Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Are these strictly farm dogs?
No. These dogs can live happily in a farm setting, homestead, family with children, or as a companion. We place puppies to the best of our abilities in homes that match their temperament.
​​
Q. How much do these dogs shed?
These dogs shed seasonally - once in the spring and once in the fall. The have an "easy care, teflon coat" that I rarely need to wash as it appears to repel dirt. The only time I need to brush is during shedding
Q. Do I need to live a very active lifestyle to keep these dogs happy?
OTSCs have what is called an "off-switch". Unlike some of their more work-driven relatives (border collies, etc), these dogs are capable of reading the situation moment by moment. They will be ready to go if you are heading out the door for a hike, or content to chill on the floor if it's a quiet day in the house. Personalities differ of course, and we do what we can to place puppies in homes which match their activity level, as some are higher energy than others. Keep in mind, calm behavior is learned as they grow and it is important to provide appropriate stimulation as needed as the puppies mature (chew sticks, toys, plenty of exercise). Very few dogs of any breed are content in the house or a crate all day long! I would never consider a home where the family is gone all day and the dog would be crated for long hours consistently.
Q. Are these dogs good with kids?
Our puppies are raised with our 7 children as well as the family friends we have in our home often for socialization purposes when we have a litter on the ground. Interactions are closely monitored to attempt to keep the puppy's sense of new and different and young people positive. There is no guarantee for any animal, however. Each dog's personality is different and how they may respond to something in the future is always an unknown. As far as our own personal OTSC's, they have been fantastic with our children and I trust them implicitly. We do take special care during early training to work out any possible troublesome behavior.
​​
Q. Are these dog purebred?
OTSC's are not recognized by the AKC; they are not purebred. They are a landrace breed. A landrace breed has "genetically similar and often share physical or behavioral traits, but are not typically influenced by the requirements of an organization" . Rather than being bred for a specific physical appearance alone, OTSCs are bred for particular temperaments and personalities. There are often new dogs introduced from farther sources to bring diversity to the gene pool which helps keep breed out genetic mutations and diseases that often begin to plague purebreds. We do have a registry dedicated to maintaining healthy OTSC lines you can find at www.scotchcollie.org.
Q. What is the average lifespan?
Because these are a landrace breed, their lifespan can be significantly longer, often 12-17 years.​
​
Q. Are there any health concerns or genetic conditions I need to be aware of?
Responsible breeders do their best to breed out the genetic issues these dogs may face. Hip dysplasia has not been a concern in the ancestry of the dogs we have bred. CEA (Collie Eye Anomily) and MDR1 (drug sensitivity) are the most common genetic diseases we deal with. CEA can be carried recessively without harming the dog. MDR1 can be carried recessively and cause sensitivity to some commonly used drugs (ivermectin, etc). Our dogs are clear for all common genetic issues and their pedigrees have an excellent history of hip health.
Q. Have you had your dog's hips tested?
No. We take a more natural approach to hip issues. We choose dogs that come from parents and grandparents that have not had a history of hip dysplasia. We also take precautions during development to ensure hips have the best chance to develop at full strength. We don't trim the puppies nails for one. This gives them better traction on slippery surfaces like hardwoods and tile. We keep puppies off hard surfaces as much as possible during their first few months to avoid hips splaying. Also, in order to get these X-rays, hips need to be splayed forcefully. We choose to avoid this scenario all together and do what we can to ensure proper development at a young age.
​
Q. How big do these dogs get?
It varies, but most females will reach around 40-50 pounds and the males 60-70 pounds. Our new stud, Zeke, is much smaller than the average OTSC male and we are excited to have him breed some smaller male genes into our program for those people looking for a male that won't weigh in quite so large!
Q. How does the puppy selection process work?
Making a deposit only guarantees you a puppy. Selecting a puppy happens after temperament testing is done at 7 weeks old. I know that is a long time to wait to choose a puppy, but 7 weeks old is when personalities really begin to emerge and waiting until then is important to keep the test as accurate as possible. Once temperament testing is complete, I recommend the puppy I think is the best fit for your home in order of when your deposit was placed.
​Q. What happens if I make a deposit to reserve a puppy and none of them seem like a suitable match?
Our goal is to ensure, as best we can, that the pup we place in your home is going to be a successful fit. So, if there doesn't seem to be a good match in the remaining pups for you to choose from, you will be released from your deposit with a full refund.
​
Q. What is ENS and ESI?
Early Neurological Stimulation and Early Scent Introduction! Training techniques begun at 3 days old. Read our blog post to learn more about what it all entails.
​
Q. Are your puppies exposed to loud noises and socialized?
Yes!! We have a large, busy property, a large, busy family and we regularly open our home to friends and family. Our puppies are purposely desensitized to noises ranging from the household (washer, blender, vaccum, etc) to farm (mower, weed-eater, dirt bikes, etc). And, though our family alone covers just about every age group, we are careful to introduce our puppies to a variety of people both young and old with varying appearance.
​
Q. Do you temperament test?
We use the Volhardt Temperament test at 7 weeks old once personalities begin to emerge. This testing process helps us place puppies within the most suitable home. You can read more about it here.
​
Q. Do you expose them to other dogs and animals?
We have two unrelated dogs on the property that are introduced to the puppies. If opportunities arise to introduce them to other dogs we take advantage of that! We also currently have chickens, goats, and cats around for the little pups to meet. ​​​
Q. How much is a puppy?
We ask a $300 deposit to reserve a puppy, with the remaining $1100 due by pick up. ​
Q. What will my puppy go home with?
A scent-blanket rubbed with litter and mama scent, a chew stick for the ride home, a toy, and a few cups of food to help transition to a new diet. Also, we share an informational packet to help you prepare to bring a new puppy home as well as training resources.
​
Q. What type of puppy food do you use?
We start our puppies on Pure Balance Pro puppy food. You can usually find it at Walmart.
​
Q. What is the best way to keep up to date on current and upcoming litters?
Subscribe to our blog!