Why Should I buy a Holly Creek puppy?
"I can find Border Collie puppies all over the internet, what makes a Holly Creek Border Collie puppy special?"
Numerous things make our pups a great choice. We care deeply about the puppies we breed and the people that own them. We want our dogs and our owners to have many years of fun and companionship with each other. To that end we are driven to produce healthy, playful, intelligent, well tempered dogs.
Let's start with health
Before we breed any dog, we perform numerous documented health screenings on them. Like all dogs (purebred or not), Border Collies have a higher incident of certain conditions that are specific to the breed. There are currently seven genetically inheritable diseases that Border Collies can be screened for, and we screen for all of them by using what is called a DNA panel. A DNA sample is provided to the lab, and an analysis is returned. We currently use Animal Genetics Inc, which is an international genetics testing company. When one of our dogs tests positive as a carrier for a recessive trait, we are careful to only mate that dog to another dog that is negative for that trait. A recessive trait is one where the pup must inherit the defective gene from both parents. If either or both of the parents do not carry the gene, the pup cannot inherit that disease.
Hip scoring is another way we ensure that your puppy will live a long, healthy life. We hip score all of our breeding dogs with the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), which is the de-facto joint scoring agency in the US. The results of the tests are both documented with a certificate, which we are proud to show you, and published on the OFA website. Any foreign dogs we use for breeding are also hip scored with their country's scoring authority.
We always advise people, whether they are buying a puppy from us or not, that if a breeder is not proud to show you the health screening documentation for their dogs, don't buy a puppy from them! There are many conscientious, responsible breeders available. Why buy a puppy with an unknown health background from someone who does not care enough to make the necessary investments in their breeding stock? We know all too well the pain and sorrow of buying a sick puppy from an unscrupulous breeder.
Form and Function
All of our dogs are either AKC Conformation Champions (or UK Champions) or are pointed (on their way to a champion title).
"What's the big deal with conformation showing? Isn't that just a beauty pageant?"
Not true! Think of a conformation dog show like you would a stock show at the State Fair. The blue ribbon winning bull isn't just pretty. He's been deemed by experienced cattle judges to be a prize specimen in his breed. He has been judged on all of the attributes that make a bull or cow valuable. Knowing that his offspring will inherit these features gives those that will use him for stud great confidence that their herd will also be valuable for the same reasons he is. This is why all dogs in an AKC Conformation show must be intact. It's a stock show!
When a dog wins a show or becomes a champion, it means that someone who is an expert in the breed has evaluated the dog for form, structure, and temperament. And not just any dog can win, or become a champion. If five dogs are in a show, and none of them measure up to the standards by which that breed is judged, the judge does not have to award any of them a win. I have been in numerous shows where a judge excused a dog from the ring because it did not meet the standard for the breed. Any dog that hopes to win, must also be of a temperament that allows a complete stranger to examine it carefully, while remaining composed. Your puppy will inherit their traits from their parents. You want the best parents you can get! When a dog earns a title, it means that not only did they measure up to the standards, but also that many judges considered them to be the best of many, many dogs.
Physical Ability
Border Collies are an active breed. Most, if not all, buyers want this trait in their dogs. Our dogs are not only well structured, beautiful, and well tempered, they are also very athletic and competitive! Although we do not compete in herding trails or agility, we do train our dogs to do many of the agility tricks and to play Frizbee, as our videos attest. They are very competitive, quick to learn, and full of energy! They absolutely love to play.
Temperament
We strongly encourage prospective buyers to come to our kennels and meet our dogs. We are proud of the fact that our dogs are fun, playful and friendly. Remember, the puppies are made of the same stuff as their parents. You can see where they live, how they live, and how they are cared for. We open our house and our kennels to anyone that wants to meet our dogs.
"But... Your puppies cost more than the average puppy I can find on the internet."
Yes they do. Everything you've read above costs money and takes time. Health screening costs hundreds of dollars per dog. Each show we enter costs us $300-$400 dollars, and it may take several shows to earn a title. When the puppies arrive, we will spend several hours each day for at least eight weeks caring for and socializing the pups. The pups have a dedicated facility that they live in (see our whelping facility page), and for most of their stay with us we sleep in the facility with them. Consider the fact that you will hopefully live with your Border Collie for 14 years or more. Get the best one you can afford. A few hundred dollars over the lifetime of a dog is truly insignificant.
I hope this helps you understand why a Holly Creek Border Collie puppy is truly an outstanding dog.
