Training a Border Collie for goose control to be a farm dog is hard work and takes know how — these are two reasons why many people don’t raise these pups for “work” or leave it to others to do so. Not too many years ago this lack of know-how would not have been true. At some point in the Twentieth Century, the age-old knowledge of how to live and work with dogs dissipated from the American Society to the point that far fewer people are available with the knowledge and time. It’s at the point were young people entering the grass-based local farm ventures often think it too hard to have a dog to work with their farm animals. But were Border Collies and many other breeds of farm dogs originated, The UK, most people would argue that there is no better way to keep, move, care for and protect farm animals than with well-bred and well-trained dogs.
Many Americans don’t seem to understand the role of good breeding any more when it comes to dogs. Good breeding greatly enhances a dog’s lifelong health, physically and psychologically. Breeders have had generations of knowledge of dog health and most breed with care for their pups. Also, you can turn any dog, train any pup to be a herding dog, hunting dog or good guard dog, but it can take a long time with a dog that does not have the instinct for what is to be done. Dogs that we today call “working breeds” find companionship, love, with their humans and also a great sense of satisfaction in living out their instinct or purpose in life.
Raising a “working” Border Collie pup comes with all the work and need for patience it takes to raise companion breeds. Your heart needs to be into it with every pee or poo and chewed up thing in the house. They will wake you up at night, for at least a while and get into trouble and need to be supervised. But in the end this act of love, dedication can create a lifelong bond that will take you beyond yourself. In the case of “working breeds,” the benefit of a great work partner can be made.
We have raised a few pups over the years, and the constant is that they all have their own personalities. It is essential to pick a pup whos personality is one you can live with and or work with. When picking out a pup listen to your heart, yes, but take care to do some thinking about yourself and the long relationship ahead. The pup may be better off with someone else and finding a good match makes for a more natural and happier life together. Also, think of the dogs you may already have.
The most important thing to do when raising a working dog pup is to find a trainer who has experience with your breed. Working Border Collies are different than companion breeds of course, and you can’t just read about them or watch videos. Lessons and watching others are invaluable in gaining knowledge about raising puppy working Border Collies for goose control and or farmwork. The pup should start learning his or her name within two of months, come when called soon after that and have a good give a take relationship with you by four months of age. These times frames change with each pup but stress-free learning, engagement, makes the building blocks for a lifetime. The pup should be acclimated, in its early months to the environments it will be in and the animals like sheep, geese, cattle, poultry it will work. How the pup learns the proper restraint and when to start the very first training is something for which you will need sound advice.