These are the most common questions we have received over the last ten years, if your question is not listed or we have not answered your question in enough detail please email us with the subject heading "Breeding & Rearing Question".

Our Breeding Females
Our Breeding females are chosen for the temperaments, character, trainability, herding instincts. They must fit into our pack both in the house and Kennels, they all get their time as house pets and as flock dogs. These females could be for sale at any time as we believe they deserve to have individual attention as their final reward for working for us. These females will mostly be fully trained experienced flock dogs by the time they are five years old, at which time we will be starting to look for the best possible home for them.
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Our Stud Males
Our Stud Males are chosen for the temperaments, character, trainability, herding instincts. They must fit into our pack both in the house and Kennels, they all get their time as house pets and as flock dogs.
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Hip Dysplasia
Hip Dysplasia is becoming a recognized problem within some lines of Border Collies.

Our females and Males are screened for Hip Dysplasia as soon as possible.

All our puppies are guaranteed that they are sound to do the job which they are purchased for.

Our Stud Dogs are all hip scored or are from hip scored stock, or in some cases when using outside dogs we will generally only use those that are still working sound and agile at the age of nine years plus because it is not common within the ISDS members and handlers to examine and score hips.
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CEA Collie Eye Anomaly
CEA a genetic defect that the puppy is born with, both parents must carry the gene as carriers or affected for CEA, All our breeding stock are tested clear of CEA or in the case of an extraordinary dog they maybe carriers but will be mated only to non carriers. For more information visit www.optigen.com

PRA
PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) is, as it states, a progressive disease, in the Border Collie it is not considered to be hereditary but rather an environmental factor that has in the past caused the disease. However we are still eye testing our Breeding Stock at two years of age for PRA.

All dogs over the age of Two years will be certified physically free of CEA and PRA
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Epilepsy
This is a curse that appears to becoming more common in the Border Collie. However there is very little evidence available as yet to confirm whether it is hereditary or environmental.

We have not had reason to believe that any of our current or past bloodlines are affected with epilepsy.

There is currently research being done in the USA into the disease and if any genes can be isolated in the Border Collie. In the meantime we can only be honest and vigilant, reporting any possible epilepsy cases to the breeder and to the ISDS, including the registration details and veterinary notes on the affected dog, so more evidence and research can take place in order to hopefully one day find a cure or prevention.
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OCD Collie Shoulder
Our only experience of OCD occurred in a grossly overweight puppy who was also not physically fit. We believe at present that OCD in not a problem with the Border Collie provided that the puppy and young dog is kept "mean and lean" in real terms the dog must not be overfed on high protein puppy foods and must be exercised well but not excessively. normal puppy play until the age of 12 mths is what we recommend, No Jumping, No sharp turns under lead. but most important do not over feed.
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Temperament
Good temperament of all our dogs is extremely important but difficult for the average owner to understand when greeted by barking and what appear to be aggressive dogs. Our dogs live in a family pack and visitors are considered as outsiders, but stay with us a few days and you will truly be hooked into the wonderful outgoing friendly nature of even the shyest (lowest in pack order) of the females when they accept you into the pack.
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Where are the puppies born?
Our females give birth to their puppies under observation in the house, usually in the sitting room for our comfort.
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Where do they spend the first weeks?
The puppies spend their first few weeks in the house, (bathroom or kitchen)
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Are your puppies kennel reared?
No, our puppies are reared until five weeks of age in the house where we can handle them as often as possible, and they are exposed to the noises of the hoover, washing machine, hairdryer, television, bathroom and kitchen activities, during the evenings they are invited into the sitting room to socialize with the cats and older dogs including our two Toy poodles. Only at five weeks do the pups go out into the puppy kennels.
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Where do the puppies go at five weeks?
They go into the puppy Kennels which have a heated bed area and a sawdust run which opens up on the the main exercise yard so the puppies under supervision can join with other dogs playing and at other times interact safely through the bars. During the day in good weather they go into the outside puppy run which is overlooking the sheep paddocks and farm yard, they see cars, tractors etc going past. During all this time they are still handled several times a day. The regular photograph sessions give us a real insight into their individual characters.
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Are the puppies handled by Children?
Yes, we consider this essential and have hi-jacked (really they love it) the next door neighbors children almost everyday, weather permitting to come and play with the pups, unfortunately they are growing up and we are just about to hi-jack some younger children.
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How do you socialize your puppies?
Socialization starts the minute the pups are born, being regularly handled, even before the eyes and ears open, is essential to a well adjusted puppy. This handling continues until you take delivery of your new puppy. It is essential that the puppy continues to be introduced to new and extremely varied situations for the rest of their lives as learning never ceases with a dog.
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Are the puppies eye tested?
Before the advent of the CEA gene test we eye tested every litter of pups, but now we know the status for CEA within our breeding dogs we feel there is little need to eye test them at six weeks of age, however we are always vigilant and will adapt again if this is required.
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Can we book or place a deposit for a puppy now?
Yes, we will take a deposit for a puppy but only when the litter is born.

