Border Collie Breeders

MollyD

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#1
Hello everyone! I'm new to forum, but have been lurking for quite a bit.

Here is some background on me:

I am a 20 year old college student studying veterinary medicine at the University of Mississippi. I am originally from Memphis, TN. I have worked at a pet supply store for the past two years as well as working for my cousin, a veterinarian, when I have time. I have two Basenjis (both 11 years old) who I have been feeding raw for several years now. My old Border Collie just passed away last fall at 16 years of age and I have been preparing myself for another dog. Although I'm in school, I have a very active lifestyle and my current dogs are getting too old to keep up with me (not to mention they're very lazy!).

My old BC was a rescue and although he had some quirks, he turned out pretty well. The main reason I don't want to go with a rescue this time is because I'd like to know the parents have been tested for genetic diseases like CEA, TNS, and hip dysplasia. There is a wonderful obedience and agility facility nearby and I'd like to be able to compete at the higher levels. I know it's possible to find a wonderful dog in a rescue, but I would really like to stick to a reputable breeder this time.

I am familiar with the working BC vs the performance BC debate and of course would rather support the working BC, but I am open to suggestions for any types of breeders as long as they do the necessary health testing and the parents have been proven somehow. Preferably I'd like to find a breeder who promotes raw, limited vaccinations, and good socialization for the puppies. I would like the puppy to be familiar to certain commands such as "sit" "down" and "come" before going home. Training is actually my favorite part of having a new puppy! I plan to teach certain commands each week to prepare for activities such as agility down the road. I will be working with a trainer and plan to enroll in all types of classes (beginning with puppy classes) for the first year. I would like to earn the CGC certificate as soon as possible and move on from there. I'm also interested in therapy dog training.

I am in no hurry to get a puppy, but would prefer it to be between May and August as I have the most time off for training. Here are some breeders I have been looking at and am on the waiting list for:

1) Top Notch Border Collies - Although not a working BC breeder, I really like her program and this will be her first litter. The female is titled in agility, obedience, herding, and conformation. The sire of the female has MACH3 title. She is still searching for the best stud because she feels her own stud does not compliment the female well enough. This breeder is 14 hours away and is the most expensive (not that distance and price are extremely important), however, she does feed raw and limited vaccinations and the puppies will be well-trained and socialized before leaving. I feel very comfortable with this breeder.

2) FH Border Collies - Working BC breeder and all her dogs are registered with the ABCA. Her stud, Lootah, has an RN title and Certified Therapy Dog. The female has her CGC and is also a therapy dogs. Her puppies are only $500. She was recommended to me by a BC owner on another forum. All her dogs are health tested and have an "off-switch," but doesn't look like they compete much. I like that they are ABCA, but the dogs don't really seem like anything special to me.

3) Jule Too - This breeder is only 3 hours away from me and was very friendly on the phone. Her stud has several herding and field trial titles and CGC certificate. Because of the close distance, I would be able to see the puppies after they're born and check the place out. I also have first pick on the males. She does all the necessary health testing including BAER on the puppies after they're born.

4) Plumridge Kennels - Working ABCA breeder

5) FlyOn Border Collies - Also a working ABCA breeder. The stud is a herding dog while the female is a high drive sports dog. I really like how they raise their puppies and they're also involved in rescues.


Please let me know what you think of these breeders or if you have some better recommendations. It's really important to me that I get the right dog for my lifestyle. I do want an active medium-high drive BC that has the potential to compete in high levels of obedience, rally, and agility. I am still looking into herding facilities nearby and will definitely pursue it. I don't care about limited or full registration as I'm not ever planning on breeding. I have been saving up this past year specifically for the cost of the puppy + vet bills, training classes, toys, food, etc and finally feel comfortable that I can handle the new addition. Feel free to ask me any questions!
 

Lizmo

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#2
Just to kind of begin with, I have not heard of any of the breeders you listed, nor have I heard about any of the dogs in the pedigrees I glanced at to see if they sparked anything I might know about the dogs or related dogs.

