If you are looking to purchase a Collie, I cannot stress enough the need to do research and make yourself a smart buyer and a smarter owner.  Your Collie will thank you for it.

You have many choices when it comes to purchasing a Collie for you or your family.  You can spend just a little time and purchase whatever is available from wherever you can find it, or you can spend a little more time researching the options available and gain confidence and security in your choice.  Education will save time and heartache over the long run. 

I do not have puppies very often and breed only for myself to continue the family of Collies I believe will improve the future of the breed.  I would love to place Collies with all the qualified families that contact me but raising puppies is a lot of work when done conscientiously and I don’t believe it should be done for money. Even though I only have dogs available on occasion, I want to give buyers as much information as possible and hopefully provide the tools for identifying a dedicated breeder. 

Tercan Companion Collies – Puppies or adults that are available as companions receive the same care and attention as those destined for the show and performance rings.  This means they are familiar with grooming, traveling, and other dogs and people (varies by age of the Collie).

Tercan Show/Performance Collies - Puppies or adults that are available for show and/or performance homes are also raised as companion animals.  They are not kennel raised and will expect to be a part of your family.  Conformation show prospects are placed based on whether they deserve to finish and stand as a quality example of the breed. Not all Champions are created equal and while not every Collie may have the opportunity to shine in the ring, I want to produce a Collie that truly deserves the title.

Before purchasing a Collie, consider the option of adopting from a Rescue Organization. The Collie is not a breed that is routinely dumped or surrendered but if you want to give a Collie a second or third chance, I definitely recommend contacting a rescue organization to see what is available.  Click on the word 'Rescue' above for more information.

Any litter produced should be for the betterment of the breed. The American Kennel Club has served as the oldest and most respected breed registry in the United States.  This registry not only records lineage on each breed, the AKC also partners with each Parent Club to establish a written standard on the characteristics of each breed.  For Collies, our parent club is the Collie Club of America (www.collieclubofamerica.org).  The written standard of the Collie covers many physical aspects of the breed and those physical characteristics define the Collie as unique among dogs. Not only should the goal of breeding dogs be to improve the physical and mental characteristics of the breed, but reasonable health clearances and medical testing specific to that breed should be performed.  The written standard for the Collie does not address any health issues so it is up to responsible breeders to produce both a beautiful dog and a dog with a good quality of life.  There are dozens of tests that can be run for the Collie or any other breed and not all of the disorders impact quality of life. Some tests focus on problems that have very low incidence while others should be considered for all breeding stock.  The Collie Club of America has put together a great primer on the Collie and more information can be found here.

The same tests and healthcare procedures apply to all puppies regardless of whether the puppy stays here at Tercan Collies or is placed in a companion or show/performance home. Current routine screening procedures for Tercan Collies are below however should a problem arise with the dog itself or if there is a sudden increase of a problem in the breed in general, additional specific testing will be performed.

Eye Exam – performed as close to 7 weeks as possible on all puppies by a Certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist only.  This exam screens for all physical defects of the eye.  Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) is estimated to affect over 75% of all Collies and is also evaluated in this exam.  The severity of the problem varies as does the impact on your Collie and the majority of Collies with CEA have only a small percentage of vision impairment that affects quality of life.  While many websites and ophthalmologists state nothing but a 'normal eyed' Collie should be bred, this is not a realistic expectation and would effectively leave a gene pool so restricted that many serious issues would develop.  The challenge of a responsible breeder is to balance known genetic influences against the overall quality of life of the dog while meeting the requirements of the standard. Finding a Collie that meets the standard of the breed out of the small percentage of normal eyed Collies is a challenge and I don't believe it should be pursued at the expense of the rest of the dog.  There is no doubt that reduction of CEA in Collies is a long term project.  To learn more about Collie Eye Anomaly, visit YOUR COLLIES VISION.

MDR1 - There is now a testing system available to screen for drug sensitivity in Collies.  Breeding stock will be screened over time however it is important to note that due to the prevalence of MDR1 in the Collie breed (estimated 75% have the gene), each Collie is considered affected until proven otherwise.  As such, precautions must be taken when your Collie requires medication or surgery.  For more information on MDR1, visit http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/

Hip Dysplasia – only breeding stock is screened.  Hip Dysplasia is not considered a significant problem in Collies therefore screening by breeders is relatively low.  I am pleased to report that Ch. Gentry's Mind Games, Ch. Bravo Tercan New Attitude, and Bravo's Tercan Voices Carry have all tested as OFA Excellent.  To learn more about the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), visit www.offa.org

Whether you choose a companion or show/performance prospect, each Collie comes with return options for the lifetime of the dog as well as health guarantees.   Samples contracts can be found at the bottom of this page and will be customized according to your goals. The contract is intended to support the puppy, the buyer, and the breeder.  Contracts are meant to ensure the puppies well being once it is in its' new home.  Consider your contract to be your Collie’s “warranty card” for the future. 

In addition to your sales contract conditions, companion or show prospect Collies are eligible for Title Rewards so you actually get money back for successfully completing AKC and Collie Club of America titles.  Here are some examples of possible rewards:

AKC CD: $30

AKC Rally: $10-$30

AKC TD: $30

AKC HT: $25

AKC CGC: $10

AKC CDX: $40

AKC AJ: $30

CCA HIC: $10

I love to see Collies in performance and believe the relationship between owners and their dogs benefit with the teamwork required for performance and conformation titles. Whether your Collie is destined for the show ring or the couch, thousands of dedicated breeders have worked for hundreds of years to protect and improve the breed. It is a privilege and an honor to continue the work and it should not be taken lightly.

Aren’t all breeders pretty much the same? 

The short answer is no.  For the long answer….click here.

Your next step…. 

Contract examples....coming soon!

Contact me...what are you looking for?  What personality do you like in your dogs?  What is your lifestyle like?  Let's Talk!