Frequently Asked Questions

Below are several frequently asked questions and answers.  We recommend that anyone considering getting a Border collie read this section thoroughly.  It is important to make sure that a Border collie is the right breed for you, your lifestyle and your family.

IF AFTER READING THIS SECTION YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS YOU MAY FIND YOUR ANSWERS ON OTHER PAGES ON THIS WEBSITE.  THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE, HOWEVER, IF YOU DO NOT FIND THE ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT US.

Do Border Collies Require A lot of Exercise?      

Border Collies do enjoy exercising, but they require much more than just space to run. Border collies like to play games, work and interact with their owners. They love to have a job to do and require more training than other breeds. Border collies tend to be busy dogs that need to have their curiosity and energy channeled into positive behaviour. 


Are Border Collies Easy to Train?           

Border collies learn new things very quickly, but this should not be mistaken for being easy to train. Border collies can pick up bad habits just as easily as good ones! It is important to train your Border collie to behave properly right from the start so that they do not pick up bad habits. Although Border collies learn new things quickly it is not as easy to train them not to do things that they have learned to enjoy.

Do Border Collies Shed? 

Yes.

Do You Need to Live on a Farm or Have a Large Property to Own a Border Collie? 

No, what you do need is to have the time and desire to spend time with your dog. Border collies learn quickly and if they are not receiving attention and training from their owners they will seek out other ways to amuse themselves. What amuses them may not be what amuses you! 

Do Border collies get along well with other pets?

Generally, yes, Border collies can live in harmony with a great number of other animals.  Our dogs have lived peacefully with budgies, chinchillas, ducks, horses, cats, potbellied pigs, raccoons, pet rodents, sheep and other livestock.

What Colours Do Border Collies Come In? 

There are several colours that border collies commonly come in: Black and white, Black Tri-coloured, Red and white, Red Tri-colour, Gold, Merle and Dilute colours. There is an old saying that there is no such thing as a good dog in a bad colour.  Colour should be a secondary concern, getting a good dog should be the primary concern.


What Sports Can Border Collies Play? 

What sports can’t Border collies play? Our Border collies have successfully competed in the following sports/activities: obedience, tracking, agility, flyball, herding, disc dog, weight pulling, and games competitions. They also are active in recreational sledding, performance shows, photo shoots, children’s educational programs, and back packing.

Do Border Collies Herd Everything? 

Only poorly trained Border collies herd things that they are not supposed to. It is important that Border collies are trained to channel their herding instinct toward appropriate activities. Our dogs live in harmony with cats, ducks, horses a potbellied pig and children.  Some dogs have more herding instinct than others.  If you have questions about herding instinct, ask about the herding instincts of the parents.

Are Border Collies Good with Children? 

Border collies are good with children if they are properly socialized and trained. Border collies are not generally my first choice of a “family” dog. This is because Border collies can get overly excited by very active young children. Border collies require a fair amount of time and training and busy parents with young children can find the added responsibility and time commitment of a young Border collie a real chore. We generally do not recommend Border collies for families with children less than 5 years old. Despite this Border collies can be wonderful family dogs so long as their needs are met.

How Much Does a Purebred Border Collie Cost?

It is important to remember that the purchase price of a Border collie is only the beginning! There will be many on going costs in caring for and training your Border collie. Not only will there be the costs of food and accessories there will also be the costs of routine health care and any other medical care. Don’t forget to factor in training classes and any boarding that might be required if you are away. It is reasonable to expect to pay at least $1500 on care and training in the first year. If you plan on competing with your dog there will also be ongoing training costs, travel and entry fees. All these costs are on top of the actual cost of your puppy.  The cost of the puppies can vary depending on the parents.  We are happy to discuss cost when we receive your application/information sheet.

What is Crate Training? 

Crate training is a safe and proven way to house train and teach your puppy/dog good house manners. Dogs that are crate trained properly when they are puppies are less likely to have severe problems with separation anxiety as adults. They are also more likely to complete their house training quickly and without destroying valued household items or injuring themselves when unattended.  We recommend crate training for all puppies.

Are Your Puppies Registered?

Yes, all of our puppies are registered.  A dog cannot be sold as a purebred without registration papers.  Registration papers link your dog with a pedigree that traces your dog's parents back many many generations.  We register our puppies with the Canadian Border Collie Association and/or with the American Kennel Club.  The Canadian Kennel club does not register border collies, but they can get a competition number and compete in CKC events.

What do you feed your dogs?

We feed our Border Collies Purina Pro Plan Sport or Royal Canin Adult dry food.  We have fed these foods for years and our dogs have had excellent health and have lived an average of 16 years, with some reaching 18 years.

Do You Health Test your dogs?

Yes, it is important to us that we do all we can to produce healthy happy puppies that go on to live healthy long lives.  All of our dogs are certified with OFA (hips and elbows) and have multiple DNA tests to make sure that they can never produce affected offspring.  Each dog has their own page which lists their health testing.

When are you Expecting Puppies?

Click here to see when our next litter is due.  If there are no litters or plans posted this is because we have not yet made any plans.

How do I go about Reserving a Puppy?

After you have given it a great deal of thought and have decided that a Border collie would be a great addition to your life and family for the next 14 to 16 years then click here.  Here you will find when the next litter is planned and you can find out more about the parents.  You will also find a "Puppy Application".  Please fill out this form and submit it. We will then contact you and if your application is approved we will send you more information and you are well on your way to having the best dog in your entire life!

At what age do the puppies go home?

At 8 weeks the puppies are old enough to go home.

Do you Ship Puppies to the USA, Other Countries or Provinces?

Many of our puppies go to the USA, other provinces or sometimes other countries.  We prefer that people come and pick them up rather than ship them. We travel to the USA fairly frequently and are sometimes able to deliver puppies to the US.  We do sometimes ship puppies if this is the best option. The rules and regulations for shipping dogs by air are ever changing, we are happy to discuss the options.









Registering