Due to their agility, energy, trainability, good instinct, and love of work, the Border Collie is an extremely versatile dog that shows excellent results in many activities. With the right toys, it becomes easy to train them. In this post, we have shared the top 5 training toys for border collies.
Border Collie Training — Things To Keep In Mind
Border Collies are intelligent and obedient, but not from birth. Without proper influence on the behavior of the pet, they may end up with behavior problems and bad habits. The future behavior of the Border Collie puppy depends on the upbringing.
An obedient dog will not jump on people, beg for food, try to bite, apply its shepherd instincts to people, etc.
To achieve the greatest success, you should start Border Collie training as early as possible. The earlier the training starts, the better and faster the results will be.
Border Collies are very vulnerable dogs, sensitive to rough training methods. You must not only be firm and consistent but also kind to them. That’s why the best way to train them is by playing with them with toys.
Top 5 Border Collie Training Toys
There are thousands of dog toys available in the market which claim that they are the best for dog training. But in this article, we have mentioned only those toys which really live up to their claim. This list lists all the types of toys that Border Collies love and makes training them easier.
1) Chuckit! Paraflight Dog Toy
This Chuckit paraflight frisbee has an aerodynamic shape for a smooth flight. It bounces high and easily floats on water so you can play with it in a park, backyard, or pool. It also glows in the dark so that you and your Border Collie can play with it any time after dusk.
You can get a good grip over it while throwing it because of its knitted rope handles. Its unique bite zones make it easier for your Border Collie to catch it mid-air and carry it back to you with ease.
DURABILITY— Even though it’s lightweight, it has a multi-layered nylon interior that makes it rugged for extended use.
SAFETY— If you’re thinking about how it glows or if it has any dangerous materials in it, don’t worry, it’s made of EVA foam, MAX GLOW rubber, and 2100 denier polyester. It’s safe for both you and your Border Collie.
TRAINABILITY— An ideal frisbee from Chuckit! that glows in the dark, floats on the water, and is durable. You can play fetch with your Border Collie and teach them FETCH, SIT, DOWN, and DROP commands. And since this thing can float on water, you might as well be able to teach them to fetch ducks.
Moreover, you can play with them even after dusk. Since it glows well, you and your Border Collie can also see it in the dark.
Pros Of Chuckit! Paraflight Dog Toy
- Glows in the dark
- Flies well and floats on water
- Solid Grip
- Soft edges for the dog’s mouth safety
Cons Of Chuckit! Paraflight Dog Toy
- The soft edges aren’t as durable as main body
2) Better Sporting Dogs Deluxe Agility Equipment Set
This agility training equipment set comes with different toys. The set contains two standard jumps (adjustable in height), 6 fixed weave poles for indoor or outdoor use, a 10 feet long and 24-inch high tunnel, and sandbags to stabilize the tunnel.
The set is lightweight, easy to carry, and easy to set up. You can set it up indoors, in your backyard, or in a dog park.
DURABILITY— The tube is made of polyester cloth and doesn’t tear easily. The pipes are regular PVC. It’s sturdy and uses agility competition standard materials for all the equipment.
SAFETY— Safe for Border Collies. They can’t break it apart. There aren’t any sharp edges that may hurt them. The jump is adjustable, and you can set it up as high as your dog can jump.
Since there are sandbags to stabilize the tunnel, there’s no chance that your Border Collie will get stuck into it. They won’t be fearful of entering it as there are no unwanted movements.
TRAINABILITY— Since there are 5 different obstacles in this set, you can train your Border Collie a few more commands like “SIT”, “WAIT”, “JUMP”, “COME”, and a few more of your own.
Your Border Collie will learn a lot of new skills and also stimulate his mind.
Pros Of Better Sporting Dogs Deluxe Agility Equipment Set
- Easy to set up
- Easy to carry
- Value for money
Cons Of Better Sporting Dogs Deluxe Agility Equipment Set
- Loose joints complaints by a few customers
- High price
3) Chuckit! Ultra Tug
This training toy is best suited to train your pups to play with balls. It’s technically a ball with a strap that you can throw to long distances or play Tug with it with your Collie.
DURABILITY— The manufacturers themselves say that this ball isn’t indestructible. However, it lasts longer than tennis balls. It’s not a chewing toy and definitely not suitable for aggressive chewers.
SAFETY— The ball is made of natural rubber and the strap is made of nylon. It does not pose any harm to your Border Collie but since its strap isn’t that long, there’s a chance that your dog will accidentally bite your fingers.
TRAINABILITY— Trying to train your Border Collie with a ball but he doesn’t drop the ball once he catches it? You are not the only one that faces this problem. Chuckit! Ultra Tug is the solution for you.
