Dave Metcalf — Owner and Dog Trainer at Agile Dogs
Training High-Drive Working Breeds in Perth: Border Collies, Kelpies and Cattle Dogs
Key Takeaways
- •High-drive breeds usually act out because their energy and brains have no job, not because they are being difficult.
- •Lunging, barking and stubbornness at heel need a structured fix, so start with the problem behaviour, not the breed label.
- •Reactive dogs belong in a reactive course or a behaviour consultation before a general group class.
- •Complex skills training gives a clever dog a mental workout, and it leads naturally into agility.
- •Adult and senior dogs can learn new skills throughout their lives, so it is never too late.
Your Border Collie, Kelpie or Blue Heeler is smart enough to outwit you, and the walk around the block has turned into a lunging, barking fight you dread. The good news is that this is a common pattern with working breeds, and it responds well to the right kind of training.
This is a companion to our hub guide, Are Some Dog Breeds Really Harder to Train Than Others? A Perth Trainer’s Honest Guide. Here I focus on three herding breeds and the four training pathways I would look at for them.
Why Do High-Drive Working Breeds Struggle in Suburban Perth Homes?
Plenty of brains and energy, very little to do with either.
Border Collies, Kelpies and Australian Cattle Dogs are known for high energy, strong prey drive and assertive personalities. Common problems include leash reactivity, excessive barking, aggression towards other dogs and stubbornness during training.
Those issues often come from too little mental and physical stimulation, inconsistent boundaries or limited early socialisation. A backyard and a 20-minute walk will not meet the needs of a dog bred to work all day.
A stubborn working dog is often a bored one. Add structured mental work and clear boundaries before you assume the dog is the problem.
Breed is only part of the picture. Our related articles cover Stubborn or Misunderstood? What Your Dog’s Breed Group Really Tells You About Trainability and Mixed Breeds and Rescue Dogs: Why Individual Temperament Matters More Than Breed Labels if your dog is a cross or a rescue.
What Are the Best Training Options for a High-Drive Working Breed?
Four Agile Dogs pathways, ranked by fit for dogs with problem behaviour.
These are all services we run, so the order below follows the criteria in the next section, and I flag where each one falls short. Pick by what your dog is doing today, not by what you hope to do later.
1. Reactive Dog Classes, best for lunging, barking and dog-to-dog reactivity
If walks are the problem, start here. Our reactive dog classes run as a structured 6-week course at $330, and they are the only option on this list with a fixed multi-week structure.
You work on triggers like other dogs, cyclists and joggers alongside people who understand what you are dealing with. The drawback is commitment: it is a full course, so you pay more upfront than for a single session.
Best suited for: Owners of Heelers, Kelpies or Collies who dread walks because of lunging or barking at other dogs. It is less suited to a dog that simply needs more exercise and manners.
2. Behaviour Consultations, best for anxiety, destructive habits or complex cases
A behaviour consultation is a one-on-one session at $275 per consult, with guidance typically covering one or two sessions. It suits dogs that are easily overwhelmed, anxious when left alone or showing aggression.
Per hour it costs far more than a group class, and that is its real drawback. What you get back is a plan built around your dog’s triggers and your household.
Best suited for: Owners of rescue or adult working dogs with unclear history, separation distress or aggression. It is overkill for a dog that only needs basic manners.
3. Complex Skills Training, best for bored, clever dogs that need a job
This is where a smart herding dog burns mental energy. Complex skills training uses clicker training to teach targeting, beg, roll over, object retrieval and placement, putting rubbish in a bin and chaining skills together.
Classes run on Saturdays in Claremont, as private in-home sessions across the Perth metro, or online via Zoom nationally. It is $30 per session and open to all ages and experience levels, with White, Blue, Navy and Black stages. It will not fix lunging at other dogs by itself.
Best suited for: Dogs with decent manners that need mental stimulation, and owners who want a stepping stone to agility. A dog that reacts badly around other dogs should sort that out first.
4. Group Dog Obedience, best for foundations on a budget and flexible schedules
Group obedience classes are $30 per session, run about one hour, and have no lock-in contracts, so you come and go as you like. It is the cheapest option here and it beats the others on flexibility.
