Our Philosophy

There are many breeders to choose from, so what makes Blue Rock Australian Shepherds different?

Each Breeding is carefully thought out, often years/generations in advance.

Puppies produced in our program are from crosses we feel will benefit our breeding program, our performance homes, and of course our companion homes! We place a great deal of emphasis on mental and physical soundness on all dogs used in our program. All of our dogs are registered with AKC and ASCA, and have ASCA parentage verified by DNA.

Temperament is of paramount importance to us.

All the dogs in our program either live with us in our home or live with others in their homes. It is of utmost importance that all our dogs have outstanding temperaments. Our dogs are not kennel dogs, they’re our pets too. We breed dogs we would want to live with.

We care about the genetic health issues in our breed.

All of the dogs in our breeding program are screened for the genetic health issues recommended by the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) including OFA hips & elbows, and eyes cleared annually.

We raise our dogs on a Biologically Appropriate Raw Fed diet (BARF) and premium kibble.

We believe nutrition is the cornerstone to overall health, and place it at the forefront of our philosophy of raising healthy dogs.

We are concerned about the health of our litters.

We raise our puppies and dogs with a more holistic approach. We feed the best food available, practice a limited vaccination protocol (Dr. Jean Dodds) and also use natural remedies whenever we can (Herbal, Essentials Oils, etc). All our puppies are wormed, vaccination protocol started, have their eyes checked by a specialist and are cleared by our vet for overall health before they go to their new homes.

We don't expect our puppies to raise themselves.

We know that breeding for temperament is the best way to ensure that all our puppies have the best start possible, but we also believe that it doesn’t hurt to hedge our bets by providing the best socialization and situation exposure for our puppies possible. We follow the Puppy Culture Curriculum, and send home with the puppies the at home packets for the new owners to continue this socialization process to ensure the best possible life together.

We don't sell our puppies to just anyone.

A lifetime home is more important to us than a sale. When we interview potential new owners, we will share the good, the bad, and the ugly of this breed that we love so much. The Australian Shepherd is not the right breed for everyone. We also match the puppy to the right home, we do not allow buyers to pick their puppies; sometimes a new owner may have more than one option to choose from, but that is not always the case. If you choose to limit your options for a puppy based on color or sex or other phenotypic preference, please be aware it may take longer to match you to the right puppy, or we may be unable to do so.

We don't just sell dogs. We also make the commitment to being your 24 Hour “Tech Support”

When you buy a puppy or dog from Blue Rock Australian Shepherds, you’re not just buying a puppy, you’re buying a support system for the entire life of your puppy or dog. We encourage our owners to keep in contact with us throughout the life of your puppy or dog, and contact us anytime you have questions, concerns or exciting news about your puppy or dog. We also provide an online community where you can share photos and memories of your puppy or dog as well as ask questions and get responses from us, and other people in the Blue Rock Family! Think of it as the same kind of service you get through a Tech Support without all the waiting on hold and pressing 0, 700 times to reach an actual human.

We guarantee our dogs.

We strive to breed genetically healthy and sound dogs, and we back up our puppies/dogs with a comprehensive guarantee in the contract you sign upon purchase. All our puppies are eligible for AKC and ASCA Registration.

We give back to the breed.

As you search for a lifetime companion make sure you choose a breeder you can trust, one that cares about their dogs long after they leave the breeder’s home, a breeder who guarantees a home for the life of their dogs in the event the new owners can no longer provide one for the dog, and a breeder that cares about the future of the breed.

We are active members of both parent clubs for the Australian Shepherd; the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) and the United States Australian Shepherd Association (USASA). We abide by the USASA Code of Ethics, the AKC Code of Ethics, and the AKC Code of Sportsmanship. We regularly donate to the Australian Shepherd Health and Genetic Institute and Toby’s Foundation to support the research of Epilepsy.