Boot Top Aussies - Why Buy From Them?

Why choose Boot Top Aussies as your breeder?

In your search for a cute, furry new puppy there are a few very important things to always keep in mind.

The first is that buying a new puppy is a very exciting, emotional endeavor. Be careful to not let emotion make all of the decisions on choosing your new puppy.

Remember that you are making a 10 to 14 year commitment!

There are many important factors to consider about the

"inside" of your puppy as well as the cute furry outside!

Building a healthy puppy starts with the parents.

All of our females come from excellent proven foundation stock. Our dogs bloodlines are all proven athletes with a long life spans. All possible testing has been done to assure our first building block is a sturdy one. We feel that this is the key to producing puppies that will continue to live healthy lives for many years. Knowing this information gives us the confidence to know that we have the first major building block in place to make puppies that, as they turn into old dogs, will be able to withstand the aging process. We know they will have the best chance possible to not have to spend their elder years in discomfort and vet visits because they just did not have the genetic

make-up or correct structure to withstand the tests of time.

The breeding dogs at Boot Top Aussies must not only pass structurally to be entered into the breeding program, but they also must have the correct mind set. Australian Shepherds are herding dogs. Varying bloodlines carry varying levels of herding instinct. The dogs at Boot Top Aussies have herding instinct, but they also must be house dogs and have the mental capability to be polite companions and enjoy quiet time. A dog that is too nervous, over stimulated, or just too busy is not allowed into our breeding program. This is a unbreakable rule with us, regardless of how structurally perfect they are. We consider the mind as important as the body. They must be athletes, ready to go when called, but comfortable being a polite and quiet companion as well.

We search out the perfect cross for each individual female. We do not just breed one or two males to all of our females. Finding the perfect cross is an art. We spare no expense or time in pursue of the perfect cross. Our goal at Boot Top Aussies is to always be a key breeder in improving the breed. Each breeding is very methodically thought out and pedigrees are studied intensely before breeding decisions are made. We have, what we feel, is a very nice selection of males; but if a certain female will cross better to a male who happens to be in another state we get her there. There are no "breeding for convienience" breeding's done at Boot Top. We, of course, always reserve the option to keep a puppy out of one of our breedings for our program. The rest either go to other breeders within our PUPPY PROSPECT PROGRAM, or are placed as ambassadors for the breed in pet/companion homes. Here at Boot Top Aussies we feel that the pet owner is a major key in introducing the public to our wonderful breed and are proud to be producing pet/companion dogs with intellegent minds and that

"True Aussie Look" so sought after in breeding the Miniature and Toy variety.

Good nutrition is a key to healthy puppies.

The healthiest puppies come from the healthiest dogs. There is no denying that.

We have done our research to make sure that our dogs have all of the proper nutrition necessary to build strong bone and muscular structure in our puppies. If a female is lacking a nutrient in her diet, so will the puppy and the building structure of the puppy will be compromised. We take diet very seriously. The food that we feed uses hormone, antibiotic and pesticide free human grade meats. We also feed a very high quality supplement. Our puppies are born healthy, strong and are nursing within minutes. This is the same diet that the puppies are fed as they start to wean and continue on this high quality diet until the day they go to their new homes. This balance of correct nutrition builds strong bone, muscle, tendons and ligaments; all needed to have a truly health, happy dog. Both physically and mentally. If you already have a dog at home you might want to take our

DOG FOOD RATING TEST

offered on our web site to see where your dog food rates. Quite often people are shocked when they see how their dog food rates. Keep in mind - good advertising doesn't make good food.

Quality ingredients make good food.

The mental state of our pregnant mothers takes priority.

Once a female is bred she goes through several hormone changes. These changes can upset her whole nervous system. As her body is preparing for the pregnancy and these changes are occurring, occasionally they can become anxious, insecure and have special needs. We feel that during these early developmental stages of the embryo that it is important to do all that we can to make sure that the females stay calm and experience as little stress as possible. They are never "just dismissed" at Boot Top. All attention turns towards the pregnant female and her "out of character" needs for the first few weeks after conception until the hormone levels stabilize. A nervous, anxious, mother makes nervous puppies. As the central nervous system starts to develop immediately, we take this extra step to assure good mental health for our puppies.

