Are  BOTH  Parents  OFA  Certified

(Orthopedic Foundation for Animals)

- - - request to SEE the certificates - - -

A "yes" to this means the breeder cares enough about individuals and the breed as a whole to have had the animals hips evaluated before breeding them.  The breeder will be able to tell you whether the hips were rated 'fair, good or excellent'.  A rating means that the individual dog was found free of dysplasia.  This is not a guarantee that their offspring will be free of it, but will be less likely to become afflicted with this often painful, possibly crippling hip deformity.

* * *  BEWARE of the breeder that "can not find" or "misplaced" these papers * * *

..... some people are full of excuses .....

Have "BOTH" parents had their eyes checked and certified by a Licensed  Veterinary Opthamologist?    

- - request to SEE the certificates - -

This is called a CERF exam.  Not only should both parents have had their eyes examined, but so should ALL THE PUPPIES when they are between 6 & 10 weeks old.  ( The pigment of a puppies eye older than 10 weeks can hide possible genetic defects ). 

The Australian Shepherd is known to be affected by eye defects with varying degrees of hereditability and severity.

Some of the abnormalities are not as severe and do not affect the happiness of a puppy's life as a loving pet.  However, there are some eye defects  which are very serious and the end result is complete blindness.

* * * ASCA (Australian Club of America) strongly recommends that ALL puppies be sold / placed with a guarantee against hereditary defects - - especially hip dysplasia and eye defects * * *

Do either of the parents have titles?

A champion ( "CH" before the name) is an animal who has earned enough points in competition based on it's type, structure and movement. Points are awarded by licensed breed judges.

Initials 'after' a dog's name generally indicates the dog has proven itself in competition that showed the animals ability to work with man ..... usually in obedience, stock or agility.  Titles DO NOT guarantee that the puppies will be the worlds best, but they do show that the breeder has expended the time, effort and money to prove the dog's worthiness to perpetuate the breed.

What kind of guarantee does the breeder offer?

This will vary from breeder to breeder.  There should be a provision to cover replacement if an inheritable problem should arise and to guarantee that the puppy is healthy when it is delivered to you.

What does the breeder breed for?

This should include a number of things:  to improve the breed, to produce the best possible individuals they can with regard to structure, movement, health and temperament.

REMEMBER:  even if it is the most beautiful dog in the world, if it has a temperament that  DOES  NOT  FIT  your family or life style then it is not the right dog for you ! ! !

A good breeder:

- - cares enough to have OFA and CERF tests done

- - cares about  WHO  adopts their puppies

- - will ask  YOU  questions

- - will make sure that you are WORTHY of  adopting one of their puppies

- - invests an incredible amount of time, research, love and money into producing good, healthy, even-tempered dogs -- you can expect at least  part of that to be reflected in the price of their puppies.

QUESTIONS  TO  ASK

BREEDERS  of

AUSTRALIAN  SHEPHERDS