Litters
We do not have any litters planned in the near future.
Our breeding program focuses on a healthy, dynamic border collie who can succeed at any activity that its owner chooses. To that end, Tartan Bay dogs have produced champions in the herding, obedience, agility and conformation rings.Â
As preservation breeders, we are committed that none of our dogs, or their offspring, ever end up in rescue or shelter situations.
Please see below for important information regarding puppy placement.
Tartan Bay Puppy Purchase Information
If you are interested in one of our puppies, please read about how we place our puppies below. If you are comfortable with that, please email me with a description of what you are looking for in a border collie. Tell me about yourself, your history in dogs, your family, living arrangements and other pets. I need to know as much as possible about you in order to properly match you with the right puppy. If you do not have the time to let me know all about you, then I cannot waste my time with you either. Sorry!
Tartan Bay border collie puppies are raised on Long Island, NY, USA. All of my breeding dogs, as well as outside studs, must pass health testing before I will consider them for our program. You can see all of these certifications right here on my website. Our own dogs also must prove themselves in the show and performance rings before breeding. We certify hips and elbows with Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. DNA testing is completed so that no puppies are ever born with CEA or Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome. We strive to breed healthy, well-structured dogs that are not only great companions, but are also willing and able to complete in just about any sport available. I put a lot of thought and many hours of research into my breedings. My breeding stock is founded on some of the finest border collies from all around the world. Our dogs have produced conformation champions, obedience trial champions, agility champions and herding champions. They are also extremely loyal and do best in homes that give them a job to do.
Our puppies are raised hands-on, here in my home, not in a kennel. They are exposed to many visitors, everyday noises as well as a variety of smells and footing surfaces. We believe in bio-sensor exercises but continue to expose the pups to all sorts of new things right up until the time they leave. All during this time, I am making my evaluations regarding temperament, structure, drive and suitability of homes for each individual pups. I will take a deposit once pups are born and I know how many we have and which sexes are available but I do not keep a "pick order". Rather I try to match the pup to the person. I am willing to consider all requests for specifics about a puppy and consider this in my placements but by the end of the 8 weeks, I know more about these pups than anyone else and use that knowledge to recommend which pup I think matches what you are looking for, if it exists in that particular litter.
Most Tartan Bay puppies are sold with AKC's Limited Registration. On occasion I may sell a pup eligible for conformation shows but these are always by special show contract and co-ownership while the dog is intact. All pups are up to date on their puppy shots, wormed and certified healthy by our veterinarian. You also get unlimited assistance from me for the life of your puppy. This pricing is less about the cost of the puppy and represents a fair price for the money and time I have spent not only raising this litter, but for the many hours of research and travel that I invest in my breeding program to find the best dogs I can. My own personal dogs come from these breedings and I am very picky! I only keep one pup from a litter but all of these pups were created with the same goals and standards for quality in mind. If you live far away, you should be prepared to come pick your puppy up here in New York.
If you have additional questions, please feel free to email me. Thank you!
Do you really want a Border Collie?
Border collies are a great breed and make a great companion. But don't mistake their reputation as the "smartest breed of dog" as a reason to add a border collie to your home. This is a very active breed, bred to work all day with the endurance to travel many miles as they work. Some have been bred with only this work ethic in mind and without any regard to the dogs' suitability as a house pet. These dogs do best when they have a job to do. Herding, agility, obedience, even just being a jogging partner would be a suitable job for a border collie. Remember that border collies can also exhibit sight and sound sensitivities and other 'quirks' that an unprepared pet owner may not be ready for. Here are a few tips for buying a BC that any buyer should ask of a breeder. A good breeder will ask you a lot of questions too.
The breeder should be able to provide you with a pedigree for your dog/puppy. At the very least, the dam of the litter should be on the premises and you should be able to meet the dam if you go to the breeder to pick up your puppy. If you are buying a puppy to be a companion in your house, the mother should also live as a pet in the house, not outside or in a barn. How else can the breeder assess if these dogs will be good house pets? Are they clean dogs, good with kids, strangers, other dogs? Is she afraid of thunder or loud noises? Temperament and trainability is very important and the dam is teaching what she knows to her pups. Additionally, the breeder should be able to tell you about some of the dogs beyond the first generation in the pedigree or related dogs. Beware a breeder who has many different breeds at once or who breeds many litters in a year. People who compete in some dog sport typically invest a lot of time on their dogs and are conscious of structure and health. They are a great place to begin looking for a dog.
Health concerns are just as important as temperament. The sire and dam should have hips certified clear of hip dysplasia by a board certified radiologist. In the US, most breeders use OFA to grade hips and this information will be available as part of their online database. The breeder should also be able to show you evidence of genetic testing for CEA, CL and TNS. You should also ask if any related dogs have been affected by epilepsy or OCD. These are all health issues which affect border collies world-wide and all kennels are facing these problems. There is no pedigree which is completely free of all health issues but a smart breeder uses genetic testing and selective breeding to produce puppies which are free of all of these problems. Ideally, the breeder will have health information available for several generations, not just the sire and dam. You may have to contact a breeder early and wait for a great litter to be born as many breeders have waiting lists established for their puppies. The age old saying "you get what you pay for" certainly applies when buying a dog. There are many puppies available for $1000 but it will most likely not have the health certifications behind it. Rescue is also a great option if you would like a border collie but don't have the money to spend on a pup or the want to train a very small puppy.
Color and markings should be considered only after temperament, health and structure.
Remember, owning a border collie is a long-term commitment both of time and finance but the rewards for those who invest time in their dogs are great. For a list of breeders, please visit BCSA's Breeder Referral.