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Hi everyone!

 

I'm looking to get a Border Collie pup towards the end of the year and I've looked at a few breeders in my area, but I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions of good breeders to consider or more importantly, breeders to stay away from? I'm from Ontario and willing to travel across my province, close Quebec as well as the closer areas of New York, like Buffalo.

 

I'm also aware of BCRO which has an amazing reputation up here, and would adopt a suitable dog if I find one! To be completely honest, I'm reluctant to go for a rescue as this would be my first Border Collie aside from the BCX I grew up with and don't want to be overwhelmed with issues I haven't dealt with before. But I'm not totally abandoning the idea as I've seen some very loving animals come from rescue!

 

Hope to hear some input :rolleyes:

 

Kayla

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Hi Kayla, welcome to the Boards.

 

In your situation, I would check out rescue first. There are lots of dogs in rescue who have no issues that would cause concern, and the rescue/foster folks are usually able and willing to tell you about any problems they've found with the dog. And too, you have the satisfaction of knowing that you have given a home to a dog who really needs one.

 

But if the rescue option doesn't work out for you or you prefer to go to a breeder, Amanda Milliken in Kingston breeds good border collies. She is on the Board of the USBCHA, so you can find her contact information at http://www.usbcha.com/Officers_&_Directors.htm.

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Hi everyone!

 

I'm looking to get a Border Collie pup towards the end of the year and I've looked at a few breeders in my area, but I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions of good breeders to consider or more importantly, breeders to stay away from? I'm from Ontario and willing to travel across my province, close Quebec as well as the closer areas of New York, like Buffalo.

 

I'm also aware of BCRO which has an amazing reputation up here, and would adopt a suitable dog if I find one! To be completely honest, I'm reluctant to go for a rescue as this would be my first Border Collie aside from the BCX I grew up with and don't want to be overwhelmed with issues I haven't dealt with before. But I'm not totally abandoning the idea as I've seen some very loving animals come from rescue!

 

Hope to hear some input :D

 

Kayla

 

Hi Kayla,

My 2 cents is that I think you should look at rescue first for several reasons. First, there are *many* bcs that need homes. Secondly, you can get a young bc through rescue -- I got my Skye at 7 weeks through the Humane Society (dumb luck mostly, but being in the right place at the right time). I believe at most all-breed rescue organizations you can put in a breed-specific request. Third, you can be matched with a rescued bc much better (if you're concerned about getting one that will fit you and your lifestyle) if it has been fostered already and its personality traits identified. And fourth, my impression of bred bcs is that a *good* breeder is breeding for working ability primarily and not for a docile, couch-potato bc (yes, they do exist! :rolleyes: )

Although I believe there are good breeders in Ontario, I would not look there first for a non-working dog. I got both my bcx and my present bc at the Humane Society. Both of these dogs obviously had issues (my first Riley more cos I got her closer to 1 year old - but she was the greatest dog on earth until Skye and I got to know eachother!) However I believe that working through all of this not only made them better dogs but *me* a better owner and person. Feel free to email me directly if you need more information.

Ailsa

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Hi and welcome! I wanted to chime in here as something you said is often said misconception which could not be further from the truth.

 

Not all rescue dogs have "issues" as you imply and in fact I would bet the majority do not. I would strongly encourage you to start with a rescue because a reputable organization has tested the dogs, knows them inside and out, what makes them tick, etc. They are committed to providing a forever home and will divulge the "dirty" details about each dog and know their personalities and habits. That is the best way to get a dog that suits you, your lifestyle, and what you are capable of handling.

 

I have a rescue dog and a dog from a "breeder". Beware, my rescue dog is a well adjusted, normal dog who I can take anywhere, meets people and dogs without issue, and has been described as the Wal-Mart greeter. My "breeder" dog has fear aggression issues, anxiety issues, and was a nightmare for a first time border collie owner. She is only now at 3 years of age to "act" normal in most settings. She does not get public trips as often, she is weary of children (and met plenty through her life), etc. So getting a dog from a breeder does not guarantee an issue free outcome.

 

You may think that getting a puppy from a breeder is a guarantee that you can raise them to be what you want. To a degree that may occur, but wiring cannot be change. Trust me, if it could I would have done it a LONG time ago.

