Beautiful Rough Collie Puppies For Sale

Its been said and widely accepted, that the Collie breed got it’s start in Scotland and Northern England. They are known for their herding abilities and watchful alertness over their herd.

Herding and protecting from predators the black faced sheep with black legs known as Colley Sheep, has widely been speculated to be the way the breed got it’s name. This instinct is strong within the Collie breed and if you have ever owned one I’m sure you have witnessed it.

Thus, our web site name was derived as: www.ColleyCollies.com. Our “herd” happens to a family of 5 including our granddaughter, Casey.

As a little girl our Collies were very loving and gentle with her. Connor always watched over her.  I’ve witnessed Connor “protecting” her by positioning himself between her and our other dogs running towards her. He would stand between her and them and look back as if to say “no jumping”.  If they tried to go around, he would reposition himself. There have been countless stories of Collies protecting young children.

Although it’s said that Collies were first made famous by Queen Victoria of England they are widely popular in America today. This is due to their high level of intelligence. They’ve been used as rescue dogs, guard dogs, guides for the blind and of course, movie stars. Collies were made famous by shows like Lassie.  The early collies were between 25 to 40 pounds. Today the female typically weighs between 50 to 65 pounds and the male weighing in between 60 to 80 pounds. And honestly they could easily push 90, Connor did. 

A Rough Collie’s Needs

Collies also like to bark. They are very alert and protective animals and will bark at most everything they see or are interested in. We bring our dogs in every night to stay in the house with us. Indoors they are very quiet dogs hardly making any noise except while you are loving on them and they are letting you know how much they appreciate it by “talking” to you. They are content to lay quietly at your feet and just be in the same room with you. And quiet dogs at night make for happy neighbors as well.

Besides love and attention Collies require a lot of grooming! Grooming your Collie once every two weeks is recommended. It gives you both extra time to bond and cuts down on their shedding. Elegantly stated on another website, and well put, I read; “Once a month is not enough and once a day is not to much.”

Giving attention to your pet daily builds a bond like no other known to humans. They will reward you with their complete loyalty, love, and companionship for the rest of their lives. 

We are Arkansas collie breeders and we love raising rough collie puppies of all colors. If you can fulfill their needs and are willing to show the devotion to them they will show to you then we have rough collie puppies for sale several times a year waiting for their new forever homes. To qualify for our waiting list send me a contact us form. Tell us about yourself, your family and your lifestyle. This information will aid me in helping  you to choose a puppy.

Breeders

Our pets were bought from reputable breeders with rough collie puppies for sale working to eradicate the well known CEA issues so commonly associated with the Collie breed today, as well as other collie diseases. 

Our intention is to make the breed better, striving to breed out the known diseases that plague Collies. Currently all of our breeding collies have been full panel tested for all known collie diseases by PawPrint Genetics. All results are listed for you to see and linked to from our collie boys and collie girls pages.   

Take time to get to know your breeder and find out how they care for their pets. Will they allow you to visit them and see where their pets spend their time? What condition are the pets in? 

When looking for a breeder, know that there are basically 3 types. Professional breeders, hobby breeders and back yard breeders. Neither professional breeders nor hobby breeders breeds solely for money, but for the love of the breed, to better the breed and to defray some of the costs of ownership.

A professional breeder will almost always show their dogs hoping to breed that one special dog that will take top honors. Or they just love the breed and want to better the breed they love so much. 

A hobby breeder might sometimes show but not always and may try to train for therapy animals. They will always give top care and attention to their pets.

A backyard breeder will not be very knowledgeable about the health concerns of the animal nor have them tested or have minimal testing done. 

We are Professional Collie Breeders

We started out as hobby breeders but many years laters, tons of equiment and having invested thousands of dollars into our pets and their health we almost inadvertently worked ourselves into the status of professional collie breeders. 