Cheers,
Dave Thomas
"I can find Border Collie puppies all over the internet, what makes a Holly Creek Border Collie puppy special?"
Numerous things make our pups a great choice. We care deeply about the puppies we breed and the people that own them. We want our dogs and our owners to have many years of fun and companionship with each other. To that end we are driven to produce healthy, playful, intelligent, well tempered dogs.
Let's start with health
Before we breed any dog, we perform numerous documented health screenings on them. Like all dogs (purebred or not), Border Collies have a higher incident of certain conditions that are specific to the breed. There are currently seven genetically inheritable diseases that Border Collies can be screened for, and we screen for all of them by using what is called a DNA panel. A DNA sample is provided to the lab, and an analysis is returned. We currently use Animal Genetics Inc, which is an international genetics testing company. When one of our dogs tests positive as a carrier for a recessive trait, we are careful to only mate that dog to another dog that is negative for that trait. A recessive trait is one where the pup must inherit the defective gene from both parents. If either or both of the parents do not carry the gene, the pup cannot inherit that disease.
Hip scoring is another way we ensure that your puppy will live a long, healthy life. We hip score all of our breeding dogs with the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), which is the de-facto joint scoring agency in the US. The results of the tests are both documented with a certificate, which we are proud to show you, and published on the OFA website. Any foreign dogs we use for breeding are also hip scored with their country's scoring authority.
We always advise people, whether they are buying a puppy from us or not, that if a breeder is not proud to show you the health screening documentation for their dogs, don't buy a puppy from them! There are many conscientious, responsible breeders available. Why buy a puppy with an unknown health background from someone who does not care enough to make the necessary investments in their breeding stock? We know all too well the pain and sorrow of buying a sick puppy from an unscrupulous breeder.
Form and Function
All of our dogs are either AKC Conformation Champions (or UK Champions) or are pointed (on their way to a champion title).
"What's the big deal with conformation showing? Isn't that just a beauty pageant?"
Not true! Think of a conformation dog show like you would a stock show at the State Fair. The blue ribbon winning bull isn't just pretty. He's been deemed by experienced cattle judges to be a prize specimen in his breed. He has been judged on all of the attributes that make a bull or cow valuable. Knowing that his offspring will inherit these features gives those that will use him for stud great confidence that their herd will also be valuable for the same reasons he is. This is why all dogs in an AKC Conformation show must be intact. It's a stock show!
When a dog wins a show or becomes a champion, it means that someone who is an expert in the breed has evaluated the dog for form, structure, and temperament. And not just any dog can win, or become a champion. If five dogs are in a show, and none of them measure up to the standards by which that breed is judged, the judge does not have to award any of them a win. I have been in numerous shows where a judge excused a dog from the ring because it did not meet the standard for the breed. Any dog that hopes to win, must also be of a temperament that allows a complete stranger to examine it carefully, while remaining composed. Your puppy will inherit their traits from their parents. You want the best parents you can get! When a dog earns a title, it means that not only did they measure up to the standards, but also that many judges considered them to be the best of many, many dogs.
Physical Ability
Border Collies are an active breed. Most, if not all, buyers want this trait in their dogs. Our dogs are not only well structured, beautiful, and well tempered, they are also very athletic and competitive! Although we do not compete in herding trails or agility, we do train our dogs to do many of the agility tricks and to play Frizbee, as our videos attest. They are very competitive, quick to learn, and full of energy! They absolutely love to play.
Temperament
We strongly encourage prospective buyers to come to our kennels and meet our dogs. We are proud of the fact that our dogs are fun, playful and friendly. Remember, the puppies are made of the same stuff as their parents. You can see where they live, how they live, and how they are cared for. We open our house and our kennels to anyone that wants to meet our dogs.
"But... Your puppies cost more than the average puppy I can find on the internet."
Yes they do. Everything you've read above costs money and takes time. Health screening costs hundreds of dollars per dog. Each show we enter costs us $300-$400 dollars, and it may take several shows to earn a title. When the puppies arrive, we will spend several hours each day for at least eight weeks caring for and socializing the pups. The pups have a dedicated facility that they live in (see our whelping facility page), and for most of their stay with us we sleep in the facility with them. Consider the fact that you will hopefully live with your Border Collie for 14 years or more. Get the best one you can afford. A few hundred dollars over the lifetime of a dog is truly insignificant.
I hope this helps you understand why a Holly Creek Border Collie puppy is truly an outstanding dog.
Cheers,
Dave Thomas