REGISTRATION & RECOGNITION
Border Collies in Canada
I am writing this page to clear up some false information that has been circulated in regards to our wonderful breed in Canada.
Border Collies ARE a recognized purebred breed in Canada. However in Canada we have a FEDERAL LAW called the Animal Pedigree Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. 8 (4th Supp.) which is an Act respecting animal pedigree associations. You can read the act in full HERE! This act is actually wonderful in that it prevents fake and false registries of "purebred" or "designer" breed dogs such as the "doodle breeds" which are NOT an actual breed. In other countries there can be an unlimited number of fake or non-reputable associations willing to issue you "papers" for your dog but they will issue them to any dog... you tell them the breed pay them money and they send you a piece of paper WORTH NOTHING except the cost of the paper and ink! An example of a "fake" registry is the Continental Kennel Club in the USA. This act in Canada, preserves the purebred breeds of Animals in Canada and only allows ONE reputable registry per breed, not just dogs, but cats, cows, sheep anything with"purebred" status! How great is that in the scheme of things!?!? This benefits 99.9% of purebred animals in Canada, however it does not the Border Collie...
Because of this act, we are allowed only ONE registration body in Canada for each breed. The CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) holds the registration for 99% of all purebred dogs in Canada. For those breeds, a dog cannot be sold as or advertised as a purebred UNLESS they have CKC registration papers to prove it. Furthermore a purebred in Canada that is registered must be implanted with either an ISO microchip, or tattoo series issued by the registration body before leaving the breeders home. This insures correct records and less chance of faking papers, or confusing one dog with another in the future.
The Federal Pedigree Act requires the registering bodies for each breed to uphold high standards when accepting registration of an animal. Any dog brought into Canada (Imported) are held to these standards as well and must be ISO microchiped, DNA profiled if also AKC reg, and be accompanied by registration papers from the reputable registration body from it's country of origin. United States -AKC or ABCA, Europe- FCI, Australia-ANKC, Britan-KC etc. So as you can see you cannot just register any old dog, it must come from generations upon generations of dogs with papers from reputable bodies to prove it's purebred status for hundreds of years. This is why registration papers are important to prove you are getting what you are paying for. NEVER, NEVER pay for a dog with no papers when the breeders say "both parents are papered but we didn't paper the pups" or "the mom has papers but the dad doesn't but the pups are still purebred". These dogs are NOT purebred and it is a federal law that they cannot state such, or sell a dog as such without papers. They BY LAW need to send you papers within 6 months of purchase if they have sold you what they stated was a "PUREBRED BORDER COLLIE"!!!
Now...back to the fact that the Border Collie is a recognized PUREBRED dog in Canada. BUT there is a catch! :( The registration body of the Border Collie in Canada is the CBCA (Canadian Border Collie Association). Most breeds of dogs in Canada started out the same way, each with their own registry. So there was a Golden Retriever registry and Labrador registry a Yorkshire Terrier Registry and then they all eventually handed over the registry (stud books) over to the CKC. The CKC not only holds registrations, pedigrees, records but they maintain the highest standard of registration as well as do much research into health and education of purebred REPUTABLE breeders. It makes sense to hand all the breeds over to one main registry to maintain the records to the highest standard, as well as keep each breed organized. They maintain Breed Standards for each breed, which were written by the original inventors of each breed and are being preserved for hundreds of years!!! The CKC help to organize and run many events for purebred dogs in Canada, they encourage Conformation, Agility, HERDING, Obedience, Rally, Tracking, Hunt Trials, Barn Hunt and MANY OTHER events in Canada for purebred dogs to compete in. The CKC has an alliance with other reputable kennel clubs around the globe to allow for imports and exports to be registered, and for papers to be moved from club to club between the reputable kennel clubs of each country. This allows for greater variation in gene pools, and the opportunity to share lines between breeders on a global level so that lines can be shared and improved upon.
The problem we have in Canada is that the CBCA REFUSES to hand the Border Collie registration (stud books) over to the CKC. The CBCA is under the idea that if they do that Border Collie will be bred for the show ring only. This is FALSE as each breeder is free to breed for whatever traits they want to breed for. There is NO law requiring anyone to compete in any of the events that the CKC offers. They are ONLY A REGISTRATION BODY, same as a car registration body. You pay a fee and register, they don't tell you what you can do with your car... or where you can take it...or who can be in it!!! They only keep records and maintain them to the standards of the Animal Pedigree Act. The CBCA issues two types of "pedigree levels". Level A is for dogs who are from working register parents who are also Level A pedigreed. Level B is issued to any dog that has ever walking in a show ring, or any dog born from a dog who has show line parents, or any dog who was a Level A and then the owner showed it...or even any dogs from Australian lines. Even if a dog was born a Level A and won numerous herding trials, if they walk into the ring they make that dog a Level B. Walking in a ring does not take away a dogs herding instinct. The CBCA is trying to control owners and what they do with their dogs...