This has nothing to do with your breeder search, something I just found purely interesting, haha. The 'Jule Too' breeder was in a Border Collie magazine (oh, 4 years ago?) for breeding dogs to help her daughter who was sick. That's about the extent of my knowledge on that breeder, but I just thought it interesting to see her face again.

Also, I am very much in favor of working over sport/show in Border Collies. That being said, I still have never heard of the working breeders you posted. But that doesn't mean they are not worth pursuing!

My advice would be to try to find a breeder who is breeding stable dogs. If I were in your shoes, I would be looking for a breeder who trials in sheepdog trials (ABCA) and also does a good amount of work on the farm. Another biggie would be looking at dogs they have produced. What are puppy buyers saying 3 years down the road? How are the dogs on sheep? What is the temperament like?
 

Fran101

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#3
WELCOME TO THE FORUM :D Happy to have you!

I took a look at Top Notch Border Collies and I think they look great :) all health testing is in order, they raw feed (which is a big plus in my book), the dogs all appear to be very well rounded and work in a few events/sports and it seems there is an emphasis on correct/good temperament in the breeding program, which I love to see! I also love all the fun pictures and they way they describe their dogs as pets (a huge pet peeve of mine is breeder dog info that is just business/titles.. it's like HELLO don't you live with the dog everyday? lol)

I know little about working BC breeders really lol not my area of expertise..

But here is a breeder I had my eye on when I was looking at BC breeders
http://www.creeksidebordercollies.com/ The dogs work sheep and also work in a few other events (agility and such), they are raw fed, follow Dodds minimal vax, they allow you to wait 12-14 months before S/N,
and here is their puppy blog, which I think is great (takes you through how they raise/train puppies)
http://www.creeksidepuppies.blogspot.com/

Again, WELCOME :D I am getting an aussie pup around august, so we can get through the puppy stage together hopefully haha lol I'm also a 20 year old animal science student haha small world
 

BostonBanker

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#4
I know several of the Creekside Border Collies, and can't say enough good things about them and the breeder. Super, stable dogs, very nice breeder. If I were ever to seek out a purebred, it is where I would go, however long I had to wait for it.

That is the extent of my knowledge on border collie breeders :p
 

Laurelin

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2) FH Border Collies - Working BC breeder and all her dogs are registered with the ABCA. Her stud, Lootah, has an RN title and Certified Therapy Dog. The female has her CGC and is also a therapy dogs. Her puppies are only $500. She was recommended to me by a BC owner on another forum. All her dogs are health tested and have an "off-switch," but doesn't look like they compete much. I like that they are ABCA, but the dogs don't really seem like anything special to me.
She was on a forum I was on, I recall 2 of her dogs. The last I heard she had two dogs and was just thinking about breeding.
 

MollyD

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#7
Thanks everyone for reading!

Lizmo,
I found these breeders mostly through the ABCA and AKA referral list and google searches. I would definitely prefer a working BC breeder, but I'm having trouble finding many nearby. I plan to go to an upcoming sheep trial hosted by the Mid-south Stock Dog Association on March 25th and try to meet some breeders who may be having puppies. It would also help me get involved in herding for when I have my puppy. Are there any breeders you recommend?

Fran,
Thank you so much for your warm welcome! I like Top Notch a lot too, the only thing that worries me is that it's their first litter. They aren't really a "proven" breeder so I have no idea how the puppies will turn out, you know?

I really like Creekside Border Collies, thank you for the link! The only problem is that Canada is awfully far away and they're not having a litter until the end of the year. I'm a bit disappointed because they have amazing dogs! If I can't find another breeder I'll definitely keep them on my list and see what I can do.

Laurelin,
Do you remember which forum? She was recommended to me by someone on a forum ironically!


Thanks again everyone! Any advice or breeder recommendations are welcome!
 

Paige

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I'd get out their if you can to watch some working dogs and meet the people who own/trial/work/breed/love the dogs. Some great working breeders don't advertise their dogs.
 

