Apply to adopt

Tell Us About Your Home

This is how we match a puppy to a household rather than to whoever asked first. Answer as honestly as you can: a tidy answer that is not quite true helps nobody, least of all the dog. There is no fee, no deposit, and no obligation on either side.

What happens next

You send the application

It takes about ten minutes. There are no right answers and nothing is a test — we are trying to picture your household, not grade it.
We read it and reply

Usually within a day or two, always personally. If anything is unclear we will ask, and if we think a Border Collie is the wrong dog for your circumstances we will say so plainly.
We talk properly

A phone call or a video call, at a time that suits you. This is the part where you should ask us everything, including the awkward questions.
We match, rather than allocate

If it is right on both sides, we tell you which puppy we would put with you and why. You are never handed the next one in the queue.

Four honest things

Applying commits you to nothing. It is a conversation on paper, not a contract.
We do not allocate puppies first-come, first-served, and we do not let markings decide. Temperament matching is the whole point.
We would rather say no than place a puppy badly. A no from us is not a judgement on you — it usually means the timing or the breed is wrong.
If we have nothing suitable now, we will tell you that too, rather than take a deposit to hold your interest.

What you write goes into our website's private admin area, which only we can see, and is used for nothing except talking to you about a puppy. We do not sell it, share it or add you to a mailing list. Read our privacy policy

Adoption Application

Fields marked with an asterisk are required; everything else is optional but genuinely useful. If a question does not apply to you, say so — that is an answer too.

Your name

Email address

Phone number

Where you live

Best way to reach you

Puppy of interest

Who lives in your home?

Adults, children and their ages, and anyone the dog would regularly be around.

Your home and outdoor space

House or apartment, whether you have a garden, and whether it is fenced.

Your activity level

Hours alone on a typical day

Experience with dogs

Experience with Border Collies

Other pets

What do you hope to do together?

Hiking, a dog sport, farm work, or simply a devoted companion — all good answers. This tells us more about the right match than anything else on the form.

When are you hoping to welcome a puppy?

Your veterinarian, if you have one

Anything else you would like us to know

I am happy for Northfield Border Collies to contact me about this application.

We use what you tell us only to reply to you and to think about whether one of our puppies suits your home. We do not share it with anyone.