Breed Health Overview

Border Collies are widely regarded as a hardy, known for their athleticism, intelligence, and overall soundness. While they are generally considered fairly healthy dogs, maintaining that reputation requires thoughtful, responsible breeding and informed puppy buyers. Health is not just an individual concern—it is a shared responsibility among breeders, owners, and the broader Border Collie community. Careful attention to health helps ensure that Border Collies can live full, active lives and continue to excel as working, sport, and companion dogs.

Like all breeds, Border Collies are susceptible to certain inherited health conditions. Many of these conditions are now easily identifiable through genetic testing, making prevention more achievable than ever before. It is critically important that breeders use available genetic tests and make informed breeding decisions so that no puppies are produced that are affected by known, testable genetic diseases. For puppy buyers and breeders alike, obtaining clear documentation of health testing for both the sire and dam is essential. Verified test results provide transparency, protect the welfare of future puppies, and support the long-term health and integrity of the breed.

Ethical breeders perform necessary testing and choose mates based on many factors to produce the most healthy and structurally sound puppies, however, there is no way to guarantee a dog will be healthy its whole life. It is important to stay up to date with Border Collie Health research and information, and find ways to continually improve the health of our beloved pets as breeders and owners.

The Border Collie Society of America (BCSA) recommends:

  • Ethical breeders shall perform necessary genetic testing and not breed dogs that can produce affected puppies (ie. carrier to carrier OR carrier to affected).

  • Ethical breeders should take all necessary precautions to avoid producing dogs with untestable conditions like Hip Dysplasia.

  • Puppy buyers should obtain proof of documentation from breeders of the parents health testing, and breeders should make sure puppy buyers fully understand the DNA status of the puppies, sires, and dams.

DNA Testable Diseases

Border Collies are generally healthy dogs. Genetic testing is available for many conditions that can afflict Border Collies. Genetic testing is an ever-evolving field, as researchers find more ways to identify hereditary conditions. As breeders and Border Collie owners, it is important to stay up to date on the latest information. Below are the current testing available and important to Border Collies. Please click on each name to learn more.

  • CEA - Collie Eye Anomaly

  • TNS - Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome

  • BCG - Glaucoma/Gyniodysgenisis

  • EOAD - Early Onset Adult Deafness

  • MDR1 - Multidrug Resistance/Sensitivity

  • PLL - Primary Lens Luxation

  • Imerslund Grasbeck Syndrome/Intestinal Cobalamin Malabsorption

  • DH/RS - Dental Hypomineralization/Raines Syndrome

  • SN - Sensory Neuropathy

  • DM - Degenerative Myelopathy

  • NCL - Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis

  • MC - Myotonia Congenita

Diseases/Conditions with Physical Tests

The following diseases do not have DNA testing, but are checked with physical tests instead. Conditions not available to DNA test are just as important as DNA testable diseases and should be taken just as seriously.

  • Hip Dysplasia

  • Elbow Dysplasia

  • Shoulder Dysplasia (OCD)

  • Spinal Abnormalities (LTV)

  • Patella Luxation

  • BAER - Hearing

  • CAER - Sight

Common Diseases with no Available Testing

Epilepsy

Lymphoma