Border Collie Info & Border Collie Breeders

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Before anything else the Border Collie is a working dog. The breed is widely regarded as the world’s greatest sheepdog and is likely the most widely used working dog today. Border Collies were originally developed in and for the harsh conditions on the Welsh and Scottish borders with England. The land was suitable for little except sheep and with the introduction of sheep grew the need for a suitable herding dog.  With the introduction of International Sheepdog Trials in 1906 the outstanding abilities of the Border Collie became well known worldwide and the breed became very much sought after.  Particularly those requiring sheep dogs like New Zealand and Australia.


Border Collies are ranked number one in Stanley Cohen's ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’ and it would be hard to find a breed that is more receptive to training than the Border Collie.  They thrive on praise and take on all new tasks with eagerness and a great desire to please.  As well as being highly intelligent, Border Collies are extremely energetic, athletic, and have great stamina.  They require considerable daily exercise and mental stimulation.   As pets, it is critical that they have plenty of play and exercise with humans or other dogs.


Because of this combination of athleticism, intelligence and trainability, the breed is perfect for those wanting to compete in various sports and trials.  Border Collies are represented among the leaders at competitive levels - excelling in agility skills, obedience, sheepdog trials and Frisbee (TM).   These competitions suit the breed perfectly, Border Collies are highly represented, and they and often win. For those who wish to reach high levels in dog sports, the Border Collie is a gift from heaven.   


Provided they get ample exercise and are sufficiently occupied, the Border Collie will get along quite happily with other dogs, and children. This breed can be sensitive and should be very well socialized as a puppy to prevent shyness. To be truly happy, Border Collies need a lot of consistent leadership, extensive daily exercise, and a job to occupy their minds.


This breed lives for serving you day in and day out. They are not ideal pets for people who don’t plan to spend a lot of time with them. Border Collies are too intelligent to lie around the house with nothing  to do.  Do not take on a Border Collie unless you are willing to put many hours a day into keeping them well exercised in both mind and body.  Without adequate stimulation and exercise border collies can develop neurotic behaviors.   When not challenged daily they can and will become destructive and known for chewing holes in walls and biting and chewing on furniture out of boredom.  

 

Physical characteristics

The Border Collie is a medium sized dog. The body is slightly longer than it is tall.  The oval eyes are set well apart and brown in colour, except in merles where one or more eyes may be blue. The medium sized ears are set well apart, either carried erect or semi erect. The medium sized tail is set low reaching at least to the hock, raising somewhat when the dog is excited. The double coat is weather resistant, dense and close-fitting. There are two coat varieties: a short, sleek coat (about 1 inch (2.5 cm.) long) and a coarse, rough coat (about 3 inches (7.6 cm.) long). The Australian recognised coat colours come in black and white, tri-colour (black/white/tan), red & white, chocolate and white, blue and white blue merle (see more on colour below). The longer haired variety should have a mane and tail brush. The hair on the face, ears and front legs is always short and sleek. Since Border Collies are bred for working ability and intelligence rather than for physical beauty, conformation varies widely.


Grooming

The Border Collie needs regular combing and brushing to keep the coat gleaming and to prevent tangles and dread-locks.Shaving a coat can impact a Border Collies ability to regulate their temperature and often a coat will not grow back the same therefore shaving your Border Collie is not recommended and regular grooming should suffice.   Extra care is needed when the soft, dense undercoat is shedding which for males is generally once/twice a year and females before each breeding cycle. Regular warm hydro-bathes and blow drying assist during the shedding period and keep the coat clean and healthy. Check the ears and coat regularly for ticks. This breed is an average shedder.

 

What is the average price for a Border Collie Puppy?

In recent years there has been an increase in pet owners wanting colour variations and with that a rise in the number of breeders catering to this demand and breeding solely for the colour market. Border Collie puppies are sometimes advertised as certain ‘rare’ colours.  In reality – no colour is ‘rare’, and these puppies should not be sold at a higher price than a non-rare or more common colour.  While some breeders charge up to double for a coloured border collie compared to their black/white border collies, good breeders do not charge any more for colour than they do for black/white nor do they charge more for females pups over males or vice versa.  The average price from an ethical breeder for a quality bred puppy from fully health tested parents should be between $2800 - $3500. 

