The First Step

Thanks for visiting the Stonepine Australian Shepherd web pages. As you can tell there a lot of information and prior planning that goes into getting a new dog. I hope you have time to research the educational materials on this and other sites (see our Links and Articles pages). Finding the right Australian Shepherd breeder is the first step to bringing a new pup home!

Find the right breeder

We do not recommend or support purchasing dogs out of the classifieds ads. The dog may be cheaper, but you need to know that you are potentially suppporting backyard breeders with suspect breeding/selling practices. There are numerous websites that list neglect and abuse cases, complete with photos, and for every puppy mill abuse case, you will find a backyard breeder abuse case. If the purchase price of the dog is a consideration, you may not be able to afford the upkeep, training and vet bills throughout the dog's life.

The internet can be a great tool for you to research the breed, but making a great website doesn't mean you can produce a great dog. Puppy mills have some of the best websites! Reputable breeders generally sell pups via their reputations and word-of-mouth. Good breeders can have waiting lists for their litters.

Not all breeders are alike. Look for a breeder who has been involved in and has contributed to the breed over time. Find a breeder who has the time to listen to you and answer your questions and return your calls. I assure you, you will have a ton of questions after your new dog comes home! Find a breeder you like, admire and respect.

Call me

If you are interested in an Aussie from Stonepine, feel free to call me (831.663.3900). If you would like to email me first to tell me a bit about yourself and what you are looking for, please do so!

Referrals

If we are unable to assist you in finding a perfect match for you, we are willing to refer you to other reputable breeders. We are active in the breed and maintain contacts with breeders not only locally, but statewide, nationwide and internationally.

I hope this helps to explain the process of getting a puppy from Stonepine Australian Shepherds. I appreciate the time and interest you have taken so far and look forward to working with you in getting the perfect Aussie for you!