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How do you train a 5 month old border collie to walk on a leash
Start out carrying treats in your hand, and using the word HEEL, your object is to keep the dogs attention with the food, and at your side...NEVER even slightly ahead...there is no sniffing, no "visiting" other dogs, no stopping to pee...it's called "migratory walking", just like wolves moving from place to place...where everybody follows the "leader"...Just go for short jaunts, at first...so the dog doesn't get bored...When you get home, have her sit when you take off the leash, and then "release" her with "OK!!"
If she's a real little bugger about listening... as you're walking, turn suddenly 180 degrees, saying "___ HEEL!!"...she'll hit the end of the leash under her own momentum...tho you can give a little pop to the leash, to emphasize that you've turned and because she wasn't listening, she missed it. Walk a little ways, and do another 180, saying HEEL!!...
Border collies are extremely smart, and bred to "work" in conjunction with man...so she WILL get it very fast. They are also VERY active...so you might want to play ball, or frisbee with her BEFORE you take her for a walk...get some of that energy out so she is able to concentrate.
Good luck!!
phrannie
If you have never had your dog on a leash the first thing you must teach your dog is to get use to the leash. Put the leash on your dog and let him sit at the couch with you and take him around the house with you on the leash. You can even keep him tied to the coffee table while you are in the room, for short periods of time.
As you know Border Collies are pretty hyper, so I would never leave him unattended on a leash.
You can even tie him to you pant loop while you are cooking and keep him with you on the leash or cleaning house. For sure if you are taking a walk.
Use this tip in conjunction with phrannie's lesson
You have to be persistent and have treats on you so you can reward them. You also have to be patient and if they don't listen don't say no and then their name b/c they will associate this w/thinking that when you say their name that they did sum thing wrong and not react in a good way. Hope this helped