 

Problems can arise when multi-coloured litters are the aim of a breeding program because dogs of better quality in other ways in terms of structure and conformation, are overlooked because they may not carry the desired colour consistently.   Avoiding these quality animals may be a concern for the future of the breed because the structure and conformation of the coloured Border Collie cannot be improved if only lower class dogs are consistently being used in a breeding program.  

 

Some breeders have a genuine colour preference and prefer something different to the "common" black/white border collie. The more ethical, responsible breeders still breed quality animals by not limiting their options by choosing to breed for colour alone. If you are looking for a coloured border collie puppy, these are breeders you should seek out.  Regardless of a breeders objectives, health testing should be an integral part and parcel of a breeding program.

 

Border Collie Colour Variations

Traditional colours recognised by the breed were:
•    Black/white
•    Blue/White (or dilute)
•    Red/White
•    Chocolate White
•    (Black) Tricolour - Black/white/tan
•    Blue Merle 

 

However recently the breed standard was updated to ''a variety of colours permissible'' and now the numerous other known Border Collie colours available are recognised in Australia.    White should never predominate. 


Other colours include:
•    Chocolate Tricolour (chocolate, white, tan)
•    Lilac/White (dilute chocolate - by combining blue/white and chocolate white)
•    Chocolate Merle (Chocolate x merle)
•    Slate Merle
•    Sable/White, Shaded Sable, Seal/white - Sable/seal is a coat pattern. The expression is based on many genes working together
•    Sable/Merle - Crossing dogs carrying both sable and merle coat patterns
•    Blue Tricolour (Blue, white, tan)
•    Champagne, Caramel, Blonde, Wheaten and White - Different terms for red/white border collies by those who don't know the breed standard or are trying to upmarket the dog by giving it a flashy name. Red/white comes in a variety of shades from a pale yellow through to a dark rich rust.

 

To learn more about the breed standard visit ANKC - Border Collies 

 

Please see this link – Bryning Border Collies - Colours  a kennel in the UK (where these colours ARE recognised) for a summary of the various colours and their genetic composition.   

 

Thanks to Tracie Thompson of Mystiqview Border Collies, and Letchimi Wright - Bordermojo Border Collies for contributing to this information.

 

Check our listings for Puppies for sale here and click on the links to our breeders below to go to their profile page.  You can also click here to search for Registered Border Collie Breeders by location.

 

 

Potential health issues in Border Collies:

There are a number of hereditary diseases that can be found in Border Collies. The breed can be prone to epilepsy, hip and elbow dysplasia, and deafness. Genetic Diseases include, Collie Eye Anolomy (CEA),Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (CL) Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome (TNS), and Canine Hip Dysplasia. Fortunately the incidence of these diseases amongst the Border Collie population is small.

 

Good ethical breeders will DNA test their breeding stock so that no puppies are affected by any of these diseases and obtain hip/elbow X-ray and score, and complete the relevant health tests as recommended by the breed clubs.   It should be noted that NONE of these tests are compulsory, but reputable breeders will do whatever tests are available to them to ensure they are breeding healthy, quality animals.

 

When choosing a puppy, please ensure that the DNA status of your puppy is given to you by the breeder.   The DNA status of the sire and dam should be fully understood by the breeder, and copies of appropriate certificates obtained.  Copies of the sire and dam DNA status should be made available to puppy buyers.  The incidence of these is small but can occur in the breed.  Source Border Collie Club of NSW

 

Hip Dysplasia (HD) -  Canine hip dysplasia stems from abnormal development of the hip joint; looseness in the joint allows excessive movement which can cause arthritis, especially in larger breeds.   As a light agile breed, Border Collies are not overly prone to joint problems, however HD can occur. It is responsible practice to hip screen breeding animals and by selecting the best scores, there should be continual improvement in the breed’s hips.   Hip dysplasia is a multi-genetic inherited trait, with environmental factors playing an important part. During the first year of life, puppies should not be over fed, over exercised or allowed to jump from anything but the smallest height as this can adversely affect their growing joints.

 

Elbow Dyslpasia (ED) - Research suggests ED is largely inherited, primarily affecting medium to large breeds.    There's no evidence for a link between HD and ED, so a dog diagnosed with HD will not necessarily have ED or vice versa.  It is noted however, that they do both occur in rapidly growing breeds with an inherited predisposition for either condition.  The incidence of ED in Border Collies is low.   Where it does occur, typically, both elbows are affected. 

