Our health testing and breeding philosophy Â
Explore our core values
Health Testing
Border collies in general are a healthy breed. There are some troubling health issues that crop up from time to time, including hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, degenerative joint disease, shoulder OCD, epilepsy, autoimmune disorders, and eye issues. There are several genetic diseases to be aware of as well, such as collie eye anomaly and adult early onset deafness. While some of these disorders are testable, many are not. Because of this, it is crucially important to look at the health of our dogs and the dogs in their pedigrees beyond the standard OFA (Orthopedic foundation for animals) testing. We perform the following health tests on our breeding dogs: hips, elbows, shoulders, basic cardiac (heart), CAER (eyes), and a DNA panel from Optimal Selection.Â
Breeding Philosophy
At Kraken Border Collies, our philosophy is to produce healthy, stable-tempered dogs that can excel in a variety of sports while still being easy to live with, as well as being outstanding companions.Â
In addition to our careful health testing and considerations, we only breed dogs with good temperaments. Border collies can range from aloof with strangers to golden retriever-like levels of friendliness. They should never be reactive, fearful, or aggressive. Similarly, they can range from dog neutral to dog friendly. We only breed dogs that are neutral or friendly to strangers and other dogs.Â
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Herding ability is another important component of our breeding philosophy- while we don't need every dog to be participating in open level USBCHA trials, they do all need to demonstrate sufficient herding interest in ability. Our breeding dogs all have a minimum of an AKC pre-trial test (PT) title before their first litter. We only use outside studs that have the equivalent to a PT title or are participating in herding trials in another venue (AHBA, USBCHA, ASCA, etc).Â
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On the sport side of things, our dogs are not bred until they achieve titles in at least 2 sports in addition to a herding title. We do not count "soft" titles such as the canine good citizen series, fastCAT, dock diving, trick dog, or virtual scent work. Our primary focus is scent sports and rally obedience.Â
Puppy Placement Policies
We take matching our puppies with the right families very seriously. Our screening process begins with a detailed application to understand your lifestyle, experience, and what you are looking for in a Border Collie. We do not operate on a first-come, first-served basis; instead, we evaluate each puppy's emerging temperament and drive to ensure they go to the home where they will most thrive, whether that is a high-intensity working environment or a dedicated active pet home.
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All placements are finalized with a comprehensive contract that outlines our health guarantees and the responsibilities of the new owner. We prioritize homes active in performance sports (agility, scent work, rally) or livestock work, but we do occasionally place puppies in active pet homes that demonstrate a clear understanding of the breed's mental and physical needs. We remain a resource for our puppy buyers throughout the dog's life, fostering a community of responsible Kraken Border Collie owners.
All puppies are placed on AKC limited and/or ABCA limited registration. This means they cannot be bred. They can still participate in all sports except conformation, including herding trials. The limit MAY be lifted after health testing and titling, at our discretion.Â
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