[storminthenight]

I am thinking of breeding my two border collies in the future, I have one male who is two years old, and a female who is 18 months. Both dogs have their canine good citizen award, my male is training in Rally and is becoming a Pet Therapy dog, my female is training in Agility.
My male just got his OFA hip test back as good, and I wont consider breeding them until my female is at least two years old and gets her hips tested.
Both dogs were at the vet yesterday getting their anual shots, and the vet commented on how healthy and well behaved they both are, I also make sure they always have their heartworm and frontline, they are both indoor/outdoor dogs (sleep indoors at night)
I grew up with an aunt that bred dalmations (back in England) and so I know how it all "works" and I know the risks involved, which is why if I'm going to breed I want to do it right.
I knew I needed to get the hip tests done, but have also been reading that I should get their eyes tested also, and wanted to ask how I go about doing that. I found this website . . .
OptiGen - Submit Test Request
and was wondering if this is the correct way to go?

This isnt something I'm just jumping into, so I wanted to give some back story so you can see I'm not just someone who is breeding their dog because they want "cute puppies".

[Lunareclipse]

I have never heard of having their eyes tested prior to breeding. Wonder what the eye chart looks like. Are Border Collies known for having genetic eye problems? I know some breeds do, but I have never heard of testing for it. Some kind of eye dysplasia. Man, I wish I could remember everything I read. I don't think an eye test is absolutely nessecary unless your breed is prone genetic eye problems.

[storminthenight]

I think they can suffer from Collie Eye Anomaly I dont think its very common though. . .
OptiGen - New Genetic Test for Collie Eye Anomaly / Choroidal Hypoplasia - CEA/CH Test - canine genetic testing
So I would need to get mine tested to make sure they cant pass it on since its genetic.
I think hips and eyes are the only genetic problems to test for in border collies???
I wanted to post on here to make sure, I want to do this right. Ive also heard of CERF before, so I'm not sure if its Optigen or CERF I should have done, if one is better than the other, or it doesnt matter which one is done.

[Lunareclipse]

And I really want to commend you on being a responsible breeder. Are you showing either of your dogs? And don't forget to breed to improve upon the breed standard. ie If your bitch has a slightly longer nose than breed standard, breed her with a dog that has a slightly shorter nose in order to offset this minor fault. That is just a simple example. Maybe you can talk to whoever you bought the dogs from about breeding your dogs and breed standards. If they are reputable breeders, they would know all about it. And they might be able to come to your house and tell you what are of the faults are on your bitch so you know what kind of traits you want to look for when finding a stud. As for your stud, the breeder should be able to tell you what his faults are so you know what to look for when finding a bitch to mate him. I would not breed your dogs together, though, unless they compliment each other's faults as perfectly as possible. The most reputable breeders always looks for the best dog to mate with their dog because they want to produce the best possible puppies. Even if it means they pay for stud services rather than breeding their current dogs. And they let their stud out to the best possible bitch rather than breeding him to the bitch you currently own. Even though you are being responsible by getting all of the tests, make sure that these two dogs are the best possible match for each other before breeding them together.

[storminthenight]

Both dogs are ABCA registered, and the ABCA frowns on dogs being shown in Conformation, they even rovoke their registration if they become a champion I believe.
Border Collies are ment to be bred on working ability and not looks. Both dogs have alot of natural herding instinct, although I dont compete in herding with them. I do Rally with my male, and he also just completed his supervised visits to become a pet therapy dog. And then my female is currently being training in Agility.
Both of them are very smart, I love how quickly they pick things up and they are so willing to please. Neither of them are hyper, bounce of the walls kinda dogs, but they come horse riding with us and can go all day. I can even get them to heal beside the horse when I need to.
I think with their personality and smarts they would add to the breed and not take away. They both look very different, my male is a rough coat with classic white markings, while my female is a smooth coat with prick ears, mottling and split face, but all are acceptable in border collies.
I really think these to would complement each other and have talented pups, but there is still a ways to go before I even know if I will breed them. My female is only 18 months, so until I get her hips tested I wont know if she is breedable.

[Lunareclipse]

Grand! It is good to hear that you are breeding your dogs to do what they are meant to do, rather than their looks. I don't know too much about breeding working dogs, considering the only things my dogs work on is finding a comfortable place to sleep.

[storminthenight]

Thats one of the things I love about border collies, you can have 10 of them in a room and they all look totally different.
My two are like family, I dont think a day goes by that they dont make me smile or laugh, they have alot of character