Finding the right breeder is an important part of bringing home a Collie puppy. A good breeder should be comfortable talking with you about their dogs, their breeding program, health testing, and how their puppies are raised. These questions are meant to help start that conversation.
Inquire about what health testing has been completed on the sire and dam and ask to see the results.
For Collies, testing may include:
- CEA (Collie Eye Anomaly)
- MDR1
- PRA-rcd2
- Hip evaluation through OFA, PennHIP, or equivalent
- DMS (Dermatomyositis)
- DM (Degenerative Myelopathy)
Helpful questions include:
- What health testing has been completed on both parents?
- What were the actual results of those tests, including whether each parent is clear/normal, a carrier, or affected where applicable?
- May I see copies of the health testing results or certificates?
- What were the results of the puppy’s eye examination?
- Will I receive a copy of the puppy’s eye examination paperwork?
- Have there been any health concerns in previous litters or in the family line?
A Collie puppy should have an eye examination before going to its new home, and the buyer should receive documentation of the results.
Learning about the parents and the breeder’s goals for the litter can tell you a great deal about the breeding program.
- Can I meet the dam?
- If the sire is available, can I meet him as well?
- What are the temperaments of the sire and dam?
- How old is the dam, and how many litters has she had?
- What were your goals when planning this breeding?
- What titles, accomplishments, or other evaluations do the sire and dam have?
- How long have you been involved with Collies?
- Are you involved with the Collie Club of America or a local Collie club?
- Are you the breeder of this litter? If not, what is your relationship to the breeder and the puppies?
It is helpful to know what the puppies’ first several weeks have looked like and how they have been prepared for their new homes.
- Where are the puppies raised?
- Who has been primarily responsible for raising and socializing the litter?
- What kinds of socialization have they had?
- Have they been introduced to different people, household sounds, grooming, car rides, different surfaces, and other age-appropriate experiences?
- At what age do the puppies go to their new homes?
- What vaccinations and deworming have they received?
- What preventatives, if any, have been used?
- Will you provide a health sheet documenting vaccinations, deworming, preventatives, and other veterinary care?
Ask what information will go home with the puppy. This should include:
- Veterinary and health records
- Puppy eye examination paperwork
- Health testing information on the parents
- AKC registration information
- Feeding and care instructions
- Microchip information, if applicable
- A written sales contract
For someone new to the breed, additional information about Collie care can also be very helpful.
A breeder should be willing to explain their contract and answer questions about what happens after the puppy goes home.
You might ask:
- Do you use a written contract?
- What health guarantees are included?
- Will this puppy be sold on Full or Limited AKC Registration?
- If the puppy is being sold as a pet, will it be placed on Limited Registration?
- Are there any other breeding or registration restrictions?
- If I am ever unable to keep the dog, what would you want me to do?
- Are you available for questions as the puppy grows?
- What is included in the purchase price?
Sometimes it is just as important to pay attention to how comfortable you feel with the breeder and how openly they answer your questions.
A few things that may deserve a closer look include:
- Reluctance to share health testing information
- Dismissing health concerns that are known to occur in Collies
- Being unable or unwilling to explain why the dam cannot be seen
- Pressure to send a deposit quickly
- Producing several breeds without a clear history, involvement, or purpose within those breeds
- Frequently having puppies available from multiple litters
- Puppies leaving before eight weeks of age
- Little information about how the puppies have been raised
- No written contract
- No plan for helping if an owner can no longer keep a dog they bred
Whenever possible, picking up your puppy in person is preferable. It gives you an opportunity to meet the breeder, see where the puppy was raised, and ideally meet the dam and other dogs in the home. There may be circumstances where distance makes this impractical, but meeting the breeder in person is ideal, and a responsible breeder should take the time to get to know prospective owners before placing a puppy.
Choosing a breeder should feel like a conversation, not an interview. A thoughtful breeder will usually have plenty of questions for you, too.
The goal is to find someone you feel comfortable with and trust. A good breeder knows their dogs and pedigrees, is open about health and temperament, has a purpose behind each breeding, and raises their puppies with care. They should also be willing to remain a resource throughout your Collie’s life.
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