I mean border collies are considered one of the healthier breeds, they have not been bred to death my many breeds and become useless(for there original job I mean) there are few breed specific illnesses, for them, just collie eye, blindness,(more like disablities) and hip displasia, which is relitivly new to the breed, the good breeders(not show breeders in the case of a BC) only go for ability, and health, not for looks, so it is really survival of the fittest for them, because if they cant survive on there own without help from vaccs as a pup how are they going to survive herding for hours on end, getting kicked by the stock etc.. you only want the fittest and healthiest dogs in the breed