Puppy Information

Puppy Information

Our Goal

I proudly raise and offer for sale happy, healthy, well socialized, working/pet quality puppies. All purchased puppies come to you current on shots, worming and with a Health Guarantee. Our dogs are part of our family and we treat them as such- they are NEVER kenneled or caged and have free choice fresh water and high protein dog food at all times. All dogs are kept current on vaccinations and worming. They live, work and play with us on the ranch.

Reserving Pick of a Litter/Waiting List

A $100 non-refundable deposit will hold your pick of the litter until that puppy can be picked up or shipped. Deposits will be taken to reserve first, second, or third picks of a litter once I am certain a dog is expecting puppies. Once all picks on a litter are reserved, you are welcome to add your name to our Waiting List(see more info below). You are only guaranteed a pick of a litter if a deposit has been received. Picks must be made by 4 days old. The remaining puppies in the litter will then be offered on a first come/first served basis to everyone on the Waiting List, and then to the general public. If for some reason we do not have a pup to your liking (not enough puppies in litter, momma does not have pups, all boys or girls, whatever), your deposit can be transferred to any other available puppy or upcoming litter, but no refunds on deposits will be given for any reason. All deposits go towards the purchase price of the puppy. If price of litter is raised after birth and you have reserved a pick ahead of time, your price will remain at the original litter price. I accept Pay Pal, money orders, checks and cash. All payments for puppy and shipping must be received before puppy can be shipped or at time of pick up. All checks must clear through the bank before a puppy can be shipped. Puppies can be picked up at the ranch at 7 weeks or shipped after 8 weeks. All puppies must be picked up or shipped by 10 weeks of age unless other arrangements have been made.

Waiting List

Names are added to the Waiting List in the order in which I receive them. After all picks of an upcoming litter are reserved, I will take names on the Waiting List only. Once your name is one of the first three on the list, then I am happy to take a deposit from you to reserve a pick of the next upcoming litter. Until then, you will be contacted once reserved picks of litters have been made with information/pictures on remaining available puppies on a first come/first served basis. If you are on the Waiting List and find a puppy elsewhere, kindly let me know so your name can be removed. I am also happy to refer you to other breeders that have puppies available, although researching each breeder and their dogs is a buyer's responsibilty. I do not have puppies available all the time, and will not overbreed my dogs, so if you are interested in a pup from me, it might require a little waiting!

Breeding

Our most serious consideration when breeding our dogs is working quality. It is, after all, what this breed was bred to do! Our dogs are purebred, but are not registered nor from show bloodlines, they are just good old working ranch dogs that have been bred and raised here on the ranch for generations. When it comes to working cattle, this breed has no peer. Preserving that part of the breed standard before any other "ideals" is essential for us as cattle ranchers with a large herd. Our dogs must have the physical confirmation, intelligence, temperament, endurance, work ethic, and implicit devotion to their job to be our great working partners AND family companions. We love our dogs as much as anyone, but we also expect them to be at our side when there is work to be done. It is amazing to watch them work, and how much they love to do so. However, our dogs are just as happy to go fishing with us as they are to trail cows! They are part of our family whatever we are doing, work or pleasure. All pups are guaranteed to work stock to the best of one's ability to teach them.

Many of our puppies have found homes on neighboring ranches working with their families, while others are just as happy providing loving companionship to families in many states. We have many references available upon request from families that use our dogs for work and pleasure.

Socializing puppies

We are just as excited to have puppies as you are to get them, and we make certain they have the best start in life possible. When mother dogs come into the house to have their puppies, it is with great excitement and audience! Puppies are handled by my kids from the minute they are born- we refuse to own a dog that is not tolerant of children. All of our dogs have been raised with our kids, so they all are happy to jump on the trampoline, go down the slide, do chores, watch TV, walk on a leash, pull a wagon, and tend to follow the kids around, especially if I am not out with them! The pups follow the big dogs and learn by example.

