Border Collies are notorious for nipping. They love to nip anything that moves, whether it be other animals, people or children. They will even try to nip moving car tyres. It comes with the territory for a herding dog. Border Collies will try to herd anything that moves and if the moving person, animal or object does not obey, then it gets nipped. Of course, this is not ideal behaviour. A nip can amount to a bite and with a bite comes serious trouble. If your dog bites someone you can be sued and found liable for injury and damages. Therefore your best option is to stop your Border Collie nipping as early as possible.

Although you can't remove the herding instinct in your Border Collie, you can certainly do something to prevent the nipping from occurring. Your Border Collie's herding instinct is in full swing when he is let out to run when he has excess energy. It also becomes extreme when he has been couped up and bored for a few hours but then set free to roam and play. If there is nothing else to occupy his mind and he is full of energy then your dog wants to "work", hence the herding. This is why it is so important to give your Border Collie mental exercise as well as physical. They are an extremely smart breed of dog and they like to have something to do.

Here are five top tips to stop your dog nipping:

1. Plenty of exercise - make sure your dog walks, runs and generally gets a chance to be active for about two hours per day.

2. Plenty of play - games and dog training tricks keep your dog occupied and mentally stimulated.

3. Say "no" to your puppy when he nips - if you have a young puppy, make a hurt whining noise when he nips you, this sends him a signal that it is not right to nip. You can also say a firm "no" when he does it.

4. Have your family say "no" so your puppy knows certain things like children are not appropriate to herd. Make sure the "no" is firm and not just said in fun like it is part of a game.

5. Be consistent otherwise your dog will get confused - it is critical that you are consistent with your dog because he cannot understand your words so you need to be consistent to get the message across. Consistency means a faster result.

If your dog persists in nipping despite your best efforts, you may need to consult an expert dog trainer. The sooner you nip it in the bud, the better. After all, if your dog is permitted to continue nipping family and friends you may end up in a very difficult situation where you are liable for a dog bite. Even though your Border Collie only intends to herd, he doesn't understand he mustn't cross the line to biting.

Border Collies bring enjoyment to many people and many families, they are an amazingly intelligent and loyal pet, and they are full of personality. Therefore, the sooner you deal with the nipping problem the better. By doing so, you can fully enjoy your Border Collie and build a close and enjoyable relationship with your dog.