Important information regarding the following hereditary conditions affecting Border Collies.

Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (CL/NCL)

Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis is a type of lysosomal storage disorder that results in the accumulation of lysosomal storage bodies in the cells of many tissues of the affected animal. This leads to progressive degeneration of brain and eye cells and results in severe neurological impairment and early death. Affected dogs appear normal at birth, but begin to exhibit symptoms early in life – around 1-2 years of age. The age of onset and severity of the disease can vary greatly among individual dogs. The symptoms include progressive motor decline and seizures and loss of coordinated muscle movements, cognitive decline and abnormal behaviour. Visual impairment may occur. Due to the severity of the disease, affected Border Collies rarely survive beyond 26-28 months of age. There is no treatment or cure at this time.

Collie Eye Anomaly/Choroidial Hypoplasia (CEA)

Border Collies share Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) with several other breeds – it is not just a problem for Border collies. CEA is more technically known as Choroidial Hypoplasia (CH). It is a recessively inherited eye disorder that causes abnormal development of the choroid – an important layer of tissue under the retina of the eye. The symptoms and signs can vary greatly among affected dogs within one breed, between parent and offspring, and even within a litter. CEA can affect either one or both eyes. Complications of severe disease can lead to total vision loss.

Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome (TNS)

TNS is a hereditary disease where bone marrow produces neutrophils (white cells) but is unable to effectively release them into the blood stream. Affected puppies have an impaired immune system and will eventually die from infections they cannot fight. Most affected puppies will die or are euthanized by around 4 months of age.


It is important to understand a carrier is not affected by the above diseases, but if bred with another carrier, puppies will be affected. A mating between a carrier and a clear dog will result in some puppies being clear and others being carriers, but NO PUPPIES will be affected. When both parents are clear all puppies will be clear by parentage.

As responsible breeders, Taryja Border Collies has taken care to choose breeding stock whom to our knowledge (as determined by independent DNA testing) are not affected by the above conditions. As a result, we hereby guarantee that NO PUPPY bred by us can be affected by any of the above described conditions.