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| Meadowlawn Australian Shepherds Sarah & Kim Patterson * Cologne, MN USA * 612.554.2291 * meadowlawnkennels@hotmail.com (emails preferred) |
| Meadowlawn Australian Shepherds is very small breeding kennel. We generally only breed 1-2 litters in a calendar year after many months of planning and only when we are looking for something to keep for ourselves. Of course, there is almost always more than one puppy in a litter, therefore we do place puppies in show, performance & companion homes. When a person/family contacts us, many questions are asked of the prospective buyer. This is only to ensure that an Aussie is the right breed, which personality/temperament would be best suited for them and finally that they have planned and are ready to take on the big responsibility of a pet. An Aussie is a 12-14 year commitment that cannot be taken lightly. Any dog we breed is registered with AKC & ASCA, is OFA'd Fair, Good, or Excellent (all are *normal* ratings), have had their eyes cleared within a year of the breeding, are proven in conformation and/or performance (boasting titles in AKC & ASCA), and are healthy, quality specimens of the breed. We place our puppies with all general guarantees, which include: -free from Epilepsy (seizures) (show, performance & pet homes) -free from Hereditary Hip Dysplasia (show, performance & pet homes) -free from any debilitating eye defect (show, peformance & pet homes) -free from any disqualifying fault (show homes only) All of our puppies have their eyes cleared before leaving for their new homes, and have *begun* their "house-breaking" and "leash-breaking" training. We also introduce clicker training from the moment their ears open to challenge their minds and instill a connection with humans. A little about Clicker Training: We began this with our recent litter and while I was skeptical at first, I was blown away with the difference it made. To see a 5 week old puppy figure out "watch me" is amazing. Rather than a 5 or 6 week old blob, we had 5 and 6 week old thinking machines. <smiles> The idea is that the "click" is a consistent reinforcer that is clear for puppies to understand. We started out clicking each time they went to mom to nurse, and when they went to their bowl to eat. As they got a bit older, I took each puppy individually in a room, and every time they came to me, I clicked & treated. Then I moved to clicking & treating when they looked up at me. I never asked for it, just waited for the behavior to come naturally and then rewarded. I have found that this way of foundation training makes a proactive dog, rather than a reactive dog. Rather than the dog staring at you blankly, waiting for a command, they are actively figuring out what you want. I do eventually wean away from the clicker and use my voice as I always have my voice with me and not always my clicker. But I will, from now on, use clicker training as a great foundation tool for all of my puppies. We strongly encourage our buyers to feed their new puppy a raw diet, with minimal vaccinations. We have tons of information if you are new to this concept. At the least, we require a protein based kibble that we will approve. We highly recommend our puppies go to puppy classes, as well, for extra socialization and helpful training tips for their new owners. Of course, we are always here for additional support after the puppy goes to it's new home. All puppies are given maximum socialization right from the start. They are raised "under foot" and are handled almost constantly every day. When they are old enough, they are taken to various places, including Sarah's work (Pet Clips in Excelsior, MN) as well as Dog Works Training Center for extensive socialization. There they become used to blow dryers, bathes, nail trimming, many other dogs, & numerous adults & kids. We never raise more than one litter at a time as to ensure that every puppy in a litter has individual attention and has more than adequate socialization, as well as spending time with, and answering questions a potential buyer has. This high standard cannot be achieved with more than one litter at a time. We do not place any of our puppies into solely "breeding" homes. Any puppy we allow to be left intact will only go to competitive show and/or performance homes, whose main goals are training and showing, but are interested in responsible breeding down the road. Our companion puppies are sold on a limited registration and *must* be spayed/neutered at sexual maturity. If you are further interested in a Meadowlawn puppy, please fill out our puppy application. Please be sure to give us a descriptive background of dogs you have owned, your lifestyle, why you have chosen to purchase an Australian Shepherd, etc. Giving us as much information as possible will help us in placing the right puppy with you. This will make for a happy owner AND and happy dog. |