Please email us using the subject heading "puppy waiting list ". We will then place you on the "puppy waiting" mailing list.

You will be notified of any proposed mating's and subsequent definite pregnancies and finally the birth of the litter and the gender of the pups before they are placed on the web site for general viewing.
You will be given a link to view the pups photo's and you may choose your pup.

It is at this time a deposit will be required. 

After persons on the waiting list have had a short time to respond the web page is opened to general viewing only if there are any puppies still available.

We have a waiting list for our puppies and I have found this to be the fairest way to take orders for pups.

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What Guarantee's do you place on your puppies?
If you have purchased your pup for Sheep or Stock work:

If you have purchased your pup for Agility/canine sports/walking companion

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Do you deliver puppies?
Yes, though we do prefer that you visit us at the center, to meet the puppies and their parent/s and of course us, we also understand that it is sometimes impossible to take time off to collect your new pup especially if you are some distance away.

We offer a delivery service throughout the UK, Northern and Southern Ireland
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Do you export puppies?
Yes, we are certified as experienced approved shippers with British Airways and American Airlines and we are well known to other major airlines as regular shippers.

We can offer a complete service,
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Are your puppies suitable as pets only?
As a general rule Border Collies bred to work stock, and our Border Collie Puppies are bred first and foremost for their Herding Ability which could make them unsuitable as ordinary Household Pets. Border Collies need to be exercised every day mentally and physically. Astra Sheepdog Puppies have made top class obedience, agility and fly ball dogs not to mention their success on the Sheepdog Trials field.

We take each application for a puppy into serious consideration.

Border Collies can and have changed peoples lives completely.
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Can we show our puppy in the Breed/Show Ring?
Our Border Collies are not bred with the show ring in mind, they are modeled on the Original Working Border Collie that shepherds have developed over hundreds of generations into the most popular herding breed on the planet. A breed that can turn its paw at virtually anything you ask of it. Showing in the breed ring would drive most REAL Border Collies absolutely MAD.
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Are the puppies registered with the UK Kennel Club?
Our puppies are registered with the ISDS The International Sheepdog Society who have allowed the UK Kennel club to transfer registration from the ISDS into the UK KC.

If you are exporting your puppy you will need to apply for an export pedigree from both the ISDS and the UK Kennel Club in order to transfer the registration into your countries registration body. However the ISDS has truly gone international and has accepted many counties in affiliation with them. Please ask the ISDS for more information on this.
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Can we visit to choose our puppy and again to see it growing up?
We recommend that if possible you visit us at least once to prove to yourselves that we are who and what we say we are, we would also enjoy meeting you and checking you out too.

However if you are unable to visit us, we would love to have regular photo's and accounts of your pup as it grows and matures, the good and the bad. We want feedback to know that we have done our job right.
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At what age are the puppies available to go to their new homes?
As we are licensed by Law as a dog breeder and the LAW states that we cannot allow the puppies to go to their new homes until they are eight weeks old please do not ask us to allow them to go younger as a negative may offend.
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Are the puppies hearing tested?
We have not had reason to believe that any of our current or past bloodlines are possibly affected with deafness. Therefore, due to the current method of examining the puppies for deafness and the stress involved it is not something we do unless we should suspect a problem.
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How often are the puppies de wormed?
Our pregnant females are wormed regularly throughout pregnancy and whilst they are rearing their pups. The puppies are de wormed between two and three weeks of age, this is repeated every two weeks until the puppies leave for their new homes. We do not use supermarket de-wormers only medication issued by a Vet.
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What are the puppies fed on?
We only feed high quality 28 - 30% protein level feed specially formulated for pre-weaned and newly weaned puppies. We also add Ewes milk re placer until six weeks of age at which time the pups are fed on dry food.
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When do the puppies require vaccinations?
Our mothers vaccinations are kept well up to date to ensure maximum cover to the puppy in uteri through to ten - twelve weeks of age when the pups should have started its vaccination program.

When you get your puppy at eight weeks we suggest talking to your own vet about when to start vaccinating and to perhaps cover the pup with a course of three vaccination by the time it is 14 weeks old. But your own vet may advise differently according to the current risk in your area.
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