The Border Collie Geek Podcast26 Jul 2025

Raising Tali: Lessons from Her First Year

Tali is officially one! In this special episode, I reflect on our first year together, from early bonding to breakthroughs in training, sensitivity challenges, sheepdog beginnings, and everything in between.

This isn’t just a personal story, it’s a deep dive into the three pillars I believe are essential in a young Border Collie’s first year:

Relationship – how connection lays the foundation for all future training
Confidence – why building emotional resilience matters more than flashy obedience
Foundation Training – what that really means (hint: it's not about precision or perfection)

I also talk about the realities of raising a sensitive dog who didn’t take treats, didn’t like luring, and shut down under pressure and how I adjusted my approach to meet her where she was.

Whether you’re raising a Border Collie puppy now, reflecting on your first year, or preparing for one in the future, I hope this episode offers perspective, reassurance, and practical ideas.

Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals:

https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls

Get in touch:

⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/

⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠

https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/courses/the-collie-club

To follow me on social media:

Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠

Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/martina_bordercollie_geek/

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Episoder(100)

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