Border collie training

[Rosekitten]

Anyone have suggestions or ideas on where to look or how to start working on border collies and adjusting them to chickens/ducks.

We just got ducks and they are used to dogs thankfully. But my border collie has no idea how to react haha. My fault for not having him trained to clock and counter clock. But now I'm at a loss on how to get into this training where he's a few years old. I don't have any trainers or other farms nearby who can help so it's all on me.

bonus photos for the two border collies, the baby German Shepard and a bit of my small bear.. who doesn't work he's just there. His job is to be a sentient rug at almost 6 years old. <3

(note the girl next to the chickens is not a work border collie.. she has no interest in it oddly enough. It's my boy that I'm looking to train proper and to settle with commands. He gets too excited when he's in the yard)

 

[Debbie292d]

Beautiful dogs and chickens!

We have Josie, a border collie, and a corgi too, Maggie. Both herding dogs, but neither will. It's okay though as we just need them to protect the chickens as we border a forest in the back and farmer's fields on the other sides of us, so lots of varments all around us. Those two keep them away.

We were blessed that Josie seemed to know that was her job and it took no training. Maggie came along later and was shown by Josie to leave the chickens alone.

I would grab a chicken or duck, hold it, and talk to it in front of your BC for a minute or two, and do this a few different times. This shows him that those are yours and you care for them, so he should then understand they are yours and you don't want them hurt or chased away.

Then, try on a leash, go amongst them, and see how he acts around them. Border collies want so badly to make us happy, so if he starts jumping at the chickens, I'd sternly pull him back and scold. I wouldn't think it would even take twice, but I'd still do it a few times to ensure he knows those are your chickens and his job is to keep them safe.

 

[Rosekitten]

Beautiful dogs and chickens!

We have Josie, a border collie, and a corgi too, Maggie. Both herding dogs, but neither will. It's okay though as we just need them to protect the chickens as we border a forest in the back and farmer's fields on the other sides of us, so lots of varments all around us. Those two keep them away.

We were blessed that Josie seemed to know that was her job and it took no training. Maggie came along later and was shown by Josie to leave the chickens alone.

I would grab a chicken or duck, hold it, and talk to it in front of your BC for a minute or two, and do this a few different times. This shows him that those are yours and you care for them, so he should then understand they are yours and you don't want them hurt or chased away.

Then, try on a leash, go amongst them, and see how he acts around them. Border collies want so badly to make us happy, so if he starts jumping at the chickens, I'd sternly pull him back and scold. I wouldn't think it would even take twice, but I'd still do it a few times to ensure he knows those are your chickens and his job is to keep them safe.

My biggest issue was I had the dogs for a few years and just got the chickens. He was so excited when they were chicks that he was vibrating. He wanted to boop them but baby chicks are fragile XD (and after what I paid to have them shipped.. lol I had to be careful).

He does ok when they are out in the yard and he's out there, but commands are not happening.