Hi there, we still haven't decided which breed of dog would be the right addition to our family, but are now considering a red and white collie or working sheepdog, I have looked on the CD breeders page but not many have their own websites so cannot get much of an idea what percentage of BC's are red, I did find a site that listed all the different colours, I didn't realise they were so varied! Are there any BC experts out there? Are we being foolish just looking at one colour? Is it any different from preferring a black lab over a yellow or a chocolate?
Any thoughts would be appreciated, but be gentle, I have had a killer of an afternoon with a too tired and grumpy 3 year old!!! :(
Hayley

My bc pup, Abby, comes from lines that usually produce black/white, or blue/white, with the occasional tri/black. However there is red in the background and the last litter the breeder had produced her first two reds (already homed, sorry!). So they can crop up where not expected, but you would do better finding a breeder who regularly has reds cropping up, or it could be an incredibly long wait!:)
"My" breeder (not being possessive, or anything!) is a mine of information so I'll ask if she knows of anyone and get back to you, if you like?
LynnT

Thanks Lynn, it would be good to get info from someone in the know, we haven't made a final decision about anything yet, we are not very good at decisions - it has taken us a year to decide we might get a new car! - we are certainly not in a rush, better to get the right dog, and we go away on holiday at the end of May so not fair to get a dog until we are back home (our other dogs are booked in with a local dogsitter)
It would be good to know what are our chances of getting a red and it would be great to hear of any potential breeders that we could visit.
Thanks again, Hayley :):) (kids are in bed, other half cooking dinner, Eastenders on soon, life is looking better!!!)

Hi I am afraid your chances of getting a brown border collie(reds are Australian even though some people call them that) are fairly slim it seems to be the in colour at the moment and are in high demand puppies are being booked long before they are born:(

Thanks satincollie, I had a sneaky feeling that might be the case, it doesn't really matter, after all it is the rest of the dog that is important, I certainly won't discount the breed on that info, I quite like the tri's and some others too. Is there any feeling in the breed that diff colours can have diff personalities? In Labs, I have always found the blacks easier than the yellows (very vocal) and the chocolates a wee bit madder than the others (JIMHO of course!)
Thanks again, Hayley

Hi never really thought about it but having 2 BC's and 2 WSD's I would say my Tri is the noisey one the blue merle the laid back one and the other two well pretty much the same as each other typical what we doing now mum collies although they are mother and daughter so that could explain their likeness even if one is blue and white and the other classic black and white.Having said that it also depends on working instinct as i'm sure it does with Labs normally the farm or obedience breed WSD are more hyperand need more stimulation to keep them occupied.As you can see I don't have a favorite colour so long as its a proper collie ;) Best Wishes Gillian

Thanks Gillian, out of interest do you do show, do obedience or agility with your collies? I am hoping to do obedience and agility (prob more agility though once old enough), I also noticed you are in Cumbria, my fave part of the world! Always said I would move there one day but seem to be getting further and further away! First Hertfordshire, now Surrey and possibly Hampshire in the next few years, oh well looks like the New Forest will have to be a good substitute!!
Thanks again, will let you know if we want a collie, I expect you know some good breeders!
Hayley

Hi yes I show my to BC's the WSD's are just pets have done obedience for fun not to compertion level though.I do know some breeders just let me know if you decide on a BC :D

Have you considered an Australian Shepherd? They come in Red Tri and Red Merle. They are EXCELLENT all rounders!

Hi Quinn and having myself just been intoduced to a puppy of this breed I think they are wonderful outgoing characters.If only I could just squeeze one more in:D

I have to say my previous collie was a WSD and couldn't have been more laid back if she tried, where Abby (kc reg.border collie) is a real little madam. So there are exceptions to every rule.
Gillian's girls are beautiful-looking dogs:D
LynnT