Lizmo

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Lizmo,
I found these breeders mostly through the ABCA and AKA referral list and google searches. I would definitely prefer a working BC breeder, but I'm having trouble finding many nearby. I plan to go to an upcoming sheep trial hosted by the Mid-south Stock Dog Association on March 25th and try to meet some breeders who may be having puppies. It would also help me get involved in herding for when I have my puppy. Are there any breeders you recommend?

Yes, do go to the sheepdog trial. I actually met a great breeder through searching for agility trainers online. Turned out to be heavily involved in working/breeding Border Collies when I went for my first lesson. You never known where you'll find the 'right' person! She actually has a -small- litter on the ground right now, but I believe they are all spoken for.

The place I work my Border Collie on sheep has a litter on the ground, too. But I think now might be a too soon for you?

You're actually not too far from me. haha. I see you're at Ole Miss? LOVELY campus!

I'll shoot you a PM with some names. :) Too bad Creek Side is so far, they look very nice!
 

MollyD

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I've heard a lot about Fieldstone Border Collies. Do they have a website? I couldn't find any contact information. If anyone has any information on them, I'd appreciate it! :)
 

Paige

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I've heard great things too. I'm glad to know she is still involved in sheepdogs.
 

Lizmo

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I've heard a lot about Fieldstone Border Collies. Do they have a website? I couldn't find any contact information. If anyone has any information on them, I'd appreciate it! :)
Blaze is a Fieldstone dog. :)
 

vandog

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#16
First of all, I'm happy you are looking into the performance vs show debate, because you will have to choose between the two.
+ Right off the bat, I will say that if you want a performance puppy, I'd stick with either a performance or working breeder. This eliminates Jule Too right off the bat. Look at the performance records of the puppies from these breeding programs - who is doing well in agility, and at what level?
+ Plum Ridge is a giant No in my book. She has over thirty dogs, possibly more but no one really knows anymore. Anyone that resorts to Puppyfind to sell puppies is a big turn off in my book!
+ I second a recommendation of Creekside. They are very picky on where their puppies go, and they will make excellent herding dogs.
+ Ignited Border Collies has a small amount of breeding dogs (some co-owned) and they follow a raw food, limited vaccine protocol. The breeder is very knowledgeable and has produced some great dogs. They are the very first breeders that come to mind when I think of limited vaccinations/raw feeding.
+ Also look into Orion, Powertripp and Painted Stars.
+ My personal favorite breeder (and who I may get my next dog from) is Contact Point Border Collies. They document every breeding online with offspring performance results, maintain a very small number of dogs, and I've been to their facility personally several times.
 

elegy

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+ Ignited Border Collies has a small amount of breeding dogs (some co-owned) and they follow a raw food, limited vaccine protocol. The breeder is very knowledgeable and has produced some great dogs. They are the very first breeders that come to mind when I think of limited vaccinations/raw feeding.
+ Also look into Orion, Powertripp and Painted Stars.
This kind of made me chuckle because the puppy I am waiting on (hopefully to be born at the beginning of May) is an Ignited/Orion girly being bred to a dog from Powertripp (though of Hollowshot breeding). One of that Powertripp's dog's daughters out of a Painted Star Farms bitch is heading to The World Agility Championships in May. I am so excited for this puppy!

Also, I'd add Quicksilver.
 

~Tucker&Me~

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#18
This kind of made me chuckle because the puppy I am waiting on (hopefully to be born at the beginning of May) is an Ignited/Orion girly being bred to a dog from Powertripp (though of Hollowshot breeding). One of that Powertripp's dog's daughters out of a Painted Star Farms bitch is heading to The World Agility Championships in May. I am so excited for this puppy!

Also, I'd add Quicksilver.
That's funny because I was on the Orion site a week or so ago and saw Steve. I was like hey... I know that dog! :lol-sign:

Oh god don't post more breeders :eek: I am having such bad puppy fever lately and am itching for another BC. I have been going through tons of breeder websites and am barely holding back lol. This thread is DANGEROUS :rofl1:
 

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