Aussies & Border Collies are not for everyone!

Both breeds require specific and ongoing socialization throughout their different developmental periods. Our goal is to produce sound structure in healthy, happy puppies that can do everything. All parents are health screened and compete/train in different venues-to judge their contribution both in working ability & genetically, to producing pups. The following information also applies to Border Collies, known as working sheepdogs...for a reason.  Our Aussies are bred to the ASCA standard, to be athletic, versatile and moderate.  Border Collies are working dogs, defined by their abilities & working style, so not bred to a "breed" standard. Aussies and BCs are intelligent, thinking breeds, not suited to every lifestyle, but provided they get adequate exercise, socialization and training, they are amazing dogs to live with. Both breeds do better in homes where they are part of the family activities and are given a job to do. They can not be raised in a backyard, or expected to raise themselves. All need a job, of some sort-or they will create one for themselves.
 

Prior to the sixteen weeks, what a pup is socialized to, will affect their ability to bond, adjust and assimilate later.  Before they hit the juvenile period, it is crucial that all Aussie & BC puppies be exposed to a multitude of different people with positive, happy experiences. As a breeder, we can set the stage for early bonding with people, but as soon as that puppy goes into a new home, the responsibility becomes that of the new family. They are little sponges at this stage, always learning, so each new experience, both good and bad, is cataloged for future reference. Raising an Aussie or BC puppy is like having an extra full-time job-but with lot's of perks. What you put into them, pays off, tenfold. What you don't, comes back to haunt you. Working on building resilience into our pups-they have many experiences early on, that encourage problem solving and bounce back.


Puppy Kindergarten is a must, no matter how experienced you are, how many dogs you have raised, etc. Attending PKT provides a specific environment, socialization to other pups, and the opportunity to get your puppy used to many things, including riding in a car. If left in a backyard, not taken everywhere on a daily basis-especially the first year or crated excessively, any pup can become shy, frustrated or bored which creates undesirable behaviors like barking, digging and fearful behavior to new people & things.  Neither breed is for the faint of heart.  They require more than can be explained in a written breed description or by just meeting a few.  BCs are more likely to develop compulsive behaviors when under-stimulated, Aussies just plain get into trouble.



Breeding is the art of finding two dogs, whose pedigrees, personalities and type will produce puppies that embody the best of both parents. A lot of research goes into planning a litter, giving thought to the aesthetics of type, but with temperament and health foremost.  Temperament is one of our first priorities when planning a litter.  We strive to produce stable, even-tempered, biddable, outgoing, confident and loving dogs, whether destined for show, performance, or as a family companion. Our BCs are not bred to be conformation dogs, although they are  sound in structure.  We support the ABCA's belief that working ability is more important than breeding for a certain visual type or color. 
                                                                                        Pretty is, as pretty does......
 

Our puppies are generally medium-high drive but do not tend to have"hard" temperaments. Producing biddable, operant personalities while maintaining working and athletic ability, is something we strive for. Some of our pups have softer temperaments. We do not place our pups in homes that plan to train with old fashioned correction based training that focuses on telling a dog they are "wrong" as that will shut down a softer dog..They do best in homes where they are given a job or at least have hobbies and are trained with a focus on pro-active POSITIVE techniques that focus on them being "right", to shape desirable behavior. From the beginning, we give pups activities, that encourage problem solving and help them to develop their brains. Aussies tend to be more about the relationship of training-doing it for you, not the access to the activity, while many BCs will repeat behaviors they find rewarding, on their own. In both cases, making yourself the center of their universe, builds the bond, whether they will be just an active family pet or working towards competition.

We do not breed for one performance venue over another specifically, but working/performance homes that will also love them as a member of the family, do receive preference, as they are more likely to keep these furry Einsteins busy.  Our "pick" puppy, if they don't stay here, is more likely to go into a serious performance home based on having the best drive and structure of the litter. 


Aussies & BCs need daily mental and physical exercise to varying degrees, so for the average pet home, they can be a little overwhelming.  If you are an active person/family with time to train and work with a dog, an Aussie or BC might be right for you. Once physically mature, daily exercise means flat out running for these two breeds-not just a walk around the block. If you have to press hard to feel a dog's ribs, they are fat!!!!! especially, if they are to be an athlete. While a  pup grows, repetitive exercise like jumping up for a frisbee, needs to be avoided-but teaching them to play ball on soft grass is usually safe. Reckless activity, especially when joints & ligaments are still maturing, is what may lead to injury.
Controlled Chaos....I run my group approximately three miles a day, without that, I would lose my mind and so would they.