Here at Boot Top Aussies

We make sure the birthing process is as

stress free for the monthers and puppies as possible.

Some breeders feel that it is best to let nature take it's course. We do that as much as possible, but with complete supervision so that each puppy has the best start to life. The mothers are never left alone prior to whelping and new litters are checked on often throughout the night for the first few week. We make sure that no one puppy gets less than the rest. The surroundings that we have our females and their new babies in is a safe, stress free environment where they can flourish. Our newborn nursery is above ground level. This helps in several ways. One, it keeps the mothers realaxed, as they don't have to be on the look out for another dog coming near their babies.

Also, it keeps the newborn babies away from drafts that could stress their delecate systems just after birth. You can view our nursery, pre-school and teen room on the VIEW OUR FACILITY page.

Socialization begins at three days old.

There are several stages in a puppy's life where learning and socialization is maximized. Certain experiences need to happen (or not happen, in some cases) at a particular time, and if not, the "window of opportunity" closes and the potential benefits of those experiences are missed. We follow a progressive program with each week of development to assure that our puppies are well socialized when they go to their new homes. This is paramount for a good start to bringing a new puppy into your family. View our page called STAGES OF PUPPY DEVELOPMENT

to read more about our procedures. For those of you who have deposits on

puppies and are waiting for them to reach the age where you can take them home

you might enjoy following your puppies delvelopment stages on this page.

Our puppies grow up in a healthy environment.

We clean and sanitize our puppy area several times a day. We begin litter box training and offer them access to "go potty" outside so the house training is well started when they go to their new homes. There is usually a set back with the major change of new caregivers and environment as they adjust to their new families and home, but the beginning stages of house breaking are under way when they leave us. We provide information and are always available for questions for house breaking.

Our puppies are only given the highest quality

dewormers and vaccine.

All of our dogs are on a strict vaccination, heart worm preventative, and deworming program and only given the highest quality vaccine. Our puppies are vaccinated as soon as of age, and put on a healthy deworming program. As each puppy leaves us and goes to their new homes they are sent with a vaccination and deworming history sheet. This is for the new owners to take to their own vet to start that puppies file when taken in for their "New Puppy Check-up". We constantly get calls from our new puppy owners following this first vist stating their vet that they were very pleased with our vaccination and deworming program. We strive for a good balance between the contraversy concerning vaccinations of young puppies and keeping them safe from all the outside world will expose them to after leaving our kennel. We achieve this balance by using the highest quality products available on the market today.

We test for many breed genetic defects

We take all of our puppies to a certified veterinarian ophthalmologist and have their pre-liminary eye certification completed. This is eye exam is done between 7-8 weeks of age. We have our breeding dogs tested for PRCD/PRA and CEA by Opti-gen.

No dog with a positive reading to any of these genetic eye defects is allowed into our

breeding program, thus assuring no positive results in our puppies. All breeding age

dogs have their hips x-rayed and certified clear of hip dysplasia. Any dog with less

than a "good" reading is not allowed to enter our program.

Our puppies go through an extensive evaluation process

We evaluate for breed type, genetic integrity, good temperament and structural soundness.

Detailed records are kept on each puppy and a copy is available to all new puppy owners upon request. This extensive evlauation process is how we decide who is worthy of entering our breeding program, or the program of someone in our PUPPY PROSPECT PROGRAM. The remainder of

the litter is then placed in pet companion homes as fur-family members.

We offer a mentoring program

If you have interest in a show/breeding quality puppy we offer a program

which offers you the opportunity for success with guidance and continuing education.

Please contact us or click on the the index to go to the page for more information on our

PUPPY PROSPECT PROGRAM

if you are interested in a show/breeding stock puppy.

Here at Boot Top Aussies

You are a member of our "Fur Family" for the life of your dog

Once you purchase a puppy from Boot Top Aussies you become a member of our extended "Fur Family" and we are always available for questions or continued education. Here at Boot Top you will always find an open door and a listening ear to help make your life with your new family member the best that it can be!

Pet Companion families as well as Show Dog Homes