Border Collies are known for their intelligence and herding skills, making them one of the most popular breeds for pet owners. However, their high energy and intelligence can also make them challenging to train, especially when it comes to eye contact. Eye contact training is an essential skill for any dog, but it’s especially crucial for Border Collies, given their natural herding instincts. In this post, we’ll discuss how you can teach your Border Collie puppy to watch your eyes and respond to your commands, step by step. With a little patience and consistency, you’ll be able to train your Border Collie puppy to become a well-behaved and obedient companion.

Border Collies are known for their intelligence and high energy levels, making them a popular choice for dog owners. However, with great intelligence comes the need for proper training, especially when it comes to eye contact. Eye contact training is an essential skill for Border Collies, and it can be achieved through a step-by-step process.

In this blog post, we’ll be discussing the importance of eye contact training and how to train your Border Collie puppy to watch your eyes. We’ll cover everything from why eye contact is essential to the tools needed to train your puppy effectively.

Why Eye Contact is Important

Eye contact may seem like a small thing, but it’s an essential part of communication between humans and dogs. Dogs use eye contact to read human emotions, and it helps them understand what their owners want from them. Eye contact also promotes bonding and trust between you and your Border Collie.

Training your Border Collie puppy to watch your eyes is beneficial in many ways. It can help with obedience training, agility training, and even therapy dog training. By teaching your puppy to watch your eyes, you’re also teaching them to pay attention to you, which can be helpful in situations where you need to keep your dog under control.

Tools Needed for Eye Contact Training

Before we get into the step-by-step process of eye contact training, there are a few things you’ll need to get started. These include:

– High-value treats: Use treats that your puppy loves and that they don’t get often. This will make the training more effective and keep your puppy motivated.

– Clicker: A clicker is a small device that makes a clicking sound when pressed. It’s used to reinforce good behavior and communicate with your puppy.

– Collar and leash: A collar and leash are important for keeping your puppy under control during training.

Step-by-Step Guide to Eye Contact Training

Step 1: Start with Basic Commands

Before you can start eye contact training, your puppy needs to know basic commands such as “sit,” “stay,” and “come.” These commands will be used throughout the training process, so it’s important to make sure your puppy knows them well.

Eye Contact Training for Border Collie Puppies: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 2: Get Your Puppy’s Attention

To start eye contact training, you need to get your puppy’s attention. You can do this by calling their name or making a noise that they’ll respond to. When your puppy looks at you, click the clicker and give them a treat.

Step 3: Add the “Watch Me” Command

Once your puppy is responding to the clicker and treats, it’s time to add the “watch me” command. Say “watch me” while holding a treat in front of your eyes. When your puppy looks at your eyes, click the clicker and give them the treat.

Step 4: Increase the Duration

As your puppy gets better at watching your eyes, you can increase the duration of eye contact. Hold the treat in front of your eyes for a few seconds longer each time, and click and treat when your puppy maintains eye contact.

Step 5: Add Distractions

Once your puppy is comfortable with maintaining eye contact, it’s time to add distractions. Start with small distractions such as a toy or a noise and gradually work your way up to more significant distractions such as other dogs or people.

Step 6: Practice in Different Environments

It’s essential to practice eye contact training in different environments so that your puppy learns to maintain eye contact no matter where they are. Practice in your backyard, at the park, and even in busy environments such as a shopping center.

Step 7: Phase Out Treats

As your puppy gets better at maintaining eye contact, you can start to phase out treats. Start by only giving treats every other time your puppy maintains eye contact and gradually reduce the number of treats until they’re no longer needed.

Conclusion

Eye contact training is an essential skill for Border Collie puppies, and it can be achieved through a step-by-step process. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can teach your puppy to watch your eyes and improve communication and trust between you and your furry friend. Remember to be patient and consistent, and your puppy will be maintaining eye contact in no time.

With patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, teaching your Border Collie puppy to make eye contact with you can be a fun and rewarding experience for both you and your furry friend. Remember to always use a gentle and encouraging tone, and to never force your puppy to make eye contact if they are uncomfortable or scared. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can help your Border Collie puppy develop a strong bond with you and become a well-behaved and obedient companion for years to come.