We give our pets love and the best care we can possibly provide. Our goal is to raise them as healthy and as happy as they can be and to produce top quality healthy and happy puppies. This is done for them, for us and for others who will gain from the years of owning such a wonderful breed.  

When one of my girls has a litter I am right there with her to make sure her delivery is a smooth one. And no, that does not always happen. There have been many times that I am on the phone with the vet even if its just for reassurance or running one in to the emergency animal hospital. And no we do not always make money from our litters when we have them. I typically spend around $18k – 20K a year or better. But when those precious babies come into our life and we are able to pass on healthy babies to others that love the breed it makes every ounce of worry and cost worth it.

My love for the Collie breed started as a young girl around 14, having a friend that owned a Collie. Our love as a family, for the Collie breed began on Thanksgiving morning in 1999. We took in a Collie mix stray who had heart worms and had been dumped by some uncaring person.  They had no clue about what a wonderful companion she was.

We took her to the vet and after some very painful treatments and high vet bills, he was able to save her. Collies can not be medically treated for heart worms in the same way as other canines.

We named her Nellie and she rewarded us by being one of the sweetest, smartest and loyal dogs we have ever had the pleasure of sharing our life with. Our vet said when she came to us he believed her to be about 10 months old. She was a certified therapy dog for a while. Then she was just our sweet old girl.

If you would like information on getting your pet certified as a therapy dog this web site is a good starting point for you: https://www.therapydogs.com/join-therapy-dogs/.

Collies Health Concerns – Excerpts provided from Genetics and Collie Health Websites 

Note that each disease can present as non-carrier, carrier or affected. For more in-depth information on that please visit our DNA Testing page.

CEA/CH:

None of our pups will ever be affected with CEA/CH or PRA due to the health of their parents. CEA is better known as Collie Eye Anomaly. Collies have a high genetic predispostion to it. There are breeders such as ourselves that take action to try to eradicate it from their breeding lines.

Collies share Collie Eye Anomaly with several other breeds. CEA is more technically known as Choroidal Hypoplasia (CH). It is a recessively inherited eye disorder that causes abnormal development of the choroid. An important layer of tissue under the retina of the eye. This disease is seen most frequently in U.S. collies. Since the choroid layer does not develop normally from the start, it’ said that the primary abnormality can be diagnosed at a very young age. Regrettably there is no cure.

OPTIGEN; www.optigen.com, one company that does DNA testing for CEA/CH and PRA has this to say about breeding dogs:

Breeders should pay attention to protecting the genetic diversity of breeds that have very high frequencies of an inherited disease. In the case of CEA/CH, the genetic test can be viewed as an adjunct to traditional strategies for avoiding severe cases of CEA. Over the last 30 years, many animals have been examined and those with only mild CEA (no colobomas or detachments) have been selected for breeding. The result is the percentage of collies affected with choroidal hypoplasia remains high, but the severe grades of the disease (colobomas and retinal detachments) have decreased due to this conscientious breeding.

CERF Registration — Canine Eye Registration Foundation — registers “Normal-eyed” dogs. By their standards, If you just want a pet, a grade 1 or 2 CEA (and even a grade 3) are just fine. They say Grade 3 and over should never be bred. Grades 1 and 2 are still bred and shown.  All of our pups will be normal eyed and almost all are normal eyed non-carriers. 

rcd2-PRA:

Progressive Retinal Atrophy or PRA can result in blindness. rcd2 Background of Disease:  “Collie PRA”, or rod-cone dysplasia type 2 (rcd2), is a form of retinal degeneration. In this disease, an abnormal development (dysplasia) of the rods and cones (the light sensitive cells in the eye) leads to an early onset of night blindness that is typically apparent by the time pups are 6 weeks of age. In most cases, the rcd2-Affected dog is completely blind by the time it is 1 year old. Since PRA in Collies is a simple recessive, it has been easier to control than CEA.

Our breeding adults are all normal for rcd2-PRA, meaning they will never develope rcd2-PRA and so their puppies will never have it either, we have truly been blessed with our companions.

