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1 year
Certified paw Chaos
Colorado Springs, CO
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About Heather
About Me
Hi! Iâm Heather, the person behind our small, home-based Mini American Shepherd breeding program.
My love for dogs has been a huge part of my life for years. I have experience working with dogs through pet care, rescue and fostering, as well as hands-on experience in a veterinary setting. Over time, that love grew into an interest in raising happy, healthy puppies and giving them the best possible start before they join their forever families.
Our dogs are first and foremost members of our family. They live in our home, are loved as pets, and our puppies are raised right alongside us. I want them growing up accustomed to everyday household life, handling, different sounds, people, and lots of love.
Iâm also continuing to learn and improve as a breeder. Before our first litter, I worked with our veterinarian and completed genetic health testing on our dogs. Since then, Iâve learned more about additional breed-specific health testing, including OFA evaluations, and that is something Iâm committed to incorporating into my breeding program moving forward. I believe responsible breeding means being willing to learn, be transparent, and continually raise your standards.
My goal isnât simply to produce beautiful puppies. I want to raise healthy, well-socialized companions with wonderful temperaments and thoughtfully match each puppy with a home where they can thrive.
When you get one of our puppies, I want you to feel like you can always reach out. I love getting updates, watching the puppies grow, answering questions, and remaining a resource for their families long after they go home. â¤ď¸
About Certified paw Chaos
Exercise & Life With Our Mini Aussies
Miniature American Shepherds are intelligent, active, people-oriented dogs that need more than just a backyard to be happy. We believe physical exercise, mental stimulation, training, socialization, and, just as importantly, learning how to settle and relax are all important parts of raising a well-rounded Mini Aussie.
Our dogs are part of our everyday lives. Depending on the dog, the weather, and what we have planned, exercise can include neighborhood walks, playing and running in the backyard, games of fetch, training sessions, enrichment activities, outings, and trips to the dog park. We also enjoy taking them places with us when appropriate so they experience more of the world than just our home.
Because Mini Aussies are a herding breed, we try to give them opportunities to use their brains as much as their bodies. They are incredibly smart and can become bored when they arenât given an outlet. Short training sessions, learning new commands, puzzle-style activities, sniffing and exploring on walks, playing with toys, and interacting with us are all forms of enrichment we use.
At the same time, we donât believe an Aussie needs to be exercised every waking moment. Teaching an active breed how to have an âoff switchâ is important too. Our dogs have active days, quieter days, naps on the couch, and plenty of time simply being family dogs.
Exercise is also individualized. Age, personality, confidence level, physical condition, and the individual dogâs preferences all matter. A young puppy shouldnât be expected to exercise like an adult, and a more reserved dog may enjoy a quiet walk or one-on-one play much more than a busy dog park. We donât believe there is a single exercise routine that works for every Mini Aussie.
Remembering Atlas
Atlas was a huge part of our family and was also the sire of our first litter. Sadly, we lost him, and his death was incredibly difficult for us.
Atlas was an anxious, sensitive boy by nature, which taught us a lot about how different dogs within the same breed can be. He wasnât a dog who needed or enjoyed every type of social environment simply because other Aussies did. His personality reminded us that responsible ownership means paying attention to the dog in front of you rather than forcing every dog into the same mold.
Although Atlas is no longer physically here to run, play, walk, and experience life with our other dogs, he will always be an important part of the beginning of our program. We get to see a little piece of him continue through his puppies, and weâre grateful for the time we had with him.
Our goal with every Mini Aussie we raise is to encourage that same balance: dogs that can enjoy adventures, walks, playtime, training, and exploring the world, but can also come home, curl up with their family, and simply be loved.
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