Responsible Breeding

Breeding Goals

Our goal when producing a litter of puppies, is that the puppies be a benefit to the Australian Shepherd breed. We plan a litter when we are ready to add another dog to the program and we have interested owners looking for a puppy. We put great thought into choosing our breeding pairs, and consult with other breeders and breeder judges to get input on which of their dogs they feel will help to achieve the goals in mind for that breeding.

Every dog that is used, both dams and sires, are all genetically tested, cleared through OFA for hips/elbows and eyes are cleared yearly by veterinary ophthalmologists. They also are evaluated to determine their strengths and weaknesses as compared to each other, and chosen for their complementary aspects. All of our dogs are registered with AKC, and some are dual registered with ASCA.

Puppy placements are decided after formal evaluations are done, between 7 1/2-8 weeks of age. Families will not know which puppy will be going home with them until after those evaluations are completed. When placing puppies, show/performance homes are always a priority. Health, temperament and function are our top goals. Colors and patterns that are within breed standard are important as well. Puppies are placed in homes based on the temperament of the puppy, the goals of the families as well as lifestyle. We do not place puppies based only on color or pattern, although that will always be taken into account and we will try to meet that desire when possible.

AKC/ASCA registration

All puppies come with AKC (American Kennel Club) registration, and many are dual registered with ASCA (Australian Shepherd Club of America). These registrations are important for understanding the pedigree of your puppy, and seeing where they came from. They are also necessary for showing our dogs in conformation. If you are interested in showing your puppy, even if you don’t have any experience, please let us know! We are happy to support and guide you.

Lifetime support

When you bring home a puppy from us, we are available for support for the life of that puppy. We are here to help with training issues, recommendations for trainers, advice and input on getting into sports and activities, health questions, etc. If at any time you are unable to keep your puppy/dog, we will happily take them back. We NEVER want one of our puppies to end up in a shelter. We will absolutely help with placing the dog with another loving family, and will be sure to keep you updated as much as possible. No question or concern is too big or too small.