Welcome to Rising Tide Border Collies! Our first litter, The National Parks litter (Arya x Jagger) of 4 girls and 3 boys was born on May 22nd, 2022. Our second litter, Arya x Zavi, is planned for early 2025

 

We strive to produce sound, biddable, and healthy border collies that will excel in any sport thrown their way. We always say that our sport dogs are our family dogs first and foremost, therefore, a wonderful off-switch and even temperament are incredibly important to us. While Arya may be an incredibly drive-y sport dog, she is the most relaxed family dog, and she has never met a stranger. We want these puppies to be able to be ready to go whenever, and wherever, while just as easily being able to do nothing at all.

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We raise our pups using both Puppy Culture and Avidog enrichment protocols to give these puppies the best start they possibly can get. With this, our puppies are raised in home (on Long Island, NY) and will be going through Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) and Early Scent Introduction (ESI), as well as socialization/exposure to different sights, sounds, novel stimuli, etc. Our puppies go home with a foundation in crate training, car rides, clicker training, sport dog foundations (recalls, tugging) as well as the foundation skill of being happy and confident in exploring their world. We also expose them to dock diving (swimming off the ramp), agility (playing in a few different locations), and scent work (classical conditioning imprinting to the AKC/NACSW essential oils).

 

Our puppies are fed an AAFCO approved raw diet and are acclimated to different types of food, including different kibbles, and proteins. Our puppies are weaned naturally (not simply taken away from mom at 6 weeks of age), as we believe this is in the best interest of the puppies.

 

We have been working and training dogs for the past 10 years.

 

Michelle is a certified dog behavior consultant (CDBC) through the IAABC, a certified pet dog trainer (CPDT-KA), a fear-free animal professional (FFAT), as well as an AKC CGC & Trick Dog Evaluator. She is the owner and head trainer for Pawsitively Waggin’ Academy LLC and will be completing her MA in Animal Behavior & Conservation in the spring. While you can find her and Arya competing in a multitude of dog sports on the weekend, you can find her working on complicated dog behavior cases during the week. Her knowledge of canine behavior, dog sports, husbandry, and raising/training puppies provides her with the ability to raise the most sound puppies in mind and body possible. Michelle’s main dog sport interests are Scent Work and Obedience/Rally.

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Michael has his MA in Animal Behavior and Conservation from CUNY Hunter College, where he researched the use of visual signals in African wild dogs. He received his BA in Sustainable Development at Columbia University, where he focused heavily on the conservation components of the discipline of Sustainable Development. He has authored official reports/publications and presented at major conferences. He has conducted hands on research in the field of animal behavior both here in the U.S. and abroad. He has had the opportunity to work with a variety of both captive and wild canids. He has also spent the last decade working with both domestic cats and dogs, and consulting on behavior modification and socialization plans for privately owned animals, as well as shelter pets. Michael’s knowledge of animal behavior and welfare, as well as his hands on experience in socialization, training, dog sports and more, provides him with the ability, in concert with Michelle, to raise the most sound and stable puppies in both mind and body. When not working with dogs, you can find Michael traversing remote and wild places in search of elusive wildlife, and pursuing his passion of wildlife conservation, education, and photography! Michael's main dog sport interests are in Agility, Scent Work, Dock Diving, and Obedience.