North of Center's Australian Shepherd's

02/11/2024

Gryff has been waiting all year and is super excited for the action today…
It's time for some serious barking and tackling on TV. Let the cuteness overload begin at Puppy Bowl 20!

Gryffin lives in Hart, MI, is lovingly spoiled, & loves football ❤️

12/20/2023

Took the dogs to a Christmas light show tonight! They even sang along 😂

08/03/2023

Indy just wanted to say HI! Hope all the Aussie dogs are enjoying their summer 🐶
Post some pictures of what you’re dogs have been up to lately!

04/10/2023

This is a very difficult post for me, but also necessary as a breeder with integrity (and to let those who are on my waiting list for a pup)…

I brought Indy home to become my new breeding female and was so excited to finally have a red-factored, blue merle female to breed to my gorgeous red tri male (to have the opportunity to get every color of the Aussie rainbow in one litter of pups)! ❤️

As I believe most of you know I do all the genetic testing on my dogs (and I also made sure to check Indy’s parents genetics thoroughly, which were all great)!

I waited the two years to get her hips & elbows tested with OFA, with great anticipation for an exciting litter of beautiful pups that could be raised with the Puppy Culture protocol (I put a ton of time & training into my dogs)!!!

BUT, even with doing everything right, anomaly’s happen…we got the results back on Indy’s OFA & to our dismay, the poor girl has both hip & elbow displasia 😢

Indy will not be bred & has an appointment with her Vet to be fixed so as never to pass this genetic disorder on to future pups! She will also be put on Dasuquin for the rest of her life to help alleviate as much pain from her “arthritic” bones as possible!

With all that said, I am struggling with what decision to make as a breeder right now! We, as Good Breeders (and one at my age) put so much love, time, & energy into our programs that with something like this happening, taking the wind out of our sails after a long anticipated two years of waiting…I just don’t know if I have it in me to wait another two years! Alan & I have been discussing this & have not come up with our final decision quite yet! 😫 I will keep this page updated with our decision as it is finalized …I pray I make the right one!!! 🙏🏼

10/29/2022

Indy says “Just leaf me alone” 🤦🏼‍♀️
LoL, she really loves to get blown by the leaves & if you don’t do it fast enough, she’ll run up to bite the blower! 😂

10/05/2022

This is Gryffin (& his Momma Annette)! Gryff turned 1 y/o at the end of September…he was out of the “Survivor” litter (formerly known as James, the gravedigger).
We got mom’s & pup together to go for a hike yesterday. It was so much fun, but I must say that since Ruby retired, she has been enjoying the leisure life & isn’t used to 4 1/2 mile hikes! She slept all afternoon (but she looked very content while sleeping) 💗 As for me, my Hoka’s kept my plantar fasciitis feeling good the entire walk, but I woke up this morning hurting pretty bad 😢

09/27/2022

Murphy is such a clown! I guess he didn’t get wet enough on his run around the orchard this morning (we got rained out 1/2 way through)…so he came home & proceeded to splash around in the pool! 🤦🏼‍♀️

09/08/2022

I love getting pictures of my dogs like this when I’m on vacation. They were definitely enjoying themselves by playing with their “Go Dog Go” ball toy, running around & chasing each other, sun bathing, and of course playing with all their indoor stuffies ❤️

08/06/2022

Silas (formerly known as Chandler) got to go on a very cool cross-country vacation with mom & two-legged sister, Norah (& four-legged sister Oakley)

He got to see bison in person & mom says,

“He thinks he’s bigger than a Bison so every time he saw one (even fake ones in Custer) he barked at them. 🤦🏼‍♀️ Oakley just looked at him like he was crazy! 😂”

Aussies are such smart dogs too…Mom said he escaped twice from the off leash doggie playground at the campground and ran straight to the cabin to get me. (Norah took them down while I got dinner ready) …It wasn’t funny at the time for Norah but the smarty pants went straight back to the cabin! We never figured out how he got out either because we didn’t see a space in the fence he could get through?!?

