Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s, The Little Prince

“Men have forgotten this truth,” said the fox. “But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.” (and bred)

Dogs and Puppies Available

In the process of building the next generation of working dogs, new dogs arrive at the farm and there are litters of new pups with carefully chosen sires and dams. Some pups and young adults will fit better than others and will be offered to new homes.

I am selective about homes/situations for puppies …esp. for older puppies and young dogs. The fit and timing have to be right. That requires a visit to the farm to meet the pup(s)/dog(s) and to make sure the fit is right all around.

Across litters:

  • 30% are working collies only —strong drive, too intense, need work
  • 30% are pure pets —low working drive, softer natures
  • 40% are somewhere in the middle

My strong preference is for working farms or companion homes. I avoid selling pups / dogs to sheep dog competitors.

Puppy prices typically range from $3000 – $3500. Puppies remain with their littermates here for a minimum of 12 weeks, normally I hold them to 16 weeks, or even longer as their personalities and talents reveal themselves.

Part of the reason I keep pups longer is to see who is who among the pups. People can’t just come and shop for cute puppies like cars at 4-6 weeks and take them home at 8 weeks. They can’t ‘reserve’ puppies in advance. These are living creatures. I want what is best for them …the right home. That takes more than 8 weeks. And I won’t sell a pup if I don’t think the fit is right.

I tell people to be prepared to pay for quality, but don’t overpay for quality that isn’t there. My pups are at the very top end of what you should pay for a border collie pup. Good working collie pups range from $1000 – $ 3500. If people are going to pay more for a pup, they need to make sure it is worth it —to them.

My pups’ lines are excellent, the puppies are well-reared and prospective owners get an honest assessment of who they are. Over the life of a dog, you can expect to spend $50k-$60k for that dog. An additional $1000 or even $2000 up front is worth it, to get the right dog …I think. I understand that people have a budget that may only allow $1000, so they have to take their chances. A very good pup can be had for $1000, but the odds of getting one are (much) lower. Similarly, people can pay $3500 for a disaster. That shouldn’t happen if buyers have done their homework as a buyer and used their senses and head to determine if they like the breeder and her/his puppies. Even a shelter pup is $500-$700.

I raise some of the best working collies in the country, because I am very careful about breeding (using UK/Eire stock), do only 2-3 litters per year, and give pups extra time with their litter and adults, similar to what they would have in a natural pack. Any pups with issues are given away to good homes or are sold locally at a very sizable discount. The pups I sell to the public are not like people will find elsewhere. They are pure premium.

In some special circumstances, puppies and dogs can be transported by air on non-stop flights out of a buyer’s pickup area to be met by the buyer. Pups and dogs will be delivered to Boston Logan Airport.

Third party ground couriers are generally not a delivery option for the pups and dogs. However, I have found one responsible pet courier who predominately works the eastern half of the United States: Main to Florida, east of the Mississippi.

Meg with Newborn Puppies
2 Week Old Pups

Pups / Dogs currently available:

Please contact me if you have interest in one of these.

Born But Not Yet Ready

Sue x Ormond Mirk Pups

Sue and Ormond Mirk puppies are line bred from Dewi Jenkins’ lines: Mirk, son of Dewi’s International Supreme Champion, Jock and Sue, daughter of the most demanded sheepdog stud in the world, Dewi’s Clwyd Bob. A pair of Sweeps from James McCloskey and Ricky Hutchinson in the mix make this is an exciting match!

On Independence Day, Sue gave birth to 5 healthy pups, 4M/1F.

In the ‘lusty month of May’, Sue and Mirk tied the knot
Sue x Ormond Mirk Pups 9 Days Old
6.6% moderate line breeding around Dewi Jenkins International Champion, Jock

Nel x Blu Pups

I reached out to the owner of the toughest, smartest, most-driven dog I have bred, named Blu, and asked if I could mate him to my best breeding female, James McCloskey’s Nel (by Sweep), who breeds big, strong, forward pups.

The result on 25-October, was 10 pups (5M/5F). Taking interest in the pups for working (as in farm) homes only. Pups will be ready to go mid-February. Price is $2975, fully vaccinated and registered with the International Sheep Dog Society.

What age to purchase a pup?

Most dog breeders allow puppies to go to their homes at 8 weeks.

Prospective owners of Thundering Paws pup do not choose a working collie pup or take the pup home before 12 weeks, minimum. Generally, they wait until the pups are 16 weeks …sometimes older.

Why keep pups longer than 8 weeks?

  1. Extra time with littermates makes pups more independent (and dog-like) which is a desirable trait in working collies
  2. Pups are constantly changing and at different rates. More than 8 weeks is needed to see who the pup really is. A pup’s personality comes out in the relationships with littermates and adults
  3. Breeding for myself, it is important to retain the pups with traits most desirable for me. Those take time to reveal themselves.

The downside of keeping pups longer is that some pack dynamics and hierarchies set in. A pup might become more dominant or submissive that it might be if removed from the litter/pack earlier.

Advantages of older pups:

  • Pup is a known quantity
    • Temperament (any fears, aggression, other quirks)
    • Health issues
    • Herding affinity

These are important for not just choosing the right pups for me but matching them to the right new homes

  • Hard work of molding a puppy is done
    • 3-9 month period can be very challenging and time-consuming
    • Even 9 month old pups are still playful and moldable. They are ready for their new life and so much less work.

I don’t purchase pups myself until they are 9 months or more. I have to “see what they are made of”. Taking 12-16 week old pups is too risky for me. Puppies are changing all the time and what I thought I saw at 8, 12, 16 weeks may or may not last and new behaviors come up.

If you not do not see collie here that fits, please check…