The trade-off is attention: a group class cannot tailor to a dog that is reacting to every other dog in the room.
Best suited for: Owners of calm to moderately excitable working breeds who want reliable sit, drop, stay and recall. Those are the same foundations a dog needs before agility equipment.
How Did We Rank These Four Options?
Each position is earned against the criteria below, and the ranking is for dogs showing problem behaviour. Change the problem and the order changes.
Problem-behaviour fit
Does the format directly address lunging, barking or anxiety? Reactive and behaviour work score highest here.
Published price
Cost in dollars: $330 per course, $275 per consult, $30 per session. It matters for budgeting.
Commitment length
A 6-week course, one or two consult sessions, or flexible drop-in sessions with no lock-in contracts.
Mental stimulation
How much structured thinking work a bored working dog gets from the format.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Option | Best for | Published price | Commitment | Problem-behaviour fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Reactive Dog Classes | Owners of Heelers, Kelpies or Collies who dread walks because of lunging or barking at other dogs. | $330 per course | 6-week course | High |
| 2. Behaviour Consultations | Owners of rescue or adult working dogs with unclear history, separation distress or aggression. | $275 per consult | 1 to 2 sessions of guidance | High |
| 3. Complex Skills Training | Dogs with decent manners that need mental stimulation, and owners who want a stepping stone to agility. | $30 per session | Flexible, staged levels | Low |
| 4. Group Dog Obedience | Owners of calm to moderately excitable working breeds who want reliable sit, drop, stay and recall. | $30 per session | Flexible, no lock-in | Medium |
Which Option Fits Your Situation?
Match the row to what happens on your walk or at your front door this week.
| If you are… | Look for | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Your dog lunges or barks at other dogs, cyclists or joggers | A structured course with other reactive dogs and a trainer guiding you | 1. Reactive Dog Classes |
| You adopted an adult working dog and cannot read its triggers | A one-on-one plan built around your dog and household | 2. Behaviour Consultations |
| Your dog is well behaved but clearly bored and you want agility later | Clicker-based skills that build focus, targeting and body awareness | 3. Complex Skills Training |
| You need basics like recall and stay, and your schedule is unpredictable | Flexible group classes with no lock-in contracts | 4. Group Dog Obedience |
Common Questions About Training Working Breeds in Perth
Straight answers for Collie, Kelpie and Heeler owners.
Is it too late to train my adult or senior working dog?
No. Adult and senior dogs can learn new skills throughout their entire lives. Start with the behaviour that bothers you most.
Should I do a group class or private sessions with a reactive Kelpie?
Private work or a reactive course suits dogs that are reactive or easily overwhelmed. Group classes build social confidence in dogs that are comfortable around others.
When can my dog start agility?
Dogs of any age can begin foundation work. Before equipment, your dog should have a reliable sit, drop, stay and recall. Agility courses come after that.
What if my dog is a small breed or a terrier rather than a herder?
The problems are different. Read Why Terriers, Hounds and Independent Breeds Test Your Patience and Do Small Dogs Get a Free Pass? Training Challenges in Toy and Small Breeds for those breeds.
Ready to Get Your High-Drive Dog Under Control?
Tell us what your dog does on walks and at home, and we will point you to the right class or session. You can also call 0448 153 316.
Part of our guide: Are Some Dog Breeds Really Harder to Train Than Others? A Perth Trainer's Honest Guide
Dave Metcalf
Owner and Dog Trainer · Agile Dogs
Dave is a fully qualified dog trainer in Perth with 20 years of experience in dog training and behaviour, holding a Certificate III in Dog Behaviour and Training and a Cert IV in Training and Assessment. He owns and runs Agile Dogs, which he started in Melbourne in 2011 and has been operating in Perth for over 8 years.
Author of 6 articles on Agile Dogs
More from Dave Metcalf: How Much Does Dog Training Cost in Perth? · Puppy Classes vs Private Lessons: First Six Months · Reactive Dog Classes vs One-on-One Training in Perth