“He also figured out in 2 min that he could push the screen door open on the cabin so he kept trying to let himself out. We tried 20 different macguyver moves and he still got it open so we had to keep the main door shut or keep his lead on when it was open”. 🤦🏼‍♀️~Brooks Kathleen

Oh Silas, you always kept me on my toes while you were here with me too! Thanks for sharing these awesome pictures with me! ~ Liz Tompkins Lound

07/20/2022

Jus sayin’…

❤️

07/17/2022

❤️

07/11/2022

The many faces of Murphy on our Jeep ride out to our hiking spot…
This dog is such a character ❤️

07/08/2022

07/04/2022

We have another water dog from the “Friends” litter 💦❤️
This is Luna (formerly known as Phoebe)!
Her Momma (Melissa Ederle) says she loves to swim & did really well on the Paddleboard! I’m sure she’ll learn to love the water more & more throughout the summer ☀️

07/01/2022

Murphy & his squeak toy 😩 …he’s unstoppable with that thing in his mouth!

06/23/2022

Check out Nash from Ruby & Crosby’s very first litter ❤️
He’s enjoying his time with his Daddy Austin Bruns & family at Hocking Hills!

06/18/2022

I LOVE getting updates & pictures on pups! Here is my latest update on Joey from the ‘FRIENDS’ litter…
“Big day for Joey yesterday! He was accident free, and went to the door for a few seconds each time he needed to be let out. 🐾 He is also mostly completely crate trained, and loves resting and sleeping in there.
He's doing so well, Liz, and we just love all the growing he is doing! He's the perfect addition to our family and is so so so loved! 💙“
Thanks for sharing Becca & Nathan Gale! 🥰

06/14/2022

Brooks Kathleen has kept up on her training really well, even getting Silas acclimated to the upcoming lights & boomer’s for the 4th of July holidays!
If you’re interested in doing the same, start out small and work your way up while giving love & treats while conditioning to the new stimulant 🙌🏼
Great job Brooke!!! 🥰

06/09/2022

I enjoyed walking this trails until I heard later on that there was a bear about 2 miles down the road from me 😳
That’s 2 times within a week that a bear has been in my vicinity when I’m out alone…I’m done going out alone anymore!

06/08/2022

Who’s your best friend?!
Arlo (formerly Jim from The Office litter) loves his little guy & enjoys playing (& resting) with him ❤️…and still winks for the camera 📸

06/06/2022

Here are some updated pictures of the “FRIENDS” litter at 12 weeks old!
Aren’t they just adorable 🥰

06/04/2022

😂

05/31/2022

Jeep Hair, Don’t Care 🙌🏼
Murphy enjoying the nice weather 🐾❤️

05/22/2022

Everyone is guaranteed a tail waggin’ good time at Frankenmuth Dog Bowl! Started in 2008, Dog Bowl is a high-energy event that showcases dogs at their best – whether they are running, jumping, diving or retrieving. With over 25 fun activities, you are sure to find something Fido and the entire f...

05/09/2022

05/08/2022

I’ve been so busy the last couple days, I completely forgot to post these pictures 🤦🏼‍♀️

Atlas (formerly known as Ross) was picked up by his new FURever family Friday evening ❤️ Heidi (mom), Auebre (daughter), Robby (son) are sire to keep this pup busy as they live very active lives…and he may even become the team mascot for Robby’s soccer team as mom is the coach 🐶🥰

04/20/2022

Another scent game:
Using a Snuffle Mat to find treats!
❤️ North of Center’s Australian Shepherd’s

03/30/2022

1st step in potty training the puppies here is to give them their “sleep area (or) den” with a raised edge. This way they have something to step over to differentiate their den/sleep area from other places in their area.
Dogs/puppies instinctively try to keep the den area clean and free of smell (in the wild, this was to keep predators away).
Since they are so young and can’t make it far without having to go potty, I have lined the outside of their bed with potty mats, hoping they decide to use that area for relief before heading to their play area!
I don’t expect much at this time as they are so young, but it’s all about baby steps (or puppy steps in this case) 🥰
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