Health Management
Health Management & Genetic Testing
We hide nothing — not even what's inconvenient.
But testing is the starting point, not the destination. The real work begins here.
Genetic Testing Is the Starting Point, Not the Destination
Border Collies are susceptible to several hereditary conditions. At ROSCH KENNEL, we perform 15 genetic tests on all breeding dogs to eliminate disease expression risk for known hereditary conditions.
However, there is something we must be honest about. Of the estimated 700–900 hereditary diseases in dogs, only about 200 (roughly one-quarter) have had their causative genes identified by current science. The remaining 75% have unknown genetic factors that DNA testing simply cannot cover.
In other words, being "genetically tested" is a minimum benchmark — it does not mean "perfectly healthy." Border Collie-specific conditions such as idiopathic epilepsy (prevalence 3–20%), Border Collie Collapse (BCC), and Primary Lens Luxation (PLL) cannot be detected by DNA testing at all.
Beyond Testing — A Breeder's Responsibility
In recent years, genetic testing has become a trend in the dog breeding world. While testing itself is welcome, it is not the essence. Testing is an "assist" for evaluating health — a minimum line that must be maintained, nothing more.
Testing Is the Minimum Standard
A clear DNA test result is the bare minimum confirmation of safety for known genetic factors. A dog's health is not determined by genetics alone — nutrition, environment, stress, socialization, and what science calls "epigenetics" (acquired factors that influence gene expression) all play crucial roles.
Continuous Research and Observation
For the vast majority of conditions that science has yet to explain, breeders must learn, adapt, and develop countermeasures through daily care and observation. What data can tell, we express through data. What data cannot tell, we express through our eyes, hands, and experience.
The Commitment to Face-to-Face Handover
The essence of health management lies in each breeder's awareness. While the current pet market prioritizes business and volume, without the commitment to hand over each puppy in person, thorough health management remains impossible. We hand over every puppy face-to-face and promise ongoing support after adoption.
Understanding Test Results
Clear
No copies of the mutation. Safe to breed for known conditions.
Carrier
One copy of the mutation. Will not be affected but carrier × carrier breeding is avoided.
Affected
Two copies of the mutation. May be affected by the condition. Generally not used for breeding, but may be strategically paired with a Clear dog when temperament and genetic diversity warrant it, with the goal of returning to Clear in subsequent generations.
Note: For conditions with incomplete penetrance (DM, CEA, etc.), affected dogs may not always develop the disease. Conversely, a clear result does not eliminate risk for conditions not covered by testing.
Understanding Inheritance Patterns
Clear × Clear = All puppies are clear (no risk for tested conditions)
Clear × Carrier = Puppies are clear or carrier (no disease expression for tested conditions)
Carrier × Carrier = 25% of puppies may be affected -- We NEVER do this
Affected × Clear = All puppies are carriers (no disease expression for tested conditions). Used when temperament and genetic diversity warrant it, with the aim of breeding back to Clear in the next generation.
Applied only for conditions with incomplete penetrance (e.g., CEA), after comprehensive evaluation of the individual's health and temperament.
Test Types
The 15 genetic and health tests performed on all our breeding dogs. These cover conditions with currently identified causative genes. All results are published on individual profile pages.
Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA)
A hereditary condition causing structural abnormalities in the eye that can lead to vision impairment or blindness.
Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome (TNS)
A fatal condition where neutrophils cannot be produced normally, causing severe immune deficiency.
Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (CL)
A disease where lipofuscin accumulates in nerve cells, causing progressive neurological symptoms.
Sensory Neuropathy (SN)
A condition causing sensory disturbances and motor ataxia in the limbs due to peripheral nerve abnormalities.
Imerslund-Gräsbeck Syndrome (IGS)
A condition causing growth disorders and anemia due to impaired vitamin B12 absorption.
Multi-Drug Resistance (MDR1)
A genetic mutation that increases the risk of severe adverse reactions to certain medications.
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
A progressive disease causing hind limb paralysis due to spinal cord degeneration. Onset typically in middle to senior age.
Glaucoma (GCS)
A condition where increased intraocular pressure damages the optic nerve, potentially leading to blindness.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
A hereditary eye disease where the retina gradually atrophies, leading to progressive vision loss and blindness.
Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL)
A condition causing motor disorders and cognitive decline due to degeneration of nerve cells.
Hereditary Cataracts (HC)
Hereditary cataracts causing lens opacity, leading to vision impairment or blindness.
Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC)
A hereditary condition causing limb weakness and collapse after intense exercise.
Raine Syndrome (RS)
A condition causing skeletal development abnormalities, affecting joints and bones during growth.
Hip Dysplasia (HD)
A multifactorial condition where abnormal hip joint formation causes pain and impaired mobility. Assessed via palpation.
Elbow Dysplasia (ED)
A multifactorial condition where abnormal elbow joint formation causes forelimb lameness and pain. Assessed via palpation.
Conditions Beyond DNA Testing
The following conditions cannot be detected by current DNA testing. Daily observation, clinical examination, and pedigree management by the breeder are the only lines of defense against these risks.
Idiopathic Epilepsy
Prevalence in Border Collies: 3–20%. Believed to be polygenic with unidentified causative genes. No DNA test exists.
Border Collie Collapse (BCC)
Limb weakness following intense exercise. Cause unknown; diagnosis is by exclusion only.
Primary Lens Luxation (PLL)
Commercial PLL tests detect terrier-type mutations; the causative mutation in Border Collies is unidentified.
Early Adult Onset Deafness (EAOD)
Hearing loss appearing between ages 2–6. Causative gene unidentified; no DNA test exists.
Our Commitment
We Never Breed Carrier × Carrier
All test results are published on each dog's profile page. We never breed carrier × carrier, eliminating disease expression risk for known hereditary conditions.
Carrier dogs are healthy and can be safely bred with clear dogs. However, breeding carrier to carrier carries a statistical 25% risk of producing affected puppies, so we strictly exclude this combination.
Genetic testing can only cover known factors. For conditions beyond testing and environmental influences, we rely on daily health observation, clinical examinations, pedigree data accumulation, and face-to-face puppy handovers for comprehensive health management.
Testing Laboratory
Orivet Genetics
We partner with Orivet Genetics, a US-based genetic testing laboratory trusted by breeders worldwide. Orivet provides cutting-edge testing technology and highly accurate results.
Test results are published on each dog's profile page along with certificate numbers.
View Individual Test Results
What data can tell, we tell through data.
What data cannot tell, we protect through our eyes, hands, and experience.