We DO NOT agree with the ideals of the CBCA- Canadian Border Collie Association. We refuse to be controlled and forced to do with our dogs what they dictate to us. They do not own our dogs, nor pay our vet and food costs, nor give us any respect in any way or provide us with any events to enter, and thus we refuse to have anything to do with the CBCA, if at all possible. We will not give them a cent of our money for their registration fees nor show them any support in their endevours. The CBCA is notorious for registering multiple litters from "breeders" who do not health test, nor care about the breed... but because they don't show they are shown respect even though many are "back yard breeders" or "puppy mills". We will not stand by a registration body such as that. We want to be able to compete in ALL venues with our dogs.
Lucky for us, and for many other reputable breeders and Border Collie owners and fanciers in Canada, we found a way to still enjoy our dogs, regardless of the CBCA. The AKC (American Kennel Club) in the USA has made an exception for Border Collie breeders in Canada to register our litters with them. The AKC is the equivalent to the CKC in Canada. They are a reputable registry being in existence since 1884. Normally they do not register litters born in any other country aside from the USA but they have made an exception for Canadian Bred Border Collies. So therefore the Border Collie fancy in Canada has a reputable registry to register their dogs with.
But then how do we show dogs in Canada might you ask!? The CKC issues what is called a MSC (miscellaneous) number that allows dogs to be shown in Canada, in CKC events! Please note that a dog with ONLY a CKC MSC paper is NOT REGISTERED. Your dog must have AKC AND CKC MSC paperwork OR CBCA/ABCA papers AND CKC MSC papers. Again, the CKC DOES NOT issue purebred registration papers to any Border Collie. The CKC MSC number is only an events listing number. The breeder can still register with the CBCA or like us, the AKC or another registry of choice. We suggest the AKC!!!! ;)
WANT TO SHOW A BORDER COLLIE IN CANADA?
If you are interested in showing your dog in Canada in CKC events and join in the fun, it is very possible as long as your dog has registration papers and certified pedigree from a reputable registry. Your dog must be implanted with an ISO Internationally approved microchip. Most vets offer it, you must ask for an "ISO Chip" or contact the CKC to purchase one.
If you imported the dog from outside the USA and plan to breed the dog later, you need to apply for AKC registration so that you can register the pups with the AKC later. CKC is not a registry. To register your dog with the AKC fill this out: images.akc.org/pdf/ADIMPT_1112_stat.pdf?_ga=1.28180284.149843804.1472243827 along with this form you must send the AKC front and side pictures of your dog, you need the dog to have an ISO microchip BEFORE they leave their country of birth and you need to send the AKC a cheek swab of DNA for a DNA profile along with the application. Get the DNA Profile kit here: www.apps.akc.org/apps/store/?view=category&cde_category=DNA&external=yes
To register a litter with the AKC, fill out this form: images.akc.org/pdf/ALITTA_0315_v1_5.pdf?_ga=1.70047632.149843804.1472243827
Firstly, to show in Canada (Canadian resident) and not pay astronomical fees you must be a CANADIAN KENNEL CLUB MEMBER. Here is the form: www.ckc.ca/en/Files/Forms/Membership-Services/Membership/Membership-Application
If your dog was imported into Canada from another country you need to fill out this form: www.ckc.ca/en/Files/Forms/Membership-Services/Registrations/Application-for-Registration-of-Foreign-Born-Dog
If both of your dogs parents have a CKC MSC Number you need to contact the CKC for the correct form to fill out or your dogs breeder, as this form requires your dogs breeders signature. Please not if you buy a CBCA reg dog many of those breeders will not let you get a MSC number on your dogs so if you are really keen on competing in CKC events purchase a dog with AKC registration or from a breeder that agrees to sign your CKC MSC papers prior to paying for the puppy!
