Kuykendall’s Border Collies: Breeding & Training

Kuykendall’s Border Collies offers a comprehensive training program for the dogs they breed and sell, transforming pups into skilled working partners. Training begins as early as six weeks with early neurological stimulation and environmental enrichment, followed by controlled exposure to livestock by twelve weeks. The formal curriculum includes foundation work, basic obedience, handler connection, progressive introduction to various livestock types, and development of essential gathering and driving skills.

Advanced training covers distance control, directional commands, proper stock pressure, force calibration, and complex problem-solving in real working situations. Dogs undergo intensive livestock handling instruction, mastering close work and extended distance control, and are exposed to diverse weather, terrain, and stock handling scenarios. Goose dogs are started on sheep and goats, then moved to clipped-winged birds on land and in water, with extensive on-the-job training at Goose Masters properties.

They also provide handler training through lessons, clinics, and sheep camps, preferring individuals to visit their 85-acre facility in Franklinville, NC. This facility includes a state-of-the-art kennel, five lots/fields for various training levels, three ponds, a stream for water work, and a variety of animals (sheep, goats, geese, ducks) for optimal control. They also offer on-site visits to clients’ facilities if necessary. The training is customized to client specifications, ensuring a perfect match between dog and handler.

Kuykendall’s Border Collies is a family-owned and operated business in Franklinville, NC, with a tradition spanning three generations. They specialize in breeding, raising, and training Border Collies that excel in work, sports, and companionship. Their program focuses on producing puppies with sound minds, stable temperaments, and the intelligence and agility characteristic of the breed.

They carefully select sires and dams from strong ninth and tenth-generation lines, ensuring predictable litters suited for various roles, including herding, goose control, agility sports, and family companionship. The business adheres to the American Border Collie Association’s Code of Ethics and Best Practices, prioritizing health through regular checks and Optimal Selection genetic testing.

Kuykendall’s Border Collies also operates alongside their sister company, Goose Masters, providing professional goose control services using their trained Border Collies. They offer trained dogs for sale, as well as guidance and lifetime consultation for clients, aiming to build long-lasting relationships and ensure the success of their dogs in their new homes.

Accomplishments

Kent Kuykendall was born into shepherding and won the novice award at The Walnut Hill Sheepdog Trial at age 13. He is a nationally recognized trainer and handler, having won the 1995 Purina Outstanding Herding Dog Award and the 1999 USBCHA Reserve National Champion with his dog Bill. He also won the Virginia Triple Crown and the Carolina/Tennessee Triple Crown with Bill, and the 2000 Working Border Collie Magazine Award with Coon. Kent won the USBCHA 2000 Nursery Finals with Dehl. He has written for Working Border Collie Magazine and Little Hats, been featured in the Smithsonian and on Animal Planet, and served as a past director for the USBCHA and a founder of the NCBCA.

Gwen Kuykendall holds a BS in Animal Science from the University of Connecticut, specializing in ovine genetics, and was a consistent winner in Novice to Open sheepdog trials. The Kuykendall family has over 60 years of combined experience in breeding, raising, training, and handling Border Collies, playing an instrumental role in the goose control industry.

How to Get Started!

Prospective clients are encouraged to contact Kuykendall’s Border Collies by phone or email to learn about upcoming litters or available dogs, or to schedule a consultation. They inquire about the client’s background, intentions, lifestyle, and desired sports or roles to match the right puppy based on temperament, energy levels, and drive. They offer continued support and consultation throughout the dog’s life.