Work First, And There Is No Second

I stumbled across and old email from my late friend (and award-winning author) Donald McCaig who bird-dogged me (pun intended) to language on the web site of the American Border Collie Association. This is from the ABCA’s current web site at >> https://americanbordercollie.org 

▪️Dogs Ineligible for ABCA Registration The ABCA is a working stockdog registry and believes that breeding for conformation standards rather than working ability is detrimental to the health and working ability of the Border Collie. The ABCA does not recognize any registry that promotes conformation showing of Border Collies. Consequently: ** Registration with the American Kennel Club, Canadian Border Collie Association Section B Registry, United Kennel Club, the Kennel Club (UK), Federation Cynologique Internationale, Australian or New Zealand Kennel Clubs, or any such body will not be accepted as a basis for registration with the ABCA. 

▪️Dogs or bitches which have been named a “‘Conformation Champion’ by a conformation registry are not eligible for ABCA registration, even if they otherwise meet the requirements for registration. The ABCA will de-register any ABCA registered dog or bitch should it be named a ‘Conformation Champion’ after January 1, 2004, and will not register the offspring of any dog or bitch named a ‘Conformation Champion’ after that date.”

From the ABCA’s code of ethics:

▪️BREEDING AGE Even a basic evaluation of males and females being considered for breeding ‐‐ in terms of health, working ability and temperament ‐‐ cannot be accomplished until they have reached at least 18 months of age. (Note: Hips cannot be fully evaluated and approved as normal by the ABCA‐accepted certifying institutions before the age of two years, and the onset of epilepsy typically occurs anywhere between one to three years of age. A female should not be bred before 18 months of age or after her 9th birthday. A veterinarian should be consulted when breeding an older female or one that has had any prior problems in breeding or whelping. 

▪️BREEDING FREQUENCY Breeders should ensure that litter numbers are consistent with both sound breeding principles and the best interest of the individual female. Sufficient time to evaluate the health and stock‐working ability of the preceding litter is recommended before rebreeding a male or female. A female should not produce more than 4 to 5 litters in a lifetime, and only if the female remains in good health. 

▪️EXCESSIVE BREEDING The ABCA is strongly against the commercial breeding of Border Collies for the pet market. Breeders should aim for quality and not quantity. A breeder producing more than a few (4‐5) litters per year may not be producing the quality of dogs necessary for preserving the Border Collie as an outstanding working dog and may not have enough time for proper care, socialization and placement of the puppies.