OUR VISION

At Discovery Hill Australian Shepherds, we have taken something which started as a family passion and turned it into something to share with others who love the breed.  We breed our animals to fit in as incredible family pets.  Temperament is even more important than beauty, but we look to deliver on both.

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The puppies receive early socialization with the goal they fit right into their forever homes.  A huge step in that direction is as simple (but oh-so-important) as raising them inside our own home.  They hear the dishwasher going, the laundry machine, the road outside, the TV , the snoring partner on a routine basis.  As they grow, the pups see and interact with the other dogs milling about, the happy friends and guests visiting, the delivery guy ... All the thing that make a home a home, the puppies are exposed to from the moment we deliver them.  And we use Avidog playgrounds and techniques to reinforce this socialization process up until handoff.

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Socialization continues after the puppies go home, and a well-trained dog is a feather in the cap of any program.  Thus we are seeking educated owners who are looking to partner with us in cherishing our babies.  Part of a successful placement is finding a family that knows what to expect of the breed and who can provide for all the dogs' needs, both emotionally and physically.  After all, even a "low-drive" Aussie is still an Aussie, as anyone with experience with shepherding breeds can tell you, and the best Aussie is a tired Aussie!  These babies need plenty of mental and physical stimulation regardless of their individual temperament, and consistency will be key to getting through the "teenage" years of an Aussie into doggy adulthood.

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Thus we work with our applicants to ensure each puppy is a good fit before going to their forever home.  And, should life ever throw a curve ball, we offer a safety net for our babies to come back to if they have to make the heart-breaking choice to surrender.

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On the conformity side, we do not believe in docking tails or removing dewclaws … Banned in most European countries, studies show the practice does not offer the benefits that it has long been rumored to give the dogs.  Docking also has measurable drawbacks to the quality of a dog’s life, reducing its instinctive ability to socialize with other dogs and the innate sense of balance held by a dog born with a full tail.  That said, we love the (American) breed-standard appearance of our wiggle butts just as much as anyone else.  For that reason, we offer puppies from our natural bob-tail stud as well as puppies with full tails.  You will have a choice when you reserve with those studs as to which tail-type you would prefer and can choose from puppies born with a natural bobtail if available.

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Finally, we go above and beyond the health testing recommendations for our dogs … they are our family, and one day their puppies may be yours!  Check out our detailed health test results on the pages of our dams and sires.  

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At the end of the day, this is about adding a family member to your life.  We want you to have realistic expectations.  The first year of raising a puppy is hard work!!  But we also want you to explore your questions with us and know that we are here as a part of the program they are borne from (pun intended).  Dog parenting is similar to human parenting - the more educated and responsive you are to what they need, the better the long-term relationship.  

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Contact us today to get the process started.

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See more information on the parent breed club (ASCA) testing recommendations and the AKC at: https://www.akc.org/breeder-programs/breed-health-testing-requirements/herding-group-health-testing-requirements/

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