 

Good breeders only breed for working ability. The best way to find one is to go to trials in your area and meet people if you go that route.

 

Good Luck.

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I will second Eileen's and Ailsa's suggestions about rescue. At the risk of repeating myself, I will offer the thought that a resuce dog is like a child waiting to be adopted. A breeder can always find a home for a dog; but a rescue dog needs a home, and needs the love and companionship of a kind and caring owner (as you seem to be), especially considering that a resuce dog has already been abandoned at least once in its life. Every dog should have a home where it is loved, and someone to wait for at Rainbow Bridge.

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And fourth, my impression of bred bcs is that a *good* breeder is breeding for working ability primarily and not for a docile, couch-potato bc (yes, they do exist!

 

Certainly a good breeder is not breeding to produce a couch potato BC, but they are certainly aiming to produce a docile dog, and most of the working-bred dogs I know are very easy to live with as pets. Otherwise, I agree with the good points that Ailsa and the other posters have made.

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I also want to reiterate that rescue DOES NOT equal a dog with issues. With a young (or older) dog from a reputable rescue, you'll know UP FRONT the kind of dog you're getting (activity level, personality, size, etc.)--the kind of information that just isn't available on a pup (there's a reason they're called "pigs in a poke" because even the best bred dogs can have hard-wired personality traits that may or may not be overcome through "nurture" and which may not even rear their heads until the dog reaches maturity). For the rescues I have that do have "issues," I knew beforehand what those issues were, adopting with full knowledge of the dog's special needs, so to speak. If I had wanted an "issueless" border collie from rescue, it would have been easy enough to find one. I should add that I have also raised pups, of my own (working) breeding and others' (working) breeding. You can look at the parents, sibs, other relatives and get an idea of what the pup you've got might be like, but there's no way to know for sure. The youngsters I've raised have vastly different personalities.

 

J.

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I will chime in and add my welcome to you and my agreements with those who suggest rescue. I don't need to reiterate what they have said so well but, if for someone seeking a Border Collie for a companion or a dog for performance sports (obedience, agility, etc.), I would definitely recommend a rescue dog. Many rescue dogs are very well bred and many top performance dogs have come from rescue (with or without knowledge of their backgrounds and breeding).

 

Rescues are fostered by caring and knowledgeable people. They will evaulate the dogs, give them basic training (or more than basic, sometimes!) and socialization, and be able to let you know much more about the dog than you could ever know about a pup. They will let you know if the dog is good with children of differing age groups and with other dogs or other pets (like cats), something that is very important for a family to know before they choose a dog.

 

If you want to raise a pup, they are also available on occasion through rescue. Buying a pup from a reputable breeder increases your chances of getting a suitable pup, but it's still a bit of a gamble. Getting a young or adult dog from a reputable rescue (and there are some that are not - folks on these boards can give you advice on that) removes a lot of the uncertainty as the dog's personality and quirks are already generally evident.

 

We adopted a dog from a caring but unsuitable situation. We couldn't be happier with her as a companion, recreational agility (we do it just for fun and don't compete, although with suitable training, she could do so), and occasional cowdog. She has no issues, and most rescues don't. What a majority of rescue dogs need is simply a loving home and suitable training.

 

Best wishes!

 

PS - Good to hear from you, Lauren!

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Greetings Kayla, welcome aboard. PLEASE, stay away from 'breeders' (all breeds, not just BCs) in Quebec. While there may be many that are good, Quebec is a cesspool of puppy mill breeders since Quebec's laws are so lax.

I transported a really lovely BC to foster care for BCRO. Check out Jimmy :rolleyes:

 

 

ETA - I meant Border Collie Rescue Ontario - BCRO - not OBCR - sometimes my fingers don't pay attention to my brain!

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If you go the rescue way (which I too recommend), the closest U.S. ones are probably Glen Highland Farm www.glenhighlandfarm.com, and New England Border Collie Rescue has a couple of foster homes in Western New York as well www.nebcr.org. You may want to check out some in Ohio too (you can use petfinder.com to find them). Sorry, I am not familiar with the Canadian ones, but I am sure there must be a couple around you.