MDR-1:

From PawPrint Genetics web site:

My notes on MDR-1, multi-drub sensitivity, is most commonly associated with Ivermectin, a drug touted to prevent heart worms when given orally at monthly intervals, like Iverheart or Heartguard. However the drugs listed above are basically found in any heart worm preventative. Most rough collie owners use Interceptor or Revolution. I’ve used both and still do.

If your collie is affected with MDR-1 or you don’t know if they are affected, a simple solution is to not to use a heart worm medicine that has Ivermectin in it. An alternative is the Interceptor plus brand. Just look for a brand where the active ingredient is milbemycin oxime.

If you have a collie you should have them tested for MDR-1. There are more medicines that can affect and even kill your collie if a medical procedure is needed and your vet does not know your pet will have a reaction to them. I’ve heard of it happening on Collie facebook sites.

Vets are wonderful but they don’t know everything about every breed so it’s up to us to help them. If your collie has not been tested then it’s best to tell your vet to treat them as if they were affected.

If they are tested clear non-carrier for MDR1 then good news, you can use Ivermectin as a heart worm preventative. Currenly all of our breeding collies are MDR1 clear. 

There are herbal remedies but I have to use a disclaimer her and say that I am not a vet and can not tell you they will work. Use your own good judgement. I’ve used one in the past for a heartworm positive collie that was suppose to cure the dog of hearworms and it did not work for me after 18 months of solid and consistent use. 

For breeders here is some additional information from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine with accredited link. http://vcpl.vetmed.wsu.edu/breeding-guidelines .

Hip Dysplasia:

Collies have VERY low rates of hip dysplasia, the OFA puts it at 2.8% compared to other canines. Website information can be found at: http://www.offa.org/hd_grades.htm. Further information on OFA may be obtained by writing or calling: OFA at 2300 E. Nifong Blvd, Columbia MO 65201-0418, telephone 1-573-442-0418; Also information may be obtained from The American Kennel Club, at 1-919-233-9767.

DM:

DM is described in this manner ~ Degenerative Myelopathy caused by Mutation of the SOD1 gene is an inherited neurologic disorder of dogs. This mutation is found in many breeds of dog, including the collie.

While it is not clear for some of the other breeds, collies are known to develop degenerative myelopathy associated with this mutation. The variable presentation between breeds suggests that there are environmental or other genetic factors responsible for modifying disease expression.

The average age of onset for dogs with degenerative myelopathy is approximately nine years of age. The disease affects the White Matter tissue of the spinal cord and is considered the canine equivalent to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease) found in humans.

Affected dogs usually present in adulthood with gradual muscle Atrophy and loss of coordination typically beginning in the hind limbs due to degeneration of the nerves. The condition is not typically painful for the dog, but will progress until the dog is no longer able to walk.

The gait of dogs affected with degenerative myelopathy can be difficult to distinguish from the gait of dogs with hip dysplasia, arthritis of other joints of the hind limbs, or intervertebral disc disease.

Late in the progression of disease, dogs may lose fecal and urinary continence and the forelimbs may be affected. Affected dogs may fully lose the ability to walk 6 months to 2 years after the onset of symptoms.

Affected medium to large breed dogs, such as the collie, can be difficult to manage and owners often elect euthanasia when their dog can no longer support weight in the hind limbs.

DM – Breed-Specific Information for the Collie

The Mutation of the SOD1 gene associated with degenerative myelopathy has been identified in collies. The overall frequency of this disease in the breed and approximate age of disease onset are unknown for collies. However, in a study of 151 Collies tested, 25.8% were carriers of the mutation and 25.8% were at-risk/affected. 

CN:

Collie Nose or Grey Collie Syndrome (which is a kind of neutropenia) Grey Collie Syndrome is a blood disorder. It is present at birth, and is cyclic in nature.