We personally apply for CKC MSC Numbers for our entire litters, if you want to do this for your entire litter fill out this form and they will send you a form to send home with each of the pups in your litter. www.ckc.ca/en/Files/Forms/Membership-Services/Registrations/Application-for-Registration-of-Litter-Born-in-Can-en
If you live in the USA and want to come and show your dog in Canada this is the form you will need. Your dog will also still need to be implanted with a ISO Microchip prior to showing here. www.ckc.ca/en/Files/Forms/Membership-Services/Registrations/Application-for-Registration-of-AKC-Registered-Dog
Border Collies ARE a recognized purebred breed in Canada. However in Canada we have a FEDERAL LAW called the Animal Pedigree Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. 8 (4th Supp.) which is an Act respecting animal pedigree associations. You can read the act in full HERE! This act is actually wonderful in that it prevents fake and false registries of "purebred" or "designer" breed dogs such as the "doodle breeds" which are NOT an actual breed. In other countries there can be an unlimited number of fake or non-reputable associations willing to issue you "papers" for your dog but they will issue them to any dog... you tell them the breed pay them money and they send you a piece of paper WORTH NOTHING except the cost of the paper and ink! An example of a "fake" registry is the Continental Kennel Club in the USA. This act in Canada, preserves the purebred breeds of Animals in Canada and only allows ONE reputable registry per breed, not just dogs, but cats, cows, sheep anything with"purebred" status! How great is that in the scheme of things!?!? This benefits 99.9% of purebred animals in Canada, however it does not the Border Collie...
Because of this act, we are allowed only ONE registration body in Canada for each breed. The CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) holds the registration for 99% of all purebred dogs in Canada. For those breeds, a dog cannot be sold as or advertised as a purebred UNLESS they have CKC registration papers to prove it. Furthermore a purebred in Canada that is registered must be implanted with either an ISO microchip, or tattoo series issued by the registration body before leaving the breeders home. This insures correct records and less chance of faking papers, or confusing one dog with another in the future.
The Federal Pedigree Act requires the registering bodies for each breed to uphold high standards when accepting registration of an animal. Any dog brought into Canada (Imported) are held to these standards as well and must be ISO microchiped, DNA profiled if also AKC reg, and be accompanied by registration papers from the reputable registration body from it's country of origin. United States -AKC or ABCA, Europe- FCI, Australia-ANKC, Britan-KC etc. So as you can see you cannot just register any old dog, it must come from generations upon generations of dogs with papers from reputable bodies to prove it's purebred status for hundreds of years. This is why registration papers are important to prove you are getting what you are paying for. NEVER, NEVER pay for a dog with no papers when the breeders say "both parents are papered but we didn't paper the pups" or "the mom has papers but the dad doesn't but the pups are still purebred". These dogs are NOT purebred and it is a federal law that they cannot state such, or sell a dog as such without papers. They BY LAW need to send you papers within 6 months of purchase if they have sold you what they stated was a "PUREBRED BORDER COLLIE"!!!
Now...back to the fact that the Border Collie is a recognized PUREBRED dog in Canada. BUT there is a catch! :( The registration body of the Border Collie in Canada is the CBCA (Canadian Border Collie Association). Most breeds of dogs in Canada started out the same way, each with their own registry. So there was a Golden Retriever registry and Labrador registry a Yorkshire Terrier Registry and then they all eventually handed over the registry (stud books) over to the CKC. The CKC not only holds registrations, pedigrees, records but they maintain the highest standard of registration as well as do much research into health and education of purebred REPUTABLE breeders. It makes sense to hand all the breeds over to one main registry to maintain the records to the highest standard, as well as keep each breed organized. They maintain Breed Standards for each breed, which were written by the original inventors of each breed and are being preserved for hundreds of years!!! The CKC help to organize and run many events for purebred dogs in Canada, they encourage Conformation, Agility, HERDING, Obedience, Rally, Tracking, Hunt Trials, Barn Hunt and MANY OTHER events in Canada for purebred dogs to compete in. The CKC has an alliance with other reputable kennel clubs around the globe to allow for imports and exports to be registered, and for papers to be moved from club to club between the reputable kennel clubs of each country. This allows for greater variation in gene pools, and the opportunity to share lines between breeders on a global level so that lines can be shared and improved upon.
The problem we have in Canada is that the CBCA REFUSES to hand the Border Collie registration (stud books) over to the CKC. The CBCA is under the idea that if they do that Border Collie will be bred for the show ring only. This is FALSE as each breeder is free to breed for whatever traits they want to breed for. There is NO law requiring anyone to compete in any of the events that the CKC offers. They are ONLY A REGISTRATION BODY, same as a car registration body. You pay a fee and register, they don't tell you what you can do with your car... or where you can take it...or who can be in it!!! They only keep records and maintain them to the standards of the Animal Pedigree Act. The CBCA issues two types of "pedigree levels". Level A is for dogs who are from working register parents who are also Level A pedigreed. Level B is issued to any dog that has ever walking in a show ring, or any dog born from a dog who has show line parents, or any dog who was a Level A and then the owner showed it...or even any dogs from Australian lines. Even if a dog was born a Level A and won numerous herding trials, if they walk into the ring they make that dog a Level B. Walking in a ring does not take away a dogs herding instinct. The CBCA is trying to control owners and what they do with their dogs...
