dont know if any one can help i am trying to find the phone number of a nichelle clunie  she breeds border collie  her affix is carlinmaggie  she live  in fife in scotland   thanks

Did you manage to find this breeders number?  I have one of her pups so have her number somewhere. Also I have her email address.
Out if interest - do you also have one of her pups?

Hello

Just saw your post. We got a collie pup from Nichelle in January 2011 so I have her email address and telephone number if still needed?

Also Shapfell, how are you getting on with your pup? Did you just get it this year too from the Echo/Irn Bru mating?

Hello E1982

My pup came from Nichelle and her parents were Glenalbert Tay Princess and Irn Bru Ed and was born in Nov 2009.  I am afraid I have some problems with her since then.  She had abnormal growth plate development early on which meant corrective surgery once she had stopped growing in Oct 2010.  XRays at the time also showed that she had mild hip dysplasia.  There is some weak bone development which has been picked up recently.  So not the best Collie healthwise that I have owned.  I would be interested to know if I have just been unlucky or if there is any other dogs from this breeder with similar problems.  I was hoping to let her have one litter before having her spayed but this now seems highly unlikely.  Quite disappointing really.

> I was hoping to let her have one litter before having her spayed but this now seems highly unlikely

Impossible I would say.

Just to say that both problems with the growth plates and HD can be caused by over exercising a growing pup, and also by feeding. Just mentioning it as I had a dog that had problems with his growth plates, I changed his food as he was simply growing too fast on what he was on and that was the reason for his problems. Once he was adult he was fine after the food change and plenty of rest -for weeks he wasn't allowed to go for walks at all. I used to drive him around in my daughter's pushchair. I've had 2 other dogs from the same breeder (this is a different breed altogether) and the other two have been fine so I'm sure in my case the problem was caused by me myself.

Shame about her health problems - I couldn't recommend a litter if she's two bone conditions!  Can I ask why you were wanting to breed from her?  I don't know any pups or the breeder - sire is Canen lines and they're pretty common... although I don't know the sire (only that I see he has a lot of 'Sadghyl Pip' in his pedigree)

Just to say that both problems with the growth plates and HD can be caused by over exercising a growing pup, and also by feeding. Just mentioning it as I had a dog that had problems with his growth plates, I changed his food as he was simply growing too fast on what he was on and that was the reason for his problems. Once he was adult he was fine after the food change and plenty of rest -for weeks he wasn't allowed to go for walks at all. I used to drive him around in my daughter's pushchair. I've had 2 other dogs from the same breeder (this is a different breed altogether) and the other two have been fine so I'm sure in my case the problem was caused by me myself.

This is interesting - I've known many pups to suffer OCD from over feeding/over exercising and I've known hip problems (not HD) from overexercising (well significant over exercising) a youngster.  Yes, bone conditions can be caused by over exercise and incorrect feeding, but there may well be a pre-disposition to HD if this has been 'caused' by incorrect food and/or exercise.  I probably wouldn't want to breed from a dog who had two major bone issues.  My GSD grew so fast that I really couldn't keep up with her food - yet she didn't suffer any bone problems, she was very active too from 6months old.  I wouldn't be so quick to blame yourself - it may have been down to breeding, it doesn't seem 'right' that a pup shouldn't have any walks (unless young - I don't often let mine go on walks for the first months they get plenty of play in the garden).

I wouldn't be so quick to blame yourself - it may have been down to breeding, it doesn't seem 'right' that a pup shouldn't have any walks (unless young - I don't often let mine go on walks for the first months they get plenty of play in the garden).

I really think in this case it was the feeding as the pup only recovered when the food was changed -and the vets he saw both agreed. Also it wasn't even a large breed but a toy, from very wellknown lines indeed. :)

I certainly wouldn't put the blame on the breeding without a lot of evidence of similar problems. I've used Bru on my bitch twice and know of another couple of breeders who have used him and they are the healthiest pups imaginable. I can only think that you have either been very unlucky or, as has been suggested, the problems were caused by a combination of feeding and exercise.
I certainly wouldn't consider breeding from her with any of the conditions that you have mentioned let alone all of them combined. It is very disappointing when you have had your heart set on it, but hopefully you will have the opportunity to breed from a healthier bitch in the future.

Were the parents and earlier generations hip scored with reasonable results.

The growth plate issue is likely to be just poor luck.

> sire is Canen lines and they're pretty common... although I don't know the sire (only that I see he has a lot of 'Sadghyl Pip' in his pedigree)

My boy has the lines you've mentioned, and I have had no growth problems at all.  Have to say the line has temperament to die for.  All my boy wants to do is please me.

I find the Sadghyl Pip dogs have some odd traits...I have one who does, know a lot who do :-( I believe this dog had a wonderful temperament, but for me I wouldn't have another one, or would go with it once a long way back.  One is enough for me... glad others have ones without the issues I've seen.

Thanks to all the comments to my posting.
I don't put the blame on breeding as it must be a minefield out there.  I was just wanting to know if anyone had similar problems with this line, or for any collie come to that.  She has always been fed on Orijen with a small amount of Burns plus some raw food.  My other Collie has been fine on this.  As to exercise, she is very high energy beastie (perhaps because she is a 'Red'?)n and although I did restrict her exercise until she was about a year old, apart from nailing her to the floor or crating her, am not sure I could have restricted her anymore.  Totally fearless and with an unequalled zest for life am sure that this has in part contributed to her condition.  Her temperement is fantastic, mischievious, naughty and afraid of nothing I wouldn't swap her for the world.

> perhaps because she is a 'Red'?)

Interestingly, my boy is too.  :-)

And, like you, I wouldn't swap him for the world.  I love the fact that he adores me and thinks I'm perfect (and I don't want a 2nd opinion)  :-)

The only thing that I find "odd" is more of an unusual trait, more in keeping with a gun dog.  He is the softest mouthed Collie I have ever owned.  I would allow a 3 year old to hand him a biscuit, he is so gentle.

And the easiest ever to train.  Very, very biddable.

Thanks to all the comments to my posting.
I don't put the blame on breeding as it must be a minefield out there.  I was just wanting to know if anyone had similar problems with this line, or for any collie come to that.  She has always been fed on Orijen with a small amount of Burns plus some raw food.  My other Collie has been fine on this.  As to exercise, she is very high energy beastie (perhaps because she is a 'Red'?)n and although I did restrict her exercise until she was about a year old, apart from nailing her to the floor or crating her, am not sure I could have restricted her anymore.  Totally fearless and with an unequalled zest for life am sure that this has in part contributed to her condition.  Her temperement is fantastic, mischievious, naughty and afraid of nothing I wouldn't swap her for the world.
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Lol... no I don't think it has anything to do with the colour 'red', more to do with being a collie perhaps?  I have three reds and they're as nutty as my 2 'blacks' and my 'blue merle' - it's the merle who has some similar lines and he's the one with odd habits.  I tried Orijen and it was fine for my adults, but a litter of sheps I had didn't do at all well - it made them very lose and one suffered an intussuseption and had to have an op.  I changed to Fish4dogs and they were fine.  Conversely a friend had a pup with an intussuseption and was feeding them fish4dogs!  Seems different things suit/don't suit different dogs.  However, you have to keep the amount of carbohydrates down with Orijen (that's the point of it) so I'd cut out the burns and give more raw/vegetable as burns includes rice. 

Hello Shapfell

Really sorry to hear about the growth problems in your pup. My pup is very young (just 5 months) but so far has been very healthy and seems to be growing fine.

I've spoken to a few people with Irn Bru pups and likewise they are healthy so it might just be unlucky I'm afriad.