2023 marked the year we finished breeding the wonderful Australian Shepherd breed on our farm. While we still lovingly own three Aussies, and will always have an Aussie by our side till our Lord calls us home, our last litter of puppies was in March of 2023 and all puppies have found their furever homes. It's been an adventure and a blessing- breeding this amazing breed for the past NINE years! But now it's time to slow down our endeavors here on the farm a bit while we strive for perfection in other homesteading practices.
At our farm, we can't imagine going one day without an Aussie by our side. They certainly bring a lot of life to our place, but they keep things under control, as well. From their earliest days, they seem to know how to work. Definitely not bred to hang out leisurely in the home, Aussies love being outdoors. They thrive in active environments and must have a job to do. As one Aussie breeder said so well, they are smarter than their owners and they know it. Easy to train yet hard to keep up with, Aussies are very active. Please don't think that two walks around the block a day will keep them happy. Our Aussies hike with us, run cross country with us, work the farm, herd the animals, keep rodents at bay, run off predators, welcome visitors (albeit a bit noisily), chase the ball or frisbee like no other, swim the pond, walk the perimeter of our land, chase off birds of prey, and alerts us if anything seems amiss-- all of this before finally plopping down at our feet or at the foot of the bed for a full night's rest- and then it all starts up again the next morning! I couldn't ask for a better dog to help run this farm.
There's no doubt about it, Aussie puppies are adorable and adult Aussies are uniquely beautiful. But we ask you to look far beyond their attractive markings, athletic build, and startling eye colors and instead, look into the breed itself before considering purchasing. While this breed is on the definite top 10 list of most beautiful dogs, it is also on the top 10 list of most active dogs
Are you prepared to keep up with their energy? While they are literally one of the easiest breeds to train, they certainly need training. Because without training, they could easily get out of control-- not having been trained on how to stem their energy in a healthy manner.
Do you understand that herding dogs tend to use their mouths to communicate and get what they want? What is your plan on teaching them not to nip or "herd" your children? They can easily be taught when to hold back on that behavior. But it must be taught to them because it is in their blood. They are herding dogs, after all.
Do you know that they get bored easily? Literally one of the smartest dog breeds, Aussies need stimulation or they get bored quick. What chew toys and boredom busters do you have in store for them when you are away at work?
Do you realize they need exercise- and LOTS of it? A jog around the block won't cut it. Make sure you have enough time in your day to play with your Aussie. They LOVE playing fetch. They LOVE swimming. They absolutely adore hiking, running, exploring-- anything that involves using up their energy-- as long as it's with you.
Did you know Aussies have an unusually strong adoration for their owner? Their happy place is right by your side. They want you in their sight. They will even try to be your lap dog, if you'll let them. And, I swear, they can see inside your soul. Time and time again, I have bumped into other Aussie owners who wholeheartedly agree that there's something about Aussies that make the bond between man and canine incredibly special-- and impossible to duplicate.
Are you ready for that kind of commitment? We encourage you to do your research. And we'll be happy to help you with that! Please feel free to ask us any questions. We're here to help!
Are you prepared to keep up with their energy? While they are literally one of the easiest breeds to train, they certainly need training. Because without training, they could easily get out of control-- not having been trained on how to stem their energy in a healthy manner.
Do you understand that herding dogs tend to use their mouths to communicate and get what they want? What is your plan on teaching them not to nip or "herd" your children? They can easily be taught when to hold back on that behavior. But it must be taught to them because it is in their blood. They are herding dogs, after all.
Do you know that they get bored easily? Literally one of the smartest dog breeds, Aussies need stimulation or they get bored quick. What chew toys and boredom busters do you have in store for them when you are away at work?
Do you realize they need exercise- and LOTS of it? A jog around the block won't cut it. Make sure you have enough time in your day to play with your Aussie. They LOVE playing fetch. They LOVE swimming. They absolutely adore hiking, running, exploring-- anything that involves using up their energy-- as long as it's with you.
Did you know Aussies have an unusually strong adoration for their owner? Their happy place is right by your side. They want you in their sight. They will even try to be your lap dog, if you'll let them. And, I swear, they can see inside your soul. Time and time again, I have bumped into other Aussie owners who wholeheartedly agree that there's something about Aussies that make the bond between man and canine incredibly special-- and impossible to duplicate.
Are you ready for that kind of commitment? We encourage you to do your research. And we'll be happy to help you with that! Please feel free to ask us any questions. We're here to help!
Meet our Aussies!
Our three Aussies-- Camelot, Brooke, and Merida-- keep us on our toes and love us with a love only a dog can give. They work hard and play harder. They show us what true companionship means. And they take care of us. Brooke (our black tri) is a sweet old girl who won't let a hawk or vulture come near our farm. She can outrun anyone when it comes to chasing off those birds! When there are no birds of prey to ward off, she is a doting companion who loves to take walks, climb in our laps, and just spend every moment with us.
Camelot (our blue merle with copper trim) is our male whom we had bred to Brooke before we retired her from breeding so she could become one of the best farm dogs I've ever seen. Cam, as he is affectionately called, is a dog like no other. Not a wanderer by any means, he prefers to be stuck like glue to us- never leaving our side and always keeping us in his sight. His adoration for us is evident and it is most certainly returned.
Merida (our red-tri) is our female that we breed to Camelot now. She is a go-getter and complete protector with more energy than any of our Aussies combined. AKC bred from a working cattle ranch, she has more stamina and strength than I'm used to and knows how to protect like no other dog.
Cam and Merida make some pretty amazing puppies- a perfect blend of both parent's personalities! They keep us on our toes and we keep them loved and living the life they were meant to live. If you're interested in one of our future Aussie pups, contact us and we'll gladly discuss the breed some more with you! We have been breeding registered Australian Shepherds for over 8 years now and can attest to our knowledge of the breed and the capabilities each Aussie possesses.
Camelot (our blue merle with copper trim) is our male whom we had bred to Brooke before we retired her from breeding so she could become one of the best farm dogs I've ever seen. Cam, as he is affectionately called, is a dog like no other. Not a wanderer by any means, he prefers to be stuck like glue to us- never leaving our side and always keeping us in his sight. His adoration for us is evident and it is most certainly returned.
Merida (our red-tri) is our female that we breed to Camelot now. She is a go-getter and complete protector with more energy than any of our Aussies combined. AKC bred from a working cattle ranch, she has more stamina and strength than I'm used to and knows how to protect like no other dog.
Cam and Merida make some pretty amazing puppies- a perfect blend of both parent's personalities! They keep us on our toes and we keep them loved and living the life they were meant to live. If you're interested in one of our future Aussie pups, contact us and we'll gladly discuss the breed some more with you! We have been breeding registered Australian Shepherds for over 8 years now and can attest to our knowledge of the breed and the capabilities each Aussie possesses.