Vertical pedigree for Rogue, born May 23rd, 2008: (four generations, going back)

Dual Ch Borderfame Mystery Label
PC Storybook Sorceress of Oz CD HT NA NAJ TDI

Aust Ch Danbeth Black Label
Aust Ch Borderfame Mystic Power
Altricia Deal
PC's Mega Party Girl NA OAJ

Ch Candleriggs Cadmus CDex
Ch Borderheath Maggie May
Ch Borderfame Heart N Soul
Ch Borderfame Forever Magic
Altricia Blue Diamond (blue merle)
Altricia Shannon (tri)
Kiss Me Cal (blue merle)
Ch Blacktie Irma La Spot (b/w) ROM

Ansavon Tiki
Marglo Black Velvet
Ch Sheermyst Sonofa Tart
Finestyle Fancy Nancy
Ch Khayoz Soul Deep CDex
Borderfame Token O Love
Ch Borderfame Bravo
Borderfame Red Supa Star
Altricia Silver Dollar (blue merle)
Altricia Hazie Miss (blue/white)
Blue Lad (blue/white)
Altricia First Love (tricolor)
Passims California Blue (blue merle)
Mojo (red/white?)
Ch Blacktie Bailey (b/w)
Rosaltess Blossom From Oz (b/w)

As you check out any litter of puppies and any breeder's website, don't be swayed by photos and markings, alone. The right match of puppy to owner is based on temperament, drive, and structure matched to the activities the dog will do when it matures, the home environment, and the experience of the new owner. By the time a puppy is ready to go to its new home, a responsible breeder will have hundreds of hours of play and observation to inform decisions. An irresponsible breeder will have raised the litter in a kennel run, without socialization with all kinds of dogs and people.

Each litter will usually be comprised of puppies with different levels of activity, boldness, and drive. There may be one puppy who is calmer than the rest, one puppy who is needier than the others, or one puppy who just needs to be thinking and working and solving all the time. One puppy may love playing in water, while another may not care for it at all. One puppy may constantly scale ex pens and push open doors, while another may never test enclosures or boundaries. A responsible breeder should be able to work with prospective owners to match the right puppy to the right home. With a responsible breeder, you may not be the one to choose the puppy. It may be chosen for you. You can always say "no, thank you" and walk away. You need to work with someone you can trust, however, believing that the pup placed with you matches what you need, not what the breeder needs to have placed in order to have homes for all of the pups.

A responsible breeder may make you wait because no pup from a litter matches what makes sense for you. An irresponsible breeder may place an inappropriate puppy with you, wanting to sell all of the puppies, and hoping it all works out. A low drive pup may go to someone who actually wants a high drive pup, and an over-the-top active pup may go to a pet home that is not equipped to deal with it. Do your homework and develop a rapport with someone knowledgeable. Be clear and honest about what you hope to do with your new puppy.

A Border Collie typically requires 3-4 hours a day of your attention, interaction, stimulation, and behavior shaping. Without guidance and interaction, they can develop very challenging habits and independent obsessions. A good breeder will require you to attend several cycles of obedience classes, will require you to spay or neuter your pet in a contract, and will require you to stay in touch about your puppy's development, training, and accomplishments. Intense care, interest, and research often goes into a careful breeding, so do not be surprised if a breeder has high expectations as puppies are placed.

If that kind of commitment doesn't seem plausible for your current lifestyle, consider an adolescent or adult dog from rescue or as a rehome. Many Border Collie breeders would be delighted to help you find a perfect match, whether a purebred Border Collie or a mix. Rehoming into the right environment can mean win-win for everyone. There are some incredibly dedicated rescue organizations who work thoughtfully to pull wonderful dogs from shelters, foster them while getting to know their strengths and temperament, and place them accordingly. A benefit of working with a reputable rescue organization is that they do much of the legwork for you, identifying worthy rescue candidates.

Update: January 22, 2012: Rogue and Seeker's puppies are almost ready to go to their new homes :-) They'll be with us for one more week, and then they're off to new adventures. We can't wait to see them as they grow up!

Storybook In This Life OAJ TDI

GCh Gawain's Mission Seeker RN NAJ NFP TDI

An active, problem-solving, high-drive male will go to Seeker's owner, for life as a potential therapy dog, obedience, agility, and conformation competitor, living with two other Border Collies. A steady female will go to a colleague here where I live and work, living in a dormitory with 22 girls, on 120 acres with 280 teenagers and all that comes with boarding school life, including thrity-five other dogs on campus and seven playing fields outside the front door. An outgoing male will go to a therapist and experienced Border Collie owner and competitor in Texas, a potential therapy dog cohort for abused children. The second female puppy will go to a couple in California as a beloved pet and inspiration for all things Border Collie. At seven weeks, the puppies have met more than 300 different people of all ages, for hours at a time, snuggling, playing recall games, sleeping in puppy piles, being handled clumsily and skillfully, and hearing laughter, squealing children, guitar riffs, Christmas carols, and television shows. They are thrilled to be engaging with the outside world, and they are almost too fast for us to catch on the soccer field.