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We breed on a limited basis, with an average of one litter per
year. We research pedigrees, evaluate potential genetic
health risks and work hard at raising a litter! We are commited to
producing social, healthy & resilient pups that can excel in any
venue!
Because the web makes so much available at your fingertips, to
determine if you are right for one of our dogs and vice versa, please
read this entire page...yes it is long..and fill out our
Puppy Questionnaire if interested.


CLICK ON THE MOOSE
FOR OUR CURRENT LITTER'S BLOG
For
puppy pictures, litter updates, available dogs/rescues we have
for adoption, please follow link:
Current Litter & Available for Adoption
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Puppies:
AUSSIES & BCs are not for everyone!

Both breeds require specific and ongoing
socialization
throughout their different developmental periods.
Our breeding 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 & workign
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.
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
and 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.
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 to high drive, but are
not "hard" temperaments, producing biddable personalities while maintaining
working ability, is something we
strive for. 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, 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
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 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 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 also
crucial to maintain the working & performance ability of the breed.
Screening for hip & elbow dysplasia, genetic eye disorders and
thyroid is done prior to breeding a litter. We also offer a 30 month
health guarantee against debilitating inherited disorders.
A non-refundable deposit is sometimes
requested to hold a puppy from a litter, to gauge how willing to commit, a future home may
be. If there is no puppy available, it will
be refunded.
Puppies receive their first vaccination at eight weeks, are wormed
regularly, microchipped, temperament evaluated and eyes are CERF’D
or parent's have been DNA'd for CEA/CH status,
prior to leaving us. Nutrition is key to raising a healthy pup, our
pups are weaned on a natural diet of goat's milk, meat, bones & high
quality kibble. We believe in a modified vaccine protocol, for more info
look for:
Dr Dodd's Vaccination protocol

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. 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 also often know of Aussies or
Border Collies of different ages, looking for homes. If you are
interested in one of our puppies, please fill out the
puppy/dog questionnaire
Consider a
Rescue
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, if they are too much for their first
home. To help do our part, a $50.00 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 NO
responsible "breeder" I know that would sell their puppies to a pet
shop. Buying a pet shop puppy supports an industry that
capitalizes on commercial breeding without regard to ethics or the
pain and suffering imposed on the animals, which are bred as often
as possible.
If you are
interested in a Talisman Aussie...or Border Collie
Now after reading all of the above......If you are set
on a puppy, please fill out our
pup
questionnaire
. Pet
quality puppies are on a spay/neuter contract with Limited
registration. Potential show quality/Full registration puppies
details are discussed individually and are on a co-own basis until
OFA clearances, etc. 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.
We are very proud of the
extra effort we put in to ensure our puppies grow into happy,
healthy, sound adults. For more information on how we raise
our puppies, please read
Raising K9.

Talisman Farm Aussies & BC's
603-726-1347

AussomeDawgs4@netzero.net
Copyright © 2002-2004, Dogmatics Media,
Deirdre Ryan and
Talisman Australian Shepherds. All rights reserved, the
written content and photos contained within this site are the
owner's sole property. Unauthorized reproduction of any
content, will be considered copyright infringement.
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