We DO NOT agree with the ideals of the CBCA- Canadian Border Collie Association. We refuse to be controlled and forced to do with our dogs what they dictate to us. They do not own our dogs, nor pay our vet and food costs, nor give us any respect in any way or provide us with any events to enter, and thus we refuse to have anything to do with the CBCA, if at all possible. We will not give them a cent of our money for their registration fees nor show them any support in their endevours. The CBCA is notorious for registering multiple litters from "breeders" who do not health test, nor care about the breed... but because they don't show they are shown respect even though many are "back yard breeders" or "puppy mills". We will not stand by a registration body such as that. We want to be able to compete in ALL venues with our dogs.
Lucky for us, and for many other reputable breeders and Border Collie owners and fanciers in Canada, we found a way to still enjoy our dogs, regardless of the CBCA. The AKC (American Kennel Club) in the USA has made an exception for Border Collie breeders in Canada to register our litters with them. The AKC is the equivalent to the CKC in Canada. They are a reputable registry being in existence since 1884. Normally they do not register litters born in any other country aside from the USA but they have made an exception for Canadian Bred Border Collies. So therefore the Border Collie fancy in Canada has a reputable registry to register their dogs with.
But then how do we show dogs in Canada might you ask!? The CKC issues what is called a MSC (miscellaneous) number that allows dogs to be shown in Canada, in CKC events! Please note that a dog with ONLY a CKC MSC paper is NOT REGISTERED. Your dog must have AKC AND CKC MSC paperwork OR CBCA/ABCA papers AND CKC MSC papers. Again, the CKC DOES NOT issue purebred registration papers to any Border Collie. The CKC MSC number is only an events listing number. The breeder can still register with the CBCA or like us, the AKC or another registry of choice. We suggest the AKC!!!! ;)
WANT TO SHOW A BORDER COLLIE IN CANADA?
If you are interested in showing your dog in Canada in CKC events and join in the fun, it is very possible as long as your dog has registration papers and certified pedigree from a reputable registry. Your dog must be implanted with an ISO Internationally approved microchip. Most vets offer it, you must ask for an "ISO Chip" or contact the CKC to purchase one.
If you imported the dog from outside the USA and plan to breed the dog later, you need to apply for AKC registration so that you can register the pups with the AKC later. CKC is not a registry. To register your dog with the AKC fill this out: images.akc.org/pdf/ADIMPT_1112_stat.pdf?_ga=1.28180284.149843804.1472243827 along with this form you must send the AKC front and side pictures of your dog, you need the dog to have an ISO microchip BEFORE they leave their country of birth and you need to send the AKC a cheek swab of DNA for a DNA profile along with the application. Get the DNA Profile kit here: www.apps.akc.org/apps/store/?view=category&cde_category=DNA&external=yes
To register a litter with the AKC, fill out this form: images.akc.org/pdf/ALITTA_0315_v1_5.pdf?_ga=1.70047632.149843804.1472243827
Firstly, to show in Canada (Canadian resident) and not pay astronomical fees you must be a CANADIAN KENNEL CLUB MEMBER. Here is the form: www.ckc.ca/en/Files/Forms/Membership-Services/Membership/Membership-Application
If your dog was imported into Canada from another country you need to fill out this form: www.ckc.ca/en/Files/Forms/Membership-Services/Registrations/Application-for-Registration-of-Foreign-Born-Dog
If both of your dogs parents have a CKC MSC Number you need to contact the CKC for the correct form to fill out or your dogs breeder, as this form requires your dogs breeders signature. Please not if you buy a CBCA reg dog many of those breeders will not let you get a MSC number on your dogs so if you are really keen on competing in CKC events purchase a dog with AKC registration or from a breeder that agrees to sign your CKC MSC papers prior to paying for the puppy!
We personally apply for CKC MSC Numbers for our entire litters, if you want to do this for your entire litter fill out this form and they will send you a form to send home with each of the pups in your litter. www.ckc.ca/en/Files/Forms/Membership-Services/Registrations/Application-for-Registration-of-Litter-Born-in-Can-en
If you live in the USA and want to come and show your dog in Canada this is the form you will need. Your dog will also still need to be implanted with a ISO Microchip prior to showing here. www.ckc.ca/en/Files/Forms/Membership-Services/Registrations/Application-for-Registration-of-AKC-Registered-Dog
