I have had a great few months in my training classes with the Border Collie breed. It seems they are becoming extremely popular again and owners are being very sensible when choosing one.
Some people believe that if you live in the city, a Border Collie would not be suited to this lifestyle, but the owners I have come across are fantastic.
They want the best for their dog, they have read up about the breed and also done more than puppy training to keep their Border Collie mentally stimulated and happy.
Many people think that dogs need lots of running and walking as their exercise to stop boredom and prevent them from becoming destructive.
If they are in the garden for the day while the owner is at work many people think that this should be fine for the dog as they are outside all day.
This is not the case, the Border Collie loves to work and be mentally challenged so it is important to look at environmental enrichment and to be creative with making the garden more fun. This is also important for all other dogs to.
If you put yourself in your dog’s paws and sit in the garden for one hour what do you think would entertain you if you have been given nothing exciting to do?
The key is to vary the activities to so that every day there is something new.
If your dog likes to dig for fun, teach it to dig in a certain area and bury treats for them to find.
You can make scent trails or give them ice blocks on a hot day with treats frozen in the middle.
You do not have to spend a fortune on toys, the simple and most mentally stimulated toys for dogs are usually the ones we make made out of specific materials they enjoy.
Remember it isn’t all about walking your dog twice a day or letting it have a good run, it is about challenging them mentally and making the day much more entertaining.