These puppies rarely survive more then a few days. Symptoms are puppies with extremely washed out greyish coloring, some may have a beige or pinkish tint to their coats. They look very different from their healthy litter mates.

There is no cure for Grey Collie Syndrome, but with a lot of health care there have been dogs that survived for a year or two.

Dogs affected are at great risk for any infection they come into contact with. Inheritance is autosomal recessive meaning it can be passed down through the parents if there are 2 copies of an abnormal gene present.

Dogs that exhibit the disease, or are carriers for the disease, should not be used in any breeding program. Carriers of this disease do not exhibit the disease themselves, but can pass it along to their puppies when bred to other carriers or affected.

Hyperuricosuria HUU:

From a genetics website – Hyperuricosuria is an inherited condition of the urinary system affecting several breeds of dog.

The SLC2A9 gene codes for a protein that allows the kidneys to transport uric acid from the urine. Dogs with mutations in both copies of the SLC2A9 gene are predisposed to have elevated levels of uric acid in the urine, hence the name hyperuricosuria.

Uric acid can form crystals and/or stones (uroliths) in the urinary tract. Dogs with hyperuricosuria most commonly present with symptoms of recurrent urinary tract inflammation. This includes frequent urination, blood in the urine, and straining to urinate.

They may also have loss of appetite, lethargy, weakness, vomiting and pain. Urinary stones in the bladder can cause urinary tract infections or more seriously, blockage of the Urethra.

Both male and female dogs can be affected, but obstruction of urine flow is more common in males due to differences in anatomy.

Although an x-ray can be used to exclude other types of stones, urate stones cannot typically be seen using x-rays and must be evaluated by ultrasound.

Not all dogs with mutations in both copies of the SLC2A9 gene will have symptoms of disease, though they will have increased uric acid excretion in the urine.

Breed-Specific Information for the Collie

The Mutation of the SLC2A9 gene associated with hyperuricosuria has been identified in the rough and smooth collie, although its overall frequency in these breeds is unknown.

Collies and Cancer

Taken from a web article on dogs and cancer, http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/14_Types_of_Dogs_Prone_to_Cancer.html 

There are 14 types of dogs prone to cancer. Collies can be prone to cancers within the nasal cavity.

Unfortunately, this can often result from the inhalation of second hand cigarette smoke. Collies and other long snouted dogs have more tissue within the nasal cavity and more susceptible to absorbing toxins in the air. We are a non-smoking family, however collies and canines in general can and do get other types of cancer just as humans do.

I talked to our vet and they contacted their specialists for canine cancer and then gave me their contact information. The specialist I spoke to said they believe this to be caused 90% by environmental issues; lawn chemicals and chemicals/preservatives in food.

The FDA has approved usage of these chemicals and pesticides in our own food. Nitrites, nitrates, bht, bvo, hfcs, artificial flavor, artifical color, food grown from genetically modified seeds.

They tell us it’s safe in “small dosages”. But what happens when we have small dosages every day in our life that builds up in our bodies over time? Cancer, heart disease, kidney failure, inflammation in the body. 

I’ve started buying organic or at least perservative free as much as possible. That should go for our pets as well. 

Be vigilant about what you read on the dog food labels and what is “actually” in the food. 

We have made the transition as 100% raw feeders. The benefits of doing this are nothing short of amazing. Yes, it takes extra time to prepare at meal time and it does cost more but we know exactly what goes into their food.

The fact is there are other ways you can benefit your pet while feeding kibble with small additions. Adding an egg to their food and 1/4 can of sardines is a great start. Or substituting one or two meals a week with fresh food. Do what benefits your pets without subtracting from your own family, that’s the bottom line. 

I also currently suggest you visit this site for a little more information on canine cancer. 

I’ve been reading lately about pre-biotics and probiotics for digestive health for dogs and hear that it can inhibit growth of cancer cells.

It’s worth a search on the internet to see what you can find out about it. As raw feeders part of the benefits to our pets health is a healthy gut. As an addition I also add kefir and kelp and/or phytoplankton to their raw food. 

