connection 🥰🥰 What is it and what does it look like? To be honest it looks pretty boring. But I can guarantee the owner that has that special amazing and strong connection with their border collie feels like the luckiest owner in the world. You know the flashy videos you see of the dog walking along quickly with their owner, being drip fed food and looking up at their owner, raring to go and up for anything? Well, connected walking is the day to day and reality check of what walking with your beautiful border collie companion should feel like. It’s the lets take in the world together, lets walk step in step, lets just be together, us against the world, enjoying each other’s company, that’s where the real magic happens. Being connected to your Border Collie in my eyes is they most powerful, flashy thing you and your dog can do. Jess x

Does your border collie know the ultimate sweet spot for walking together? Are they aware that the yummiest treats and best praise await right by your side? It's the 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 with your border collie! Until your border collie realizes that sticking by your side is like hitting the jackpot, navigating through distracting environments might pose a real challenge for them and you. 🪙 Gus is discovering the joy of sticking alongside his owners rather than leading the way, so when they set off on a walk, he knows exactly where to hang out! Super proud of how hard these guys are working toegther so that walks are enjoyable for them all again 💪 Where does your pup position itself during when on a lead walk? 🤔 Jess x

𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧!!!! I adore this video of Tia and her owner. Okay so she’s not a border collie but Tia is absolutely delicious! Tia’s owner is playing the simple game of counting out treats and then moving on somewhere else to repeat. (𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘨 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭). This connection can really help a dog who struggles with engagement and listening skills! It helps with ✅ Disengaging from environment ✅ Engaging with you ✅ Motivates the dog ✅ Creates connection ✅ Its stress free and non-confrontational - look at the happy grin on Jo's face 😀 And ✅ Your dog is listening to you, ready to go and having fun with you! And if your dogs listening to you… then they are recalling, they are walking nicely, you’re a partnership together. What more could you want? Give it ago and let me know how you get on! Jess x

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤? You know that feeling where you may as well be talking to a brick wall and your just being tugged around with your border collie on a lead, and you just want them to listen to you. Especially as you see your neighbour up ahead walking their perfectly well behaved pooch and you know Your dog is going to embarrass you once again by flinging themselves to the ground refusing to move or getting ready to bark and lunge? Then take a look at the method of checking in when a distraction is around. It’s an absolute life saver and gets rid of all that stress, dishearten and embarrassment on your walk. By teaching your border collie to notice a distraction and check in with you helps with ❤️ Relaxing walk for both you and your dog ❤️ Communication between you and your dog when you need it the most ❤️ No more panic and stress whilst hiding behind a tree ❤️ Successfully taking your border collie to sociable places and know you have control For me it is the one golden rule I have with Red and because of that I never dread our walks. In fact they are the most enjoyable part of my day, just me and my border collie and the security of working together as a team. 💪 If you would like to know more about teaching your border collie to check in then feel free to drop me a pm and we can have a chat through any support I can offer you.

Thank you

Update on Red! Thank you for all your lovely messages! 🥰

So what is she focusing on? . . . . . Sheep! This young girl is doing the job she was bred to do. Border collies were bred to collect a group of animals together. Even if your pet collie wasn’t bred or purchased for herding their genetics are still the same and they may still have that strong instinct to want to herd everything that moves. Unfortunately that means they will often try to herd the things we don’t want them to. The local children, the cars driving past, even other dogs. They are not being bad dogs or what I often hear is “my dog don’t love me enough to care to listen”. It’s nothing like that. They are bred to notice movement so they can react with out even thinking and that automatic response is all still there under those puppy dog eyes and beautiful furry coat. It’s what makes them great working dogs for a shepherd. They will keep a group of animals together and move them and they Love doing it to! Rewatch the video. Look at the way this border collie is eyeing and focusing on her sheep. Do you recognise that stare, that focus that stalk in your own border collie? It’s the same way we may see our pet collies focusing and eyeing up cars, or cyclists etc. I find it fascinating to watch. This girl has collected up her sheep and is holding them there for her shepherdess. She’s watching for a sheep that may make a run for it and she needs to be ready to jump into action and control that movement to ensure that she doesn’t lose her flock. If one sheep makes a break for it the others are sure to follow. Again often what we see in our pet collies but just on the wrong target. We can not change the genetics of your pet border collie but we can do something about their need to herd. They can not herd cars, or people, or dogs or joggers etc but theres lots we can do to help our border collies cope in our urban world. We can teach them “no you can not herd that, but you can herd this” which suddenly makes living with a

Collie

If your a border collie owner then I’m sure you would have seen the behaviour shown in the video below. What do you think this collie is focusing on?Bikes, people, birds, dogs, cars, sheep, joggers, cyclists or even something else? I would love to hear your guesses so post in the comments and then tune in tomorrow and I’ll let you know what it is and why it’s important! Happy guessing! ❤️

Recalls!

Recalls! Something so simple yet can be so hard to teach effectively! Having a good recall is a life saving skill which is essential when letting your border collie off lead. Red was about to go chasing deer which he had spotted early on the walk but thankfully he has a great recall! If you want help teaching a recall to your border collie then drop me a message ❤️