Hey everyone, I wanted to share a bit about my journey as a new dog owner and get some advice from more experienced folks here. A couple of months ago, I adopted Bella, a super playful Border Collie, and it’s been an adventure, to say the least! At first, I was completely overwhelmed trying to manage her energy and teach her the basics like sit and stay. I tried a bunch of online tips, but nothing seemed to stick. Eventually, I started using a raising dog training book I came across, and it really helped me structure a plan that worked for both me and Bella. One of the biggest wins has been her leash training and recall; she’s so much calmer on walks now, and her listening skills have really improved. It’s still a work in progress, but I’m feeling so much more confident about how to handle her energy and keep up with her needs. I’m curious what training resources or methods have worked for you and your pup? Any advice for a first-time dog owner would be super appreciated! P.S. If anyone’s curious about what’s worked for me, I’d be happy to share more about my experience or what I’ve learned so far.
Love that people share their experience. It is definitely a great book, and I love that it also has an app which makes tracking the progress you have made much easier. I’m happy to see that other people have also liked it and had success. Keep up with the training; it is so worth it!
That’s awesome! I’ve heard great things about Border Collies. They’re such smart dogs. What book are you using? I might need it for my pup.
Sterling said:
That’s awesome! I’ve heard great things about Border Collies. They’re such smart dogs. What book are you using? I might need it for my pup.
I’m using ‘The Art of Raising a Puppy’ by the Monks of New Skete. It’s been really helpful!
Training can definitely be a challenge! One thing that worked for me was incorporating playtime into training sessions. It keeps them engaged and makes learning fun.
Flynt said:
Training can definitely be a challenge! One thing that worked for me was incorporating playtime into training sessions. It keeps them engaged and makes learning fun.
That’s a great idea! Bella loves to play, so I’ll definitely try to mix in some games during training.
Consistency is key! Make sure you’re using the same commands and rewards every time. That really helps with their learning.
I found that socializing my dog with other dogs helped a lot. It makes them more comfortable and less distracted during training.
Ziv said:
I found that socializing my dog with other dogs helped a lot. It makes them more comfortable and less distracted during training.
That makes sense! I’ll look for opportunities to socialize Bella with other dogs.