All of our dogs in the Breeding Program have been tested and are not affected by any of these problems. We do have a couple that are carriers, but that usually doesnt have much affect on the dog or the puppies. Our goal is to better the breed and to eliminate all possible health issues one might have with a collie. The most popular tests that are recommended and accepted in a good breeding program are the MDR1 test and the PRA test. Not only do we test for those but we also test for Collie Eye, Gray Collie Syndrome, Hips and Elbow Dysplasia, Canine DMS, and Brucellosis. 

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MDR1 (Multidrug Sensitivity)

Some dog breeds are more sensitive to certain drugs than other breeds. Collies and related breeds, for instance, can have a genetic predisposition to adverse drug reactions involving many different drugs. These drug sensitivities result from a mutation in the multidrug resistance gene (MDR1 gene.) Dogs with the mutant gene cannot pump some drugs out of the brain as a normal dog would, which may result in severe neurologic signs (Collie Health, "Multidrug Sensitivity").

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PRA (Rod-Cone Dysplasia Type 2)

An abnormal development (dysplasia) of the rods and cones (the light sensitive cells in the eye) that leads to an early onset of night blindness that is typically apparent by the time pups are 6 weeks of age. In most cases, the rcd2  affected dog is completely blind by the time it is 1 year old.  Some Collies have late onset PRA which may start anytime after 4 years old (Collie Health, "PRA-rcd2").

 

Collie Eye Anomaly (Choroidal Hypoplasia)

A recessively inherited eye disorder that causes abnormal development of the choroid – an important layer of tissue under the retina of the eye (Collie Health, "CEA").

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Gray Collie Syndrome (Canine Cyclic Neutropenia)

A fatal condition characterized by cycles of low white blood cell (neutrophil) counts leading to overwhelming infections (Collie Health, "Gray Collie").

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Hips and Elbow Dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip socket and in its more severe form it can eventually cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. Hip dysplasia is one of the most common skeletal diseases seen in dogs and it is one of the most studied veterinary conditions in dogs, and the most common single cause of arthritis of the hips (Collie Health, "Hip Dysplasia").

Recognized as one of the most common causes of elbow pain and lameness (particular in large breeds), elbow dysplasia is a condition caused by growth abnormalities in your dog’s cells, tissues, and/or bones. As these developmental abnormalities worsen over time, it leads to the degeneration and malformation of your dog’s elbow joints. Consequently, this condition is accompanied by elbow pain and sometime lameness (Canna-Pet, "Elbow Dysplasia in Dogs: Recognize the Signs").

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Canine DMS (Dermatomyositis)

Dermatomyositis is an inflammatory disease affecting skin as well as muscle, in extreme cases. This is an auto-immune disease in rare cases can be fatal (Collie Health, "Dermatomyositis DMS").

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Brucellosis

Brucellosis is a contagious disease caused by the bacterium Brucella canis. It is one of the leading causes of infertility in breeding stock. It occurs worldwide, affects all kinds of dogs, purebred and not, and can also be transmitted from dogs to humans. Other animals that can be affected with brucellosis include livestock such as sheep, cattle, and goats, as well as wildlife, including bison, elk, and wild pigs (American Kennel Club, "Brucellosis: Dog Breeders Shouldn’t Skip Testing for This Dangerous Disease").