Atopy – Allergies in Dogs 

According to one vet, Atopy accounts for 90% of the cases that walk through their doors. It is not breed specific and affects many dogs and cats as well. I suspect many pet owners either own or have owned pets afflicted with atopy even though they may not know it.   Dogs experience allergies through their skin as opposed to respiratory like a human would, although most certainly humans have skin conditions as well. 

Copied from http://www.labbies.com/atopy.htm

Atopy is a disorder by which dogs have a predisposition for developing antibodies to environmental allergens. It is the most common disorder causing hypersensitive skin reaction in non-flea allergic patients presenting with dermatitis. And it accounts for up to 70% to 90% of all hypersensitive conditions. As such, atopy is significantly more prevalent than food allergy in the canine, which accounts for up to only 10% to 30% of hypersensitive conditions.

Furthermore, although it has been found that up to 10% of dogs with atopy may also have food allergy, up to 80% of the dogs diagnosed with food allergy will also have atopy. Thus accounting for the high rate of failure to treat food-allergy patients through manipulation of diet alone.

Symptoms: The most common symptom of atopy is “pruritis” (itching) usually beginning around the face and paws. It may eventually become more diffuse over other areas of the body. Particularly the ears, the armpits (axillae), the elbows, and the groin. Recurrent ear infections (otitis) are present in up to 75% of dogs diagnosed with atopy.

Skin lesions are not usually apparent, unless resulting from excessive scratching, however, a raised, pustular rash with or without hair-loss may occur as a result of secondary skin infection (pyoderma). Some dogs may develop conjunctivitis.

Treatment: Conventional therapy for atopy typically employs treatment with glucocorticoids for their anti-inflammatory benefits. 

“I” personally feel, that since 80% of the dogs with food allergies develop atopy that it is a common binding reason for this affliction found in most animals due to the low nutrition levels of a lot of dog food on the markets today.

What is a good dog food?

Heather was diagnosed with allergies early on. Because of Atopy and food allergies that cause it I’ve done lots of research on dog food. I’ve made many changes over the years. Finally, after 10 years of raising collies, I came to the conclusion raw was the way we wanted to go. It took another year of supplementing with raw while researching. We had to find out how feeding raw works and what we could afford.

Thank goodness for you-tube video’s from Dr. Karen Becker (some of her videos can be found here) and raw food co-ops! We are now into our 14th year this year with our beloved collies. 

You may not feel raw is the way for you,  just do your best research. There are a lot of great kibbles, freeze dried and dehydrated foods out there as well. But some can be quite expensive. Honest Kitchen makes a human grade lightly dehydrated dog food in a human grade facility. I really like it for the way they make it and their company standards.

A 10 lb box rehydrates to 40 lbs of food and has excellent nutrients. They also have a 100% AAFCO nutrient list on their website which I find admirable. In addition to their full course meals they also have a base mix of fruit and vegetables made to supplement your own variety of raw meats. We use their base mix with our meat. 

Yet another wonderful option is home cooked or lightly steamed meals.  As with raw, you have to pay attention to make sure you are including the correct amount of vitamins and minerals.

Manganese, magnesium, iodine and vitamin A and D to name a few.  There can be “to much or to little of a good thing” while feeding your rough collie puppies.

Today their are different online courses to learn about the nutrients you puppy should be getting from their food. The provided link is one to “Dogs Naturally Magazine” 

There are sites for raw feeders such as B-Natural’s. They have an abundant list of nutrient additives for your pets. If I’m not using mackerel or sardines I use a high grade kelp or marine phytoplankton instead. I also really like Revival Animal Health, they have a wealth of products and helpful articles and they also have staff and vets on hand that you can call and talk to. I need to say I gain no monetary value by telling you of these sites or products. They are just what I happen to think are good sites to check or products or video’s to check out.