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The OP did mention she was familiar with BCRO (that would be the closest Canadian rescue organization in her area) in her initial post. But what she really wants to know, as do most people who couch a breeder-recommendation request inside an ethical nod to the more PC rescue option, is where she can buy a puppy, because that's probably what she is going to do in the end.

 

Not that I'm a complete cynic, of course. But how many times have we seen this same old discussion?

 

RDM

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RDM

With all due respect-

First, I think it is wholly bad form to speak about an OP as a third person as you have done now, and in the past. It is just rude. Second, if this person wants to a pup from a breeder, than so be it. Who are ANY of us to tell her what to do? We can suggest some options, but in the end the decision is completely up to the individual. Your tack of telling her that she is outed as someone who really wants to buy a pup, not rescue, but doesn't want to upset rescue groups/folks, and is just appeasing everyone, will do just the opposite of what you are trying to do. You will alienate her completely. If you are asserting that it is unethical to buy a pup, please state it, and be done with it, instead of dancing around the subject.

 

 

 

The OP did mention she was familiar with BCRO (that would be the closest Canadian rescue organization in her area) in her initial post. But what she really wants to know, as do most people who couch a breeder-recommendation request inside an ethical nod to the more PC rescue option, is where she can buy a puppy, because that's probably what she is going to do in the end.

 

Not that I'm a complete cynic, of course. But how many times have we seen this same old discussion?

 

RDM

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Thanks everyone for your advice! As I stated in my first post, I am well aware of BCRO, 2 dogs around me came from there and they are lovely! I certainly did not mean to come off as to say that all rescue dogs have "issues", as well as did not imply to say that pups from breeders cannot develop even more intense issues. I have and always will consider rescue throughout the search for my next dog. The apple of my eye, my dog Petey is from a shelter in town and he is a dream come true.

 

Many of you have a very good point that it is essentially a crap-shoot when it comes to picking a puppy from a litter while with rescue you can see their personality and better suit a dog to my lifestyle, which is the #1 thing I was nervous about when it came to actually picking THE one puppy I was going to take home. I picked Petey when he was a puppy from his litter, which was found abandoned and brought into a local shelter, because they said he was a middle-of-the-run dog who can be docile as well as energetic. That description has been lost, Petey is a rocket and a total nut, and as he is getting into his older years he is developing an idea that he is the boss. I will be the first one to admit that it is really all a gamble when picking a puppy.

 

I think I may have alluded to certain things in my first post that weren't supposed to come off that way. I'm just trying to keep my options open to find a dog best suited for me. While a puppy would be nice, as I mentioned before, it is a gamble and would not rule out adopting at any means. Some of you have jumped to the conclusion that I'm just mentioning rescue as to just please you, that is not the case. I was merely stating that I have already heard of BCRO, so there is no point in already mentioning it. My current BCX IS a rescue, which you may not have known, but I hope that says something about my .. credibility? I'm not sure if that's the word I'm going for, haha.

 

Thanks for all your advice, and sorry if I accidently offended anyone, eek!

 

Kayla

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I personally didn't find your post offensive in any way, and I don't think most folks did. You do have the freedom to choose the dog or pup that you feel will be best for you and your situation.

 

There are people here like RDM who dedicate a large part of their lives, emotions, and resources to rescue efforts. They may sometimes come across a bit strongly because they have seen and heard it all. They are real heroes to those dogs that need them the most and they are the rescue dog's strongest advocate.

 

Getting a well-bred (versus one that isn't well-bred) pup will increase your chances in getting a good dog - observing and interacting with the parents is a key component in seeing what you are *more likely* to wind up with if you get a pup. But it's never a guarantee, as you seem to understand well. A rescue/fostered dog is a "known quantity" in many ways, and that takes a lot of the gamble out of getting a dog. There probably is a dog in rescue somewhere that needs someone like you and, if you find the right one, I'm sure you both will be very glad you found each other.

 

Whatever you do decide to do, best wishes.

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Thanks, Sue R, that's really comforting.