 

The smarter the dog, the more creative the owner needs to be.  An Aussie or BC puppy also needs daily socialization to new people, places and things as they mature, to insure that they become well mannered adults. Both breeds go through different stages as they mature, one of which is short fear periods. They may suddenly become worried about something or someone, signified by alarm barking or trying to avoid what worried them.  Knowing how to work a puppy successfully through these stages does take some dog savvy.

To aid in placing the right puppy in the right home, we instinct/temperament test the litter at seven weeks of age, which gauges where the puppies are at that stage.  Final decisions on homes are made at that point.  The puppies are lovingly home raised, doted on and tortured regularly with "belly raspberries," but they still leave us well-adjusted and happy. 

Sound structure and health are crucial to maintain the working & performance ability of the breed. Screening for hip & elbow dysplasia, genetic eye disorders, etc. is done prior to breeding a litter. We also offer a 30 month health guarantee against debilitating inherited disorders.

 

To us, bringing a pup into your home is not an impulse decision . We want to make sure that potential homes, have thought it through, discussed with family members, and are ready!  Unfortunately, due to recent bad experiences, we are now requesting deposits on all pups. In order to gauge how ready someone is to commit to one of our pups, a non-refundable deposit , is requested as a good faith gesture of intent, as we will be holding a pup for you and referring away other potential homes. We will base pup choices on temperament and your life, with preference given in order of deposits received.

Puppies receive their first vaccination at eight weeks, are wormed regularly, temperament evaluated and eyes are CERF’D. Our BC's have been DNA'd for CEA/CH status, Aussies have been DNA'd for cataracts from the Animal Health Trust in the UK. BC Pups will be BAER tested as needed. Nutrition is key to raising a healthy pup, our pups are weaned on a natural diet of goat's milk, meat, bones & high quality grain free. We believe in a modified vaccine protocol, for more info Google: Dr Dodd's Vaccination protocol or follow this link


 
We are happy to discuss any potential genetic health issues that we are aware of, in our puppies' pedigree, just ask.  Click on the link at left, to read the pledge we make when deciding to breed a litter. For more info on genetics in Aussies, affecting health, coat color, etc please visit: ASHGI

 

You may also want to visit Washington State University's site to see info about the MDR1 (Ivermectin) multi-drug sensitivity gene:  MDR1 This gene also makes dogs sensitive to related compounds such as Immodium, acepromazine and Flagyl.

Aussie tails are done at birth, unless otherwise requested and at this point we do not plan to dock, unless medically needed.  A controversial topic, tail docking debates can be found on agility lists among others.  In some countries, docking is no longer allowed, to the extent of denying the import of docked dogs and prohibiting their attendance at international competitions.   If we have no puppies available, we would be happy to refer you.  We often know of Aussies or Border Collies of different ages, looking for homes. 

Consider a Rescue: why are so many dogs in shelters?

If you are considering an Aussie or Border Collie, please consider a rescue first. Aussies & BCs are becoming more popular each year, which means more end up in rescue from backyard breeders and petshops-who do not screen homes for suitability. The dogs that end up in shelters or rescue are usually just being what an Aussie or BC is...a herding dog with a lot of stamina and intelligence, but they are too much for a home that has not done their research or is prepared to channel their instincts. A responsible breeder will take a pup back, to rehome if needed and also sometimes has dogs available for adoption. To help do our part, in addition to the foster rescue work we do, a  donation to support different rescues will be made with each puppy sold from a litter. 

And please do not buy an Aussie or BC from a pet shop.  There is absolutely NO responsible "breeder" I know that would sell their puppies to a pet shop or broker who has several breeds.  Buying a pet shop puppy supports an industry that capitalizes upon high volume, commercial breeding without regard to ethics or the pain and suffering imposed on the animals, which are bred as often as possible and purely for profit. The pups are raised in inhumane conditions without proper socialization, have phony pedigrees from "new" registries,  parents have no health clearances, and there is no thought to temperament, ability or genetics.

If you are interested in a Talisman Pup...

To get a sense of what you are looking for, please fill out our
 Puppy Questionnaire if interested in a pup.
We have had some say our questionnaire is daunting...there are no wrong answers,
just looking for info and to get a sense of you. Thanks!

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Pet quality puppies are on a spay/neuter contract with Limited registration. Full registration details are discussed individually. Part of our contract stipulates that our puppies attend at least TWO group classes the first year. A puppy is a commitment, not an impulse purchase. If you don’t think you’ll have the time to spend training, socializing, exercising and loving one of our puppies for it’s lifetime, please reconsider whether you are ready to make the commitment.