Resource Center

Straight answers about Australian Shepherds

Everything here comes from raising these dogs ourselves in Placerville, California — what we do week by week, what we tell our own families, and what we would want to know before bringing an Aussie home. 4 resources and growing.
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Where are you right now?

Considering an Aussie
Work out whether the breed genuinely fits your household before you join a waitlist.
Take the puppy match quiz
On our waitlist
What we do with your puppy in the first eight weeks, and how to prepare for go-home day.
3 resources
Just brought a puppy home
The first 48 hours, crate and potty plans, and what to expect in the weeks that follow.
Puppy prep checklist
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The library

Choosing a Breeder & Puppy

What responsible breeding actually looks like: health testing, questions to ask, contracts, waitlists, pricing, and how to spot a scam.
Choosing a Breeder
Why We Match Puppies on Temperament, Not Color
Two puppies can look completely different and have very different needs. What temperament actually affects day to day, what we watch for, and why the best fit beats first pick.
3 min read

Puppy Development & Our Curriculum

What happens in the first eight weeks — ENS, ESI, handling, sound exposure, socialization, and temperament testing — and why each step matters.
Puppy Development
Puppy Development Week by Week: Birth to Go-Home Day
A week-by-week look at how confidence is built from birth to go-home day: what changes each week, what we do, and why nothing is rushed.
3 min read
Puppy Development
Puppy Socialization vs. Overexposure
Building confidence is about the right experiences — not the most. What healthy socialization looks like, what tips over into overexposure, and how to read a puppy who has had enough.
4 min read
Puppy Development
How We Temperament Test Puppies at 6–7 Weeks
A structured evaluation at six to seven weeks, based on the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test plus our own observations. What we test, what it tells us, and why we wait until it is done before assigning puppies.
3 min read
Latest

Recently published

Puppy Development
Puppy Development Week by Week: Birth to Go-Home Day
A week-by-week look at how confidence is built from birth to go-home day: what changes each week, what we do, and why nothing is rushed.
3 min read
Puppy Development
Puppy Socialization vs. Overexposure
Building confidence is about the right experiences — not the most. What healthy socialization looks like, what tips over into overexposure, and how to read a puppy who has had enough.
4 min read
Puppy Development
How We Temperament Test Puppies at 6–7 Weeks
A structured evaluation at six to seven weeks, based on the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test plus our own observations. What we test, what it tells us, and why we wait until it is done before assigning puppies.
3 min read