As a legal disclaimer I should also say I maintain no responsibility for their sites, products or video’s. You must always use your own judgement when it comes to your pet. You know them better than anyone else.

As far as brands to research go to a local pet store, “not” department store. Write down at least 5 to 10 of their best brands; higher priced ones. Include raw, freeze dried and kibble. While you are at the pet store also ask for the manager. Find out what they suggest and why. What nutritional values are gained from the brand they suggest? Then get on the internet and search for “pet food raw food suppliers” and “raw feeding co-op”. 

Select a dog food you feel will best benefit your pet that will not subtract from your own family financially. I have seen some dog food brands that are as much as $149.00 for a bag of kibble!

A lot of dog foods are atrocious with allergen producing products. Sprayed on flavors to make the food palatable to pets and then labeled as “Natural”. Once you start doing the research you will be amazed at what you find.

I also suggest you take the time to visit the “Dog Food Project” web site at http://www.dogfoodproject.com. Read up on all of their 5 star brand kibbles and compare them to their 3 star brand kibbles. You will soon be able to spot the differences between those. Then compare their 5 star kibbles to dehydrated, freeze dried and raw. Once you have the right information you can make the best choice for your own pet.

Biting Flys! Does your pet get black crusty ear tips during the summer?

In some of the hotter states, like here in Arkansas, your pets might experience “biting flies”. They will attack any breed.

They will literally chew the tips of your dogs ear off if left unattended. And for some weird reason, some pets may be plagued by them and others not at all.

Poor Heather gets attacked every year.  I used to get a paste from my vet called VIP. It was a fly repellent paste that you rub on their ear tips and no more nasty bites. For some reason the formula was changed to a cream that I didn’t care for.  Since, I’ve also found that Desitin works just as well, yep, a baby diaper rash cream! I’ve been using it the last couple of years with success.

Do collies make good family pets?

Collies are very social animals wanting to be with companions. They love nothing more than to be with you. When raised with a family they will take it upon themselves to be both babysitter and protector in most cases. I have been told by some of our extended families that have puppies from us, they are just that.

They also like being with other dogs and animals. Beware however that collie puppies are VERY playful. If you put one with a smaller or older dog, they may be overwhelmed by the new collie puppy. Puppy will want to play and nip, even with you, because that is what collies do.

Remember, they are herding animals first, it is in their ancestry. If you have farm animals, they may chase them, herd them or protect them. Be prepared for this. If you do have farm animals and get a collie I suggest you nurture their herding instinct. If you have no experience with that then research the subject.

 As far as nipping at you, remember, they are puppies and they are practicing what has been bred into them. You can rap them on their nose with your fingers and tell them very firmly, “No”. They will eventually get the meaning and some may never do that, opting instead to rub their head against you.

It is impossible to predict which puppy will do what. But like I said, they want nothing more than to be with you. I have had them do both. If this is something you do not think that you can handle or are not prepared for, please *do not* get a collie as a companion. 

Training Your Rough Collie Puppy

Collies are very sensitive to your mood and your tone of voice. They are very intelligent and usually quick to pick up commands if done in the right manner. You can not yell at your collie and expect them to understand. Nor can you push on them to try to get them to lie down or sit. If you start getting aggressive with your collie you will find yourself with one very “aloof” and stubborn collie.

If you use a calm voice and soft hand they will pick up voice command and hand gestures as well. I will cover some basic commands here. Sit, stay, lie down, come, and no jumping when you go outside or when visitors come. But I’m going to also sheepishly admit that Skye jumps up on people no matter what, I haven’t been consistent enough with her and she just loves everyone so much 🙂

Sit Command  

Hold your dog’s treat in your hand and put it out in front of their nose to let them get a good smell.  Raise it above and slightly to the back of their head. As you go back past their head your puppy will starting backing up and eventually sit! Tell him how good he is, repeating the word sit, good sit and give him his treat. As you are teaching him and he catches on to “sit!”, start giving him hand signals as well. I can use my pointer finger on my right hand, slightly curved and Connor would immediately sit every time I pointed, without saying anything.