These Ultra Tug toys are a ball with a strap. Whenever your Border Collie refuses to give you the ball, you can play Tug with him till he understands that you want him to leave the ball.
4) V-HANVER Rubber Dog Bones
Border Collies have a natural instinct to chew. If there’s nothing to satisfy their chewing urge, they are most likely to chew your shoes, bite your couches, or destroy your paper rolls.
The Rubber Dog Bones from V-HANVER is the solution for your dog. You can train him to only chew on this toy to satisfy his chewing urge. Besides that, it cleans their teeth and you don’t have to do it yourself.
It’s beef flavored so your dog will gnaw and chew on it interestingly.
DURABILITY— No dog toy is truly indestructible but this one is pretty close to it. Even for the most aggressive chewers, it will last long. Besides, the company offers a lifetime replacement guarantee.
SAFETY— It’s made from natural rubber and has a beef flavor to it. The toy is shaped like a bone and can’t be swallowed by a border collie. Moreover, it’s food-grade, so no toxicity.
TRAINABILITY— Since it’s beef-flavored, your Border Collie will chew it on his own without any input from you. Once he is done with chewing, he won’t bite your couch or chew your shoes. It’s the easiest way one can ask for to train your Border Collie not to chew your things.
Pros Of V-HANVER Rubber Dog Bones
- Nearly Indestructible
- Lifetime Replacement guarantee
- Made of food grade natural rubber
- Beef flavored
Cons Of V-HANVER Rubber Dog Bones
- It can be awkward when your dog carries it from the long side
5) EASTBLUE Squeaky Dog Toy for Aggressive Chewers
This squeaky toy helps to satisfy Border Collies’ herding instincts and the urge to bite and chew. 5.4 inches long and 3.1 inches wide; It is suitable for Border Collies. This toy’s shape makes it move in random directions and stimulates your dog’s brain. The grooves are convenient for your dog to grab and bite.
DURABILITY– It lasts long even if your Collie is an aggressive chewer. It is soft yet rugged.
SAFETY— It is made from non-toxic natural rubber and has no small parts in it. Its size is more than enough that your dog can’t swallow it. Definitely safe for dogs.
TRAINABILITY— Whenever your pooch does what you command them to do, you can throw this football-like squeaky toy for him to fetch. Its squeaky sound is stimulating for dogs and addictive. Reward them with this whenever they follow a command and they will learn that command pretty quickly.
Pros of EASTBLUE Squeaky Dog Toy
- Floats on water
- Moves in random directions
- Durable
Cons of EASTBLUE Squeaky Dog Toy
- Not suitable for indoor playing, bounces unpredictably and high
The Best Dog Treat for A Border Collie After Training Session
If you are going to train your Border Collie, then you must also understand that if they do the training properly then they should be rewarded. After all, all training and no rewards may kill enthusiasm in them. For more information on reward toys for border collies, check out our article on that HERE.
From our personal experience, we can say that almost every Border Collie likes this treat.
Walk About Pet- Dog Jerky Treats
Grain-Free, Gluten-Free, Single Source Protein; These are just a few of the healthy aspects of this dog treat. Even a dog with multiple allergies can enjoy these treats without any problem.
It is prepared in fish oil that provides healthy Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, excellent for healthy skin and a shiny coat. Border Collies have a double fur coating so what else could be better for them.
These treats come in different recipes- Wild Boar, Alligators, Brushtail, Duck, Kangaroo, Lamb and Goat, and Quail. Our personal favorites are the Wild Boar and Lamb and Goat recipes. The taste won’t be an issue for Border Collies.
Wild Boar Recipe — This Dog Jerky treat recipe is low in fat – just about 6%. It contains natural antioxidants for immunity and includes chickpeas, sweet potatoes, and lean wild boar meat for great taste.
Lamb and Goat Recipe — This Dog Jerky treat recipe is also low in fat – about 10%. The ingredients included are Brown Rice Nectar, Sheep Meat, Sheep Lung, Goat Liver, Chickpeas, Vegetable Glycerin, Fish Oil, Natural Antioxidants — All good and healthy stuff!
Take-Aways
It’s crystal clear that dog training toys are useful in training Border Collies. Since they are herding dogs by nature, they are highly active which makes the toys all the more useful in preventing the development of any destructive behavior.
Just keep in mind that Border Collies are sensitive dogs and are very much attached to their owners. You can’t go rough on them while training.
Praising them for doing something correctly and ignoring them for anything done wrong is the best way to train them. They can’t take harsh words and/or punishment because it may cause them to make even more mistakes.