Collielife

Buying a Puppy

I am sometimes contacted with puppy enquiries. Some are from seriously interested people, but many are from people who have seen a Rough Collie and want one immediately without travelling more than an hour to collect one.

Puppies may be available on public advertising sites, often with a very expensive price tag. Before buying one, please take advice and research the breeder carefully.

We have a list of reputable breeders on this site. Please see the Collielife breeder listing . There are also 13 Rough Collie breed clubs in the UK. Reputable breeders and breed club secretaries should be happy to advise you about what to look for in a well-bred puppy.

Over the years, I have received numerous telephone calls and emails from distraught puppy owners facing considerable veterinary bills and heartache that might have been prevented.

Please take advice before you buy.

Breeders receive many enquiries from people who request photographs and videos before announcing that the puppy is too far away. Please check the breeder’s location before making contact so that you do not waste your time or theirs.

I also receive requests from buyers asking me to contact them when a puppy meeting very specific requirements becomes available—for example, a blue merle Rough Collie bitch within 50 miles of their home.

I have tried maintaining a mailing list in the past. Unfortunately, many buyers did not tell me when they had found a puppy or respond to later emails, so this was not practical to continue.

Contacting a Breeder

Breeders spend a great deal of time, effort and money raising a litter, and naturally want every puppy to go to the best possible home.

If you would like to be considered for one of their puppies, your first message should explain why you can offer the puppy a suitable, permanent home.

Very short messages such as “How much is the pup?”, “Is the puppy still for sale?” or “Can I have an adoption form?” may receive little or no response.

A responsible breeder will want to know where their puppy may be going. Equally, they should be willing to answer reasonable questions about their dogs, the litter and how the puppies have been raised.

If a telephone number is included in the advertisement, a conversation may be helpful because both you and the breeder can ask questions. If you prefer to make initial contact by email, include some useful information about yourself.

Information to Include

Questions you may wish to ask the breeder

  • Have the puppies been raised in the family home?
  • Have they been regularly handled and socialised?
  • Can you see the puppies with their mother?
  • What health tests have been carried out on the parents?
  • What food are the puppies currently eating?
  • What support will the breeder provide after collection?

  • Is the puppy’s Kennel Club registration endorsed?

    Ask the breeder whether any endorsements have been placed on the puppy’s Kennel Club registration and, importantly, whether and under what circumstances they may be lifted.

    • R – Progeny Not Eligible for Registration: The Kennel Club will not register puppies produced by the dog while this endorsement remains in place.
    • X – Not Eligible for Issue of Export Pedigree: The dog cannot be issued with an export pedigree for registration with a foreign kennel club.

    Any endorsements should be clearly explained before you buy the puppy and included in your contract. If the breeder is prepared to lift an endorsement later—for example, following satisfactory health testing—the conditions should also be clearly stated.

    Remember: only the breeder who placed the endorsement can apply to have it lifted.