Lie Down

Repeat the sit, then hold your dog’s treat in your hand and lower it down to the floor, palm facing downward. Puppy will most likely begin by lowering his head, keep repeating until he is laying down. Reconfirm how good he is, good Lay down! Give him his treat. Teaching with hand gestures…. after you get them to lay down a couple of times start by putting the treat in your hand and putting it down to the floor, they will catch on quickly that you want them to lay and will do it without you saying a word.

Don’t Jump

Practice taking your dog to the front door or entrance where company comes in at. Put him in the sit position and give him treats when he does so. Then open the door repeating the process. When you get ready to go to answer your door bell ring, put your dog in the sit position and keep him there with a lead if neccessary. If you can, get a neighbor or family member to help you by acting as the guest at the door.

To keep your dog from jumping on you when you go outside. Start with them outside in a safe fenced environment or someone holding them on leash. Open your door and get them in the sit position.  Do not walk out until they are in the sit position and staying in it. Once you know they are conditioned for sit, they will not jump! Simple but effective.

Stay

Take your dog to the spot you want them to stay in. Put them in the sit position. Get their attention by putting your hand in front of your nose to make them look at you. Firmly say stay, put your open hand, palm facing toward gently to their nose. Repeating the word “stay”. Take a couple of steps backward. Repeat this process until you can get them to sit and stay when you take your couple of steps back. Keep practice up as you get further and further away. This one takes lots of patience on your part because your collie puppy wants nothing more than to be with you! You are his companion, and pack leader. With your hand gesture, they will catch on that your flat palm toward them will mean stay.

Come

This one is much easier than the stay since they want to be with you anyway 🙂   After you get them to stay repeat this process in steps. Stay, back up a little and then say come in a friendly inviting voice and give them a treat. Get them to stay and back up a little further and repeat the come command in the same way. Keep this process up getting a little further away each time. If you combine this process with the the stay command you teach both at the same time.

Leave It!

This one is very important. Lay a treat on the floor with your collie watching, one he REALLY likes. While they are leashed, walk them past the treat, without stopping, saying “leave it”, as you get to and pass the treat. If you are out and see something unsafe for them to eat, either on the ground or if you are in a nursing home and see a pill on the floor, not to go for it on your command of “leave it”. 

These training tips are all you need to know to get your dog certified as a Therapy Dog. How easy is that?!?

Research

If you do an internet search on Collie health I am sure you will find all kinds of good information. DNA Tests can be done for the known health concerns inherent in collies and I do all of them. The most important thing I can suggest to anyone looking to own any breed of dog is to RESEARCH. Research their health concerns. Research their traits. Remember earlier I told you that collies go through a naughty nippy puppy stage because they are herding animals. Very important, research different brands of dog food for it’s nutritional value.

A good place to start research for collies is at The Collie Health Foundation. They are dedicated to education and research. 

If you still have questions use our contact us form. I will be glad to answer any questions that I can. It is not my intention to scare anyone off from owning a Collie. If you search for any breeds health concerns you will likely find many health factors for any variety of breeds.

I hope I have helped to enlighten anyone thinking about choosing a Collie for a pet and lifelong companion. In my opinion they are one of the very best breeds. They are loyal to a fault (would walk through fire with you). They are intelligent, polite, and can be courageous and very protective when they feel its needed. It is not something you have to train them for. 

I know in my heart, I will never be without this wonderful breed of dog in my life. The loyalty, love and pure joy they will bring to anyone who owns one far outweighs the risks as long as you do your homework and adopt from a reputable breeder.

www.ColleyCollies.com as Arkansas collie breeders has had an internet presence since 2007 with rough collie puppies for sale. We meet so many fascinating and wonderful people from all walks of life. This is one of the reasons I love sharing our pups when our pets give us the joy of having new litters.