 

 

If you are a small scale ANKC registered breeder and would like to be listed here, just contact us or follow a few simple steps .

 

We welcome helpful comments and contributions to information about this breed by email or below...

Registered Border Collie Breeders

 Binbirrim - Christensen's Border Collies
Dogs
Christensen's Border Collies are registered with ANKC breeder number #4100239856 (Binbirrim). Our occasional litters are raised "in our home" for ... read more
 Truckaluck Kennels - Border Collie & West Highland White Terrier Breeder, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Dogs
Having been a breeder of a variety of dog breeds during my life, I now find myself specializing in Border Collies and West Highland White Terriers ... read more
ABBYMOR BORDER COLLIES
Dogs
Abbymor Border Collies is a small kennel at Highland Park on the Gold Coast. We are a registered breeder with DOGS QLD and breed pure bred border ... read more
Amalee Park Pedigree BORDER COLLIES - East Gippsland, VIC
Dogs
Small registered breeder of pedigree BORDER COLLIES in the beautiful East Gippsland of Victoria Australia!
I can proudly guarantee the health & ... read more
Baramewe Border Collies - Brisbane, QLD
Dogs
Here at Baramew Border Collies And British Bulldogs we pride ourselves on breeding beautiful natured fully health tested pets for people to love and ... read more
Beecee Border Collies
Dogs
Beecee border collies is a small rural kennel in South Australia that sometimes breeds. We are a proud Dogs Australia breeder and we enjoy training ... read more
BestBuddies Border Collies - Bundaberg, QLD
Dogs
We pride ourselves on breeding great temperament, gentle, caring Border Collies.

Registered ANKC breeder with Dogs Qld. read more
Bidgeesrun  - Border Collie Breeder - NSW
Dogs
The goal of any breeding program is to produce happy, healthy, socially adjusted puppies that are ready to excel in every facet of life. At ... read more
BORDACROFT KENNELS - Border Collie Breeder - Lewiston, SA
Dogs
We are a small breeder from Lewiston, South Australia. Our involvement in the Border Collie world started many years ago in the 90’s with Obedience ... read more
Bordermeade Border Collies
Dogs
I'm an ANKC reg. breeder of gorgeous border collie puppies. I am located on the mid north coast NSW.

BORDERMEADE BORDER COLLIES is an ethical ... read more
Breezeacres Border Collies
Dogs
Breezeacres Border Collies has a small number of litters. Pups are raised in our home with our family and are very well socialised with people,  ... read more
Chocabloc Border Collies - Border Collie Breeder - QLD
Dogs
Here at CHOCABLOC Border Collies our dogs are an active part of our everyday life being raised with children, horses, cattle and other household pets ... read more
Clanpipskoot Border Collies
Dogs
I bought my first Border Collie 25 years ago. My puppies are born and raised in my house, I don’t have kennels. All of my pets are given the love ... read more
DARJOBA Kennels - Border Collie and Shetland Sheepdog Breeder, Qld
Dogs
I am a small breeder my stock being part of our family I breed for quality. We have been showing and breeding Border collies for over 30 years and ... read more
Dunwurkn Border Collies
Dogs
Dunwurkn Borders are bred first for temperament and quality, I will not breed often but when i do it is sure to be special, dogs bred at Dunwurkn ... read more
EsperanzaMia - Border Collie Breeder - Corndale, NSW
Dogs
Esperanzamia puppies are raised in a loving home environment and are well socialised with children, people, other dogs, chickens, ducks, cattle, ... read more
Furrevah Border Collies - Border Collie Breeder - Orange, NSW
Dogs
Small breeder located in the Central West of NSW. Breeding with quality temperaments while keeping to the Border Collie standard. Most important ... read more
GALATHERA Border Collies
Dogs
We are a select registered ANKC breeder of gorgeous Border Collies, currently a member of Dogs NSW. Our dogs are raised and kept as members of our ... read more
Glenbala German Shepherd and Border Collie Breeder - Goulburn, NSW
Dogs
Glenbala specialise in breeding quality German Shepherds and Border Collies with excellent temperaments. Our dogs are suitable for show and ... read more
Glentarella Border Collies - Border Collie Breeder, VIC
Dogs
GlenTarella Borders is a haven for border collies. We are Steve Barnett and Emma Hill. We were both born and bred in the country and have always had ... read more
IRIEANANCY Border Collies
Dogs
Border Collie Breeder located in Gympie, Queensland.