 

And to those, like RDM, who put their life into rescue advocacy, your efforts are not going unheard. I sincerely mean that. If it weren't for people like you, I may have never decided to go and look at Petey when he was rescued and never would have found my little soul-mate.

 

OffTopic, you have a point about puppies. Tell that to Petey though about chewing on shoes! He loves to tear up cheap flip-flops. Maybe he's telling me something..

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One more vote for the rescue dog here! A couple common misconceptions about adult rescues are that they are harder to train and don't bond with you as well. However nothing could be further from the truth. While a puppy and an adult are probably equally easy to teach commands, when you rescue an adult you can have a well-trained dog really fast without waiting two years for the dog to grow up and mature. I got mine just under two years old. He knows all his basic obedience, lots of tricks, and we are active in our local disc dog club and starting agility next month (also things you have to wait to do with a puppy). Some people bond instantly with their adult rescues, we took a couple months to get to know and appreciate each other, but now we are best buds and I love him to death.

 

If you do decide to go for a puppy, kudos to you for trying to find a reputable breeder who is working to advance the breed, rather than buying from a petstore or the newspaper classifieds.

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Maybe he's telling me something..

 

He's telling you to pick up and put away. At least, that's what I always told my kids that the pups were telling them to do. Well, that and getting him more dog toys and chewies, of course.

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Not sure where in Ontario you are but you may want to check out Borders View Farm and Rescue. That's where I adopted 2 of my puppies from (their mom was surrendered to the rescue pregnant), and I also received a donated pup for my sled team from them. They do rescue plus breed CBCA reg. pups occasionally and they do trial their dogs, do goose patrol, and give herding lessons. They are currently in the process of having a website built, the domain is registered but I don't think there has yet been any content added to the site. If you want to check back later, their site will be www.bordersview.com

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Check out the Canadian Border Collie Association (the breed registry for Canada). They have a advertising section and most of the dogs/pups on that page are from working breeders.

 

www.canadianbordercollies.org

 

 

Also, you could come to an Ontario Trial and meet some of the people that trial in the area. You can see and meet some of the working dogs. Check out OBCC.

 

Ask the breed rescue, they should be able to tell you reputable breeders as well.

 

Cynthia Palmer

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Cynthia P gave some terrific advice with this. In my limited experience, the rescue groups are generally very knowledgeble about which breeders are responsible or irresponsible breeders.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Hey all! New to the forum, and I'm resurrecting this thread because I'm pretty much in the exact same boat as Vanillalove - had a BC mix, adored him until he sadly passed away, and now I'm looking for a purebred to compete in agility/obedience/whatever we find that'll keep us busy.

 

I would ideally like a puppy from a breeder. I've also been keeping an eye on rescues, but having a pup I could train fully myself would be ideal. I'd be looking for a pup around Fall/Winter 2008, as I'm moving to a new permanent house in August, and would like time to get the house/yard all doggy-ready.

 

I took the advice and links already given in this thread, which is great. I also have done a ton of research on my own, and contacted a pile of breeders. I'll be meeting with a handful of breeders in southern Ontario next week sometime, when I go there to visit for a few days (I live in Ottawa, on the east side of Ontario). Currently looking at visiting Moy Hall farms, Cedar Border Collies, and Rival Kennels. Possibly Power Tripp as well.

 

All in all, I'm trying to avoid sport breeders, and go for either working breeders, or combination (as Cedar and Rival seem to be, although I'll know more when I see in person).

 

Any thoughts/suggestions/whatever is appreciated. :rolleyes:

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Border Collie Rescue Ontario we currently have a couple of INCREDIBLE sport prospects!!!

Brew, Blaze and Hendrix all will make exceptional sport dogs. Perfect age to start training. Great foundation on them from foster care, amazing drive. These boys will rock.

We also have a 8 week old cross that is fearless, fiesty and super drivey... think she may have eskie in her but this girl ran through a tunnel and over a 10 inch jump playing with another dog. She LOVES to tug and is crazy outgoing.

I do hope that people looking for potential sport dogs will consider rescue, ALL my foster homes do competitive dog sports with their dogs. These dogs are fully evaluated for this type of placement.

We have had great success and have many dogs doing amazing things in the performance world!

http://www.bordercollierescueont.com

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