Mother and pups are moved outside to the "puppy house" when weather permits or the puppies are around 3 weeks old. The puppy house has a heat lamp for the colder months and is thickly lined with clean straw. Pups and mother can come and go as they please and the mother dogs teach the pups to "go" out of the house when they are big enough. This really makes housetraining a lot easier for the new families. The pups are used to lots of noises and sights, both inside and outside- vacuum cleaners, slamming doors, radios, TV, kids, tractors, horses, cows, cats, goats, pickups, other dogs, etc. We spend a lot of time with them- having puppies is lots of fun for all of us! They are socialized to all aspects of life on the ranch-my kids often have a "puppy train" behind them once the puppies get big enough to follow us around. We learn each pup's individual personality and quirks, and this helps us better inform a buyer about each puppy's qualities.

Tails on puppies

Many people feel a heeler should have its natural tail for balance, that it acts as a "rudder" for a dog when they are working. Then again, many others prefer tails be docked, as it helps distinguish at a distance from predators, such as coyotes or wolves, as well as keep a working dog's tail clean from burrs and other matter. We have dogs with tails both ways, and honestly, I have never noticed a difference! A puppy's tail is docked at such an early age, before they are even able to get around well, so I doubt their balance is affected at all. And I don't think the dogs are going to tell us who is right, so it is merely a personal preference! I am happy to dock tails or leave a puppy with its natural tail, whichever you prefer--so long as you have made your pick of the litter no later than one week old. I dock tails between 5-7 days, and will not dock tails once a puppy is past that age, no exceptions. Any other way just isn't fair to the pups. After one week old, you are welcome to what is available or have the option to wait until another litter is born to get their tail the way you prefer.

Shipping or Picking up your puppy

Shipping is available for an additional $350 for any US domestic destination, which includes airfare, vet requirements (Health Certificate and Letter of Acclimation) travel crate, and driving required for the vet trip (90 miles round trip) and to the airport (180 miles round trip). I can ship to Canada for an additional cost. We fly out of Natrona County International Airport in Casper, WY on SkyWest and Delta Airlines. Puppies can be shipped after 8 weeks, or picked up at the ranch after 7 weeks. Airport policy only allows for 24 hour advance booking dependent on weather and availability. Winter and summer months can prove to be difficult times to ship, so please be patient if the weather is not cooperating! We want you to get your puppy just as much as you do!

Health Guarantee

I have a one year guarantee on puppies against terminal genetic disorders that gives you either your purchase price refunded or equal credit for the purchase price only of your puppy towards any other puppy or pick of upcoming litter. We perform individualized stimuli tests on each pup to insure they are not deaf. Shots and wormer are fresh from our vet. All purchased puppies come to you current on shots and worming and with this guarantee unless otherwise stated. Please click here to read full copy on the Health Guarantee page.

Our puppies are not available for resale or to brokers, PLEASE DON"T EVEN ASK!! We want them to go to loving homes with families that understand this breed and want a puppy to be a part of their lives. We reserve the right to refuse the sale of any dog/puppy to anyone for any reason at any time. If for any reason you purchase a dog/puppy from us and can no longer keep them, that dog/puppy is always welcome back at the ranch.

All of this information is provided because it is important to me that you are well-educated on my policies and puppies--that way no one is suprised, confused, or disappointed. If we all know what to expect, then a puppy gets a new, loving home and everyone involved in that process is happy. I am so excited to receive updates from puppies and their new families. We consider these pups part of our family until they reach yours, so it is always fun to hear what they are doing and see how they have grown up !

Thank you for your interest, consideration and business!

Please contact me with any questions or about reserving a puppy/litter pick!

Gwen Shepperson, KS Ranch Heelers

307-267-6614

gshepp725@gmail.com

Australian Cattle Dogs

Puppy Love!!

Brandy and Dutch, who now lives in NH!

Shaw (Sami x Splat)

Maggie x Sly pups, 8/05

Shaw the puppy looking for worms while Kiley & Kody fish.

Kiley with Silver and Twinkle( both Brandy x Harley) watching cartoons!

Please read below to find answers to the most commonly asked questions about breeding, our puppies, reserving litter picks, purchasing, shipping or picking up a puppy, our policies, and about our Health Guarantee-- but if you have any more, please feel free to call or email me(Gwen)!