Please see our facebook page for updates and photos. read more
Jawdenash Border Collies - Border Collie Breeder - Gympie, QLD
Dogs
Jawdenash Border Collies - aiming to breed beautiful, healthy border collies. We breed chocolate and white, black and white, blue merle, chocolate ... read more
Jemicum Border Collie Breeder - Braidwood, NSW
Dogs
Jemicum BCs is a small breeder of BCs in the southern tablelands of NSW. My dogs are either clear by parentage & or have been tested for CL, CEA ... read more
Jemtiana kennels -  Border Collie Breeder - Red Cliffs, VIC
Dogs
Breeding for the quality, health and happiness of border collie purebred dogs for over 30 years. All our dogs are CEA, TNS and CL DNA tested, ... read more
Jingara Border Collies - Border Collie Breeder - Moruya, NSW
Dogs
Jingara Farm is a 570 acre (232 hectare) property on the south coast of NSW. We are between Moruya and Batemans Bay. We breed Border Collie dogs and ... read more
Kirkaldy Border Collies - Border Collie Breeder - Geelong, Victoria
Dogs
Kirkaldy Border Collies is a small kennel in Victoria. I strive to breed quality breed type, health, soundness, movement with excellent ... read more
KOLORKO Border Collies - Brisbane, QLD
Dogs
LITTER NOTIFICATION - TORI & MALT welcomed 7 puppies on 12/10/23. We have 2 black & white females available.

Kolorko BC’s has actively ... read more
Langtry Border Collies
Dogs
Breeder of border collies all parents are health tested and colours. read more
Little Eden - Border Collie Breeder -  Kempsey, NSW
Dogs
We are on the Mid North Coast NSW, on a small rural property. We strive to breed well adjusted border collies for forever homes, for companions, show ... read more
Dogs
We are a small country kennel breeding for quality not quantity. Our dogs all have beautiful temperaments, and are clear of TNS,CEA,CL by ... read more
Maraloy Border Collies
Dogs
Our beautiful family of Borders are located at the foot hills of the Grampians in Western Victoria.

Contact: Helen
Maraloy Border Collies, Hamilton ... read more
Milangimbi Kennels - German Shorthaired Pointers and Border Collie Breeder - Geelong, Victoria
Dogs
Milangimbi kennels started with pedigree Border Collies in 1978. Showing and Obedience in the 70's and 80's, gaining many titles in both and then ... read more
Nakiva Border Collies - Border Collie Breeder - Ballina, NSW
Dogs
We are breeders of Border Collies located in beautiful Northern NSW. We actively show our dogs and many of our puppies participate in agility, ... read more
NATRLSKIL Border Collies
Dogs
NATRLSKIL represents my endeavours as an ANKC registered exhibitor and breeder of purebred Border Collies. Border Collies with Natural Skill ... read more
NYARLO Border Collies
Dogs
We are a small breeder of Border Collies. Our dogs are apart of the family and have grown up with young children and animals. We aim to meet ... read more
Ozziedust - Border Collie Breeder - Sunshine Coast
Dogs
We are a small breeder in Gympie Queensland. We have been a registered Breeder with Dogs Queensland since 2008. My member number and BIN is ... read more
Senulc Border Collies - Border Collie Breeder - Forbes, NSW
Dogs
Registered ANKC Border Collie Breeder located in Forbes, NSW. read more
Shancris Border Collies
Dogs
All our dogs at Shancris are family pets 1st & foremost and remain with us for life. We are very proud of what we have produced to date in ... read more
Timatosha Border Collies - Border Collie Breeder - Laidley, QLD
Dogs
I have been breeding now for 25 years and do Agility an Jumping events all over QLD.
We aim to breed pups that are physically, mentally sound, have ... read more
TORUNAHMUK BORDER COLLIES - Border Collie Breeder - Ormiston, QLD
Dogs
Torunahmuk Border Collies
TORUNAHMUK Border Collies for Conformation, Competition & Companionship.
ANKC Reg Breeder 4100227776 Brisbane QLD.

read more
Trinrod Border Collies - Border Collie Breeder, Queensland.
Dogs
Trinrod is a small Kennel in South East Queensland. We have had Border Collies for many years and been involved in Showing, Obedience, Agility, ... read more