My wsd is going to be 5 in february, and i have been told that she is starting to develop arthritis in her toes from acting like a loon all the time. She has been plagued by injuries this year and i am starting to worry that i will have to retire her from competition early that i thought. (I was convinced she would go on forever!) I'm now starting to think about getting another one in the next year or two. My other 2 yonger dogs, whilst i love them, just havent got the collie motivation and speed that i love in megan. (Just gotta convince mum as i still live at home!)
As i know waiting for a pup can be a long process i have started looking around for potential breeders. I am completely lost. Trouble is this will be my last dog for a while as 4 really is my limit and i want it to be perfect. I must admit i still look out for rescue dogs, but having had 3 from dubious beginnings and parentage i would really like to know that i am getting it right this time. I want a medium coated bitch with preferably pricked ears, who is althletic in build (not too stocky)that is fast and hopefully likely to become ball mad, and obviously i want one that is healthy and of good temperament. It would be for agility and most importantly flyball, hence why it needs to be fast and ball motivated. I'm not really fussy about colour, although am not keen on blue merles. I have been advised that it is better to go to proper sheep dog breeders rather than agility/flyball breeders, but i have no idea if thats true. I know some of you have knowledge of such things and i wonder if you could help me work out where i should be looking.

Unless you are very experienced with the breed I would not recommend a farm bred collie. 

Wherever you go, make sure the sire & dam are hipscored, each with a score less then 13.  The lower the better.  They should both be DNA tested for CEA too, or clear by parentage.  There is no excuse not to have these heath checks these days.

Other then that, you can look at agility, obedience or breed bred collies.  Just remember the with the 'loopy' ones, 99% of the time you want them to live as a family pet.

>Unless you are very experienced with the breed I would not recommend a farm bred collie.<

I wish i'd known that 5 years ago megan was farm bred and my first dog, which ertainly was a baptism of fire! Mind you after quite a difficult puppyhood, we came through the otherside and i can't say i could wish a better dog know, active and intelligent but fantastic with people, especially children.
What are the differences between a decent farm bred collie and a agilty bred dog for example? Di you think they just have a stronger herding drive or are there other differences?

It might be a thought to look at some of the dogs bred for working trials. I am no expert on them or their breeding, but if you want a dog for competition which is bred for soundness, you may find they are what you are after. Obviously I'd advise talking lots to the breeder, as you want to make sure you can live with them too :P

The other thing might be a show bred collie - they may be easier to live with, but I'm quite sure could still be ball motivated and so on.

What are the differences between a decent farm bred collie and a agilty bred dog for example? Di you think they just have a stronger herding drive or are there other differences?
Lindsay

I knew a farm bred collie for years - 13 in fact - as he belonged to one of my good friends :) He was wonderful but totally obsessed.When she sat down, he was constantly asking her for games, and to play with him. He never stopped. However, it was just her and him and I think with traininghe would have relaxed more. She did "work" him in the sense she used his instincts to find and control very large sticks (not advised, I know) and would direct and control him much as a shepherd would, but on a much smaller scale.
x

>Do you think they just have a stronger herding drive or are there other differences?

They do have a stronger herding drive, but also a stronger eye which can make it difficult to get them to focus on what you want them to do.  They can also have an inability to switch off, which makes them difficult to live with.

A lot of show bred collies have strong working lines in their pedigrees, but usually well back, this tends to make them easier to live with but they are still willing to work.  What you should get with a show bred collie is excellent conformation, very important for an agility dog in my opinion.

My BC is show bred but her lines go back to obedience dogs and an obedience champion, easy to live with but can work too.

I know of a planned litter for late next year/early 2008 the parents are health tested & are a mixture of KC obedience/NZ/ISDS lines bred to work. The previous litter are around 6 months old now & look very promising-not too keen on the NZ lines because of the "type"(heavy bone/coat)but the ISDS is closer up & they are line bred to a very good dog & the puppies have definitely got his "look"& fortunately the NZ lines are at the back of the pedigree

This will be my first ever KC only registered BC(only had ISDS dogs in the past & present)& I am very choosy as to breeders

If you are looking for a serious competition dog you could do no better than the Waggerland Kennel.

Multiple CCs in Working Trials/Obedience and Agility.

Alternatively look at Genabacab, Anasonata, Glenalpine, Stillmoor affixes etc all of which are very successful in more than one field.

my pup is by WTch WAGGERLAND MISTER jake. hes super!

the best thing to do is find out the breeding of dogs that you like the look of & find out what lines you like

Its so difficult! I have seen some waggerlands that seem nice, do you know if they have a website anywhere?

We have a Waggerland at training that is shall we say 'sharp' without any warning.  Saying that it works beautifully and luckily he has an experienced handler.  Unfortunately there are no guarantees whichever lines you go for, but a lot of homework and going out to meet dogs and owners will certainly cut the risks.

Hi Lucy,
Just to say, if you would like to rescue a Collie, Wiccaweys have some lovely dogs, and they are Collie experts, so will match you with the most suitable dog for you, and will always give advice if needed.