What to Look for in a Breeder

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• Does the breeder have the mother and other relatives so you can meet them? A  good breeder is always looking for ways to improve their lineage.  In order to make these improvements, they find males that live elsewhere and pay a stud fee to that owner. I

• Will the breeder show you the results from the OFA  or Penn Hip  of the dogs hips and elbows? The parents should be good or excellent rated on hips. Sometimes a fair rating is ok, depending on what the breeder knows about the line and also if bred to an 'excellent'.

• Will they show you the yearly eye exam results?

• Have the breeding parents been tested to see if they are a carrier of the cataract gene?  Will they show you the results?

• Are the parents 2 years old or older? A dog should not be bred before 24 months.  A breeder cannot test hips and elbow for dysplasia until 24 month.  Breeding a dog without knowing the results of those x-rays is very careless.

• Does the breeder offer a genetic health guarantee with requirements from you?  Many good breeders offer 24-36 month hip and eye guarantee. I offer a 36 months guarantee, connected to following guidelines for activities, feeding, and supplements. ie: not playing extreme Frisbee before 2 yrs of age. (I never do), and feeding requirements/supplement usage.

• Does the breeder require you to take your pup to training classes?  A good breeder knows that a trained Aussie is a happy Aussie.  A happy, well-adjustd Aussie makes for a happy family life.  There is  less risk of getting a puppy back. It is an investment, one well worth the time and money.

• Is the breeder always willing to take a puppy/dog back if something drastic happens in your life and you can not keep the dog? This is no small commitment on the part of the breeder. (there is no refund given, but the breeder is being responsible by always being willing to take back or help find a suitable home.) No good breeder ever wants one of their pups to end up in a shelter or sold to medical research on craigslist.

• A pup that comes from parents with all this done should cost $1800 - $2500 and up, depending on the breeder and the specific parents.

These are just the basics that ANYONE breeding should do. I do a lot more by raising them holistically and doing stress exercises, neurologically stimulation from birth onward.  I feed free-range meat and organic veggies and supplements. 

If you find someone that sells for a lot less, I will bet they do not do the above tests or put much money into the pups.  This ends up costing you the buyer, much, much more in the long run with a dog with more health issues over their lifetime. 

ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS.