Need Help Teaching Your Border Collie to Settle?
“How do I get my Border Collie to settle indoors?”
It’s one of the questions I get asked the most and the truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
Some dogs settle naturally. Others need help. And with breeds like Border Collies and Bearded Collies, teaching them how to rest can be just as important as teaching them how to work.
Not All Dogs Switch Off Easily
My dog Kite struggled hugely with settling in the house as a puppy. His nervous system was stuck in constant hyperactivity, triggered by undiagnosed tummy pain and discomfort. Every sound, every movement his brain couldn’t stop responding.
Living on a farm gave us a unique solution: we set him up with a kennel outside. Away from the stimulation of daily life, he finally began to reset. His brain had the space to calm down, without all the triggers of being indoors.
I used to believe that putting a dog in a kennel was a bad thing like you were excluding them. But I’ve changed my mind. When done well, a kennel isn’t isolation. It’s sanctuary.
Why Proper Rest Matters
Whether your dog is outside in a kennel or inside in a crate, the goal is the same:
They need a space where their brain can switch off.
That means a quiet, low-traffic area of the house not the kitchen, hallway, or living room. Think spare bedroom, office, or utility room. A place away from windows, doors, and noise. A place where you can shut the door and give your dog real downtime.
Busy dogs, especially young or sensitive ones, need rest as much as they need exercise. Without it, their bodies might be tired, but their minds stay on high alert.
Reinforcing Calm Behaviour
Another puppy I’m working with right now , a young Bearded Collie , is a perfect example.
She struggles to settle in her pen. She doesn’t want to go in, and her owner wants her to learn to settle both inside and outside of it. So we started working on bed training and relaxation protocols.
One day, the owner had to jump on an urgent work call and needed the puppy to stay calm. The pen didn’t work. So she tried something else: she fed her puppy in a down for the full hour of her meeting.
It wasn’t a perfect solution, and it’s not something I’d recommend as a long-term plan. But guess what?
The next day, that puppy offered a calm down on her own, unprompted.
That tells us something important:
👉 When you reward calm, your dog’s brain learns that calm is valuable.
👉 Over time, rest can become a choice, not something you constantly manage.
Calm Is a Skill, Not a Given, for some dogs.
If your dog is 8, 9, even 10 months old and still not settling outside of the crate or pen, that’s okay.
It doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means your dog needs more support to build this skill.
Some dogs need more time. Some need more structure. Some, like Kite need everything done right and still take a while.
Even with the right amount of exercise, training, and freedom, their brain can resist rest. Kite was like that. So is Tali. Sometimes, it’s not just about “burning off energy” , it’s about teaching the brain to let go.
Tips for Teaching Rest
If you want a dog that can settle, spend time actively building that skill:
- Create a calm, quiet space away from daily activity.
- Use relaxation training like bed settling or pattern games.
- Reinforce calm behaviours (e.g. lying down quietly).
- Enforce rest if needed with a lead or gentle confinement.
- Observe what helps or hinders your dog’s calm state.
- Avoid over-stimulation, even from enrichment activities if they wind your dog up.
And yes make sure your dog’s basic needs are being met.
Exercise, mental stimulation, and freedom to move are all essential.
But even then, some dogs need help learning to come down from that excitement.
Final Thoughts
Rest is not always natural. For many high-energy, high-drive breeds, it has to be taught.
If your dog can’t settle yet, you’re not alone — and you’re not behind.
Keep reinforcing calm. Keep giving them the environment to succeed.
And remember: relaxation is a skill. With the right guidance, it can be learned.
Need Help Teaching Your Border Collie to Settle?
If you’re struggling to help your hyper Border Collie switch off — or you’re not sure how to meet their mental needs without overdoing it — you’re not alone.
Inside The Collie Club, you’ll find step-by-step training, guidance, and real-life support to help you build a calmer, more focused companion. Whether you’re working on rest, engagement, or daily life skills, you’re covered.
👉 Join the Collie Club and start transforming chaos into calm — one session at a time.
