FAQ

How do I reserve a puppy?

1. Fill out our Puppy Buyer Application

2. Read through the contract options at the bottom of this page:

Companion Contract, Male & Female Partnership, Stud Service

3. Give Bill & Angie a call at 219-246-8139

4. Fill out the Deposit Agreement and pay the $200 deposit

How do we evaluate and place our puppies?

Structure Test - Pat Hasting’s Puppy Puzzle to evaluate pups for show/breed quality at 8 weeks.
Temperament Test Suzanne Clothier’s CARAT temperament test
Eye exam by an ophthalmologist
Take the pups herding at 7 weeks to determine drive and instinct.

We take the process of lining up pups with the right homes very seriously and have done a great job in the past putting pups in homes where they have the best chance for success. We will not be able to “offer” you a specific pup until 8 weeks, when all of the tests/evaluations are done. Of course, if you are not interested in the pup/pups we think are suited to you, we will return your deposit, or wait for another litter. It’s hard to not know which puppy is the best fit, but worth the wait.

What health issues are in the breed?

While we try our best to make good breeding decisions and do clearances on our dogs, health issues can and do arise. Pretty much any illness a person can get, a dog can get too. Some illnesses are more common for minis. Please take the time to understand the more common illnesses in the breed. http://www.ashgi.org/

What colors?

Here's a fun one to understand coloring in minis.

What do we do for Puppy Rearing?

We will be doing early stimulation to develop their little brains. We also clicker train. Please take the time before the pups are ready to come home with you to read up on training. We use Puppy Culture

Recommended...

While this is out of print, if you can find one, get the Premier Ultimate Puppy Tool Kit. This is a great guide to socialization and training. Clicker Puppy DVD

What is the cost for a puppy?

Companion/Non-Breeding dogs are $2800 includes AKC Registration. The Companion contract will be used if the puppy will be spayed/neutered. This includes performance dogs that will be non-breeding, even if they are breeding quality. We want our performance pups to have super structure to hold up to the strain of being an athlete! Companion Contract

Partnership/Breeding Potential pups are $2600 - includes DNA health clearances, and Registration for AKC, UKC eligible. Male Contract Female Contract

How will my dog be registered?

AKC & eligible for UKC

Do we sell puppies to breeders?

No, we do not sell our puppies to breeders. Why? We place our dogs in homes with the HIGHEST chance for success and are meticulous about lining up puppies with families. The chances of a puppy turning out to be an exceptional breeding dog are in general pretty low. The pups bite might go off. They may grow be a 1/2" oversize. They might have rose ears. On and on...

So, what we do is place breeding prospects with partner families, that really do not care if their dog is bred or not. This way, we only breed the best of the best if the dog turns out exceptional, and the dogs all get to be the center of their families lives, forever. Breeding is just a small part of the dog's lives.

We do however, provide stud service to outside breeders. We have really enjoy working with other breeders and look forward to these collaborations in the future! See Stud Contract at the bottom of this page.

When should I send a Deposit?

We like to have homes lined up before the litter is born. That way, we can focus on rearing the pups and enjoying them. Please send your deposit early to reserve a pup. Sometimes, it may take a litter or two to have the right pup for you. Deposit Agreement

Why Partner Families?

Bill & I have decided that we do not want to have a "kennel" environment for our dogs with more dogs than we can keep in our home as family – we only have two breeding dogs in our home. The only way we can continue our program is with family partnerships.

We have had great success in the past and enjoy the collaboration with families that have extra interest in their dogs. We enjoy introducing people to new activities they can do with their dogs and take great pride in the dog and handler’s accomplishments. We love it when folks are flexible on getting a breeding/non-breeding dog as it leaves us open to just placing the best dog for their family with them.

We look forward to you joining the Wigglebutt family! Bill & Angela Ogle

Puppy Buyer Application

Health

Please take the time to learn about health issues in the Australian Shepherd, and visit the ASGHI site. Even with best intentions, and careful planning and testing of litters, dogs can have every health issue that people have including epilepsy, eye disorders and hip dysplasia. We wish there were a way to breed every puppy to be free from genetic illness, but this is not possible. We can only do our best and make choices with tests/information available.

Homes

You will be entering a 10-12 year relationship with your mini, maybe longer. The information you give us about your family and your expectations, will help us to pick a puppy that is compatible with your life. We will also be happy to recommend resources, training techniques and care for your dog, to help you really enjoy your best friend.

Commitment

Wigglebutt is responsible for each and every puppy we produce for their entire life. It is important for us to carefully find homes with the best chance of success and happiness, tailored for each individual puppy. If ever your situation changes, and you can no longer keep your Aussie, we require that you return the pup/dog to us. Litters will be registered AKC and UKC.

Companion Families

Dog will be Spayed/Neutered.

Partner Families

Might you be willing to have a dog with breeding/show potential partner with Wigglebutt? You would provide the extra special love, care and affection. Wigglebutt would be responsible for countless hours researching the breed, proving breeding worthiness, determining the best mates, marketing the puppies or stud dog, attending seminars, etc. You could be as involved or un-involved as you want to be.

Bill and I would like to keep the number of Aussies in our home very small. They are so smart and devoted, and deserve to be the center of a family's life. While we would like to be involved with bettering the breed, we are very limited (by choice) as to the number of dogs we keep at home.

Deposit Agreement

If there is not a puppy in the litter that appears to be suited to your needs in terms of temperament, performance or breeding potential, etc., then we will not sell you a puppy from this litter. We will refund your deposit, or at your request, hold it towards a puppy from another litter. In addition, if for any reason buyer or seller decides not to buy or sell a puppy, the deposit will be returned to you.

Puppy Selection/Placement

A few days before the puppies turn 8 weeks they will be evaluated.

Evaluations include:

Temperament Test
Structure Test
Vet Evaluation
Eye Exam
Herding Instinct

This helps us get an idea of the home the for which the puppy is best suited. We place pups in homes with their best chance for success! Only after the above testing, will you be offered a specific puppy or a choice of puppies. First come is not necessarily first served with deposits, because it is important to us that you and your puppy are a good match.

As the breeders, we have intimate knowledge of each puppy in the litter based on 8 weeks of close observation. This method has worked well Wigglebutt over the past 20 years, although we understand it is hard not to know which cutie is coming home with you...