"Show lines" for Border collies have been long opposed by those who work Border collies, fearing inbreeding and health problems. Unfortunately, when things bec

"Show lines" for Border collies have been long opposed by those who work Border collies, fearing inbreeding and health problems. Unfortunately, when things become popular (who wouldn't want the "smartest" dog?) they become lucrative, and the "working dog" heritage that protected them from genetic deficiencies now became a point of sale for them, leading to the inevitable inbreeding. Whereas before what constituted a Border collie was general physical ability and endurance combined with "the eye", now many regions have show standards for Border collies as well. So, simply getting a Border collie is no longer a guaranteed way to get away from the "pure breed" mentality and all the problems associated with it.