Activities For Border Collie Cockers
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Prepare for unexpected vet bills
Introduction
Lively, excited, happy, and the life of the party, the Border Collie Cocker will keep you entertained while running circles around you. These dogs are mixes of the sweet and steady Cocker Spaniel and the swift and loyal Border Collie. They make excellent working dogs and companions for active families. These dogs like to be in the action and they don't want to miss out on anything. Bring them along on big hikes or take them with you while working on the farm. They are loyal companions that will bring you joy and laughter for many years to come.
Livestock Herding
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Any Day
Moderate
Hard
2 hrs
Items needed
Livestock
Dog whistle
Herding cane
Activity description
Your energetic pup is smart and needs a challenge that is both mental and physical to keep them happy and out of trouble. This is why herding livestock is one of the best activities for Border Collie Cockers. They are ready to run along a flock of sheep for hours and are focused enough to keep the sheep in line and moving where they need to go. If you don't have livestock of your own, you can find a trainer who holds classes on their farm and will let you work your dog with their sheep. Your dog will excel at herding and will be happy to use their natural instincts.
Step
1
Find a trainer
Even though your Border Collie Cocker is naturally inclined to herding, you'll need some help honing that skill. Find a local herding dog trainer who can train both of you. You'll need to learn to work as a team. You have to give the correct command and your dog needs to learn to listen to you and move the flock where you want them to go.
Step
2
Introduce livestock
Spend time introducing your pup to livestock like sheep and cattle. They need to learn how to work with the sheep and not fear them. The younger you can introduce them, the better. If you can find sheep that are already used to dogs, these will be your best choice. Make sure that all introductions are supervised and your dog is leashed.
Step
3
Practice herding
Each herding lesson will introduce you and your pup to new techniques and commands. Spend the week between lessons practicing your communication. Take time each day to reinforce what you learned and challenge your dog to listen to you in various situations. This way, when you're in the sheep pen, they are more likely to listen the first time and move the sheep the way you want them to go.
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Flyball
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Any Day
Moderate
Normal
1 hr
Items needed
Tennis ball
Hurdles
Ball launcher
Activity description
Flyball is a fun and challenging game that requires concentration, agility, speed, and impeccable teamwork with both you and other dogs. This is one of the best activities for Border Collie Cockers to teach them patience and working together. If you've never seen this exciting sport, you are in for a treat. Teams of dogs and owners line up in a tennis ball relay that requires the dogs to run through a course of hurdles, release a tennis ball from a box, catch it, and race back to the line to tag the next dog and owner pair. It's a fun event.
Step
1
Teach fetch
The first step to learning flyball is to teach your dog to fetch a tennis ball and bring it back. Though Border Collie Cockers are naturally wired to chase, they need to learn to pick up the ball and bring it back to you. You can use treats to reward them for coming back to you and releasing the ball in your hand. This might be the easiest part of teaching flyball, and your pup will love it.
Step
2
Tackle the hurdles
Now you can tackle the hurdles portion. Start with a hurdle set at the lowest setting. Throw a ball over the hurdle to see if they will jump it. If they need encouragement, take it slowly until they are ready to jump. When they can jump one, set up another until they are jumping three and four in a row without blinking. You can raise the height a little as well.
Step
3
Spring box
The last component your dog will need to know is how to operate the spring box. Once they clear the hurdles, they will need to jump on a pad to release tennis ball in the spring box so they can catch it and run home. Start by rewarding them for sniffing and touching the box, then narrow in on the release pad. When they are touching it, move on to rewarding them for jumping on it until it releases. Once they realize they can get a ball when they jump on the pad, they will know exactly what to do. Now you can put all those skills together to play Flyball.
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Backpacking
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Sunny Day
Cheap
Normal
48 hrs
Items needed
Dog backpack
Portable dog sleeping pad
Dog food, water, and snacks
Dog first aid kit
Activity description
Your Border Collie Cocker is the perfect companion for a backpacking trip in the mountains. With their go-all-day attitude and their love of exploration, they will always be happy to join you for a night out in the mountains. These dogs were built to run, hike, and play for hours and will love hiking by your side as you explore new terrain and bask in the beauty of the natural world. Backpacking is one of the best activities for Border Collie Cockers because it gives them a job to channel their energy and because they get to spend all day and night with you.
Step
1
Hike with a backpack
You could bring all your dog's needs for backpacking in your bag, but your pack will be very heavy. Instead, purchase a dog backpack so your pup can carry their own things. Before you head out, let them get used to it by letting them wear it on hikes and playing outside. Once they are used to the pack, fill the side bags with some water or a little bit of weight. When you ease them into it, they won't mind the extra weight for backpacking.
Step
2
Choose the trail
It's important to make the first backpacking trip with your dog fun and memorable. This way they will be excited to go with you. Pick a trail that isn't too long since they will be carrying weight for the first time. Make sure you stop and rest along the way and set aside time to play without the pack when you get to the tent site. If you can find a trail with a campsite on a lake, your dog will be so excited and happy to swim and play in the water after a long hike.
Step
3
Have a fun night
Sleeping in a tent might be a new and different experience for your dog. Make sure you give them a comfy space to sleep and relax. You can bring a portable dog bed and an extra sleeping bag or blankets for them. Before you drift off, make sure they are comfortable and settled in. They may wake up during the night, so just settle them back down and reassure them. The more they sleep in a tent, the more used to it they will become. After a great first backpacking trip, they will want to go every time you head into the woods.
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More Fun Ideas...
Running
If you're looking for a training partner for running who will never stand you up, look no further than your Border Collie Cocker. These dogs love to run and will never sleep through their alarm.
Fetch
Fetch is a great way to exercise your Border Collie Cocker. These dogs have strong instincts and will chase a ball or frisbee with intensity all day long.
Conclusion
If you are an active person or have a family that loves to be outside running around, your Border Cocker Collie will be a wonderful addition to all your adventures. These dogs are happy to be part of any family fun time or outdoor adventure. In fact, activities for Border Collie Cockers need to include plenty of physical activity. These dogs are also very smart and need to have a job, so finding activities that challenge them, give them a job, or make them think will help to keep them calm, happy, and out of trouble.