Welcome to
Follow Me Aussies
Toy & Miniature Australian Shepherds |
| "Honey Creek Key to my Hart" (Keeyla) |
Welcome to
Follow Me Aussies
Toy & Miniature Australian Shepherds |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| "Honey Creek Key to my Hart" (Keeyla) |
 |
| "Honey Creek Key to my Hart" (Keeyla) |
| Some history about how I got into Aussies. |
I started searching for Keeyla years before I finally found her. I cannot express more the importance of matching the right dog to the right
owner. I must have researched over a year to figure out what breed of dog would best suit me and my family and our lifestyle for the next
12-15 years. I research many breeds and found myself always coming back to the Aussie. I admit, it was their gorgeous looks that caught my
attention first. Soon after that I discovered all that they had to offer. Their attentiveness towards their owners and their smarts always amazed
me. I met a few in person, and looked into those soulful eyes and found a dog breed that was perfect for me. After I concluded I wanted an
Australian Shepherd, I was a bit apprehensive on the size. I wanted a small dog, one that would be easy for me to take in the car, and wouldn't
take up too much room in the house. I love cats, and wanted a dog of similar size. That's when I found the Toy Australian Shepherd. They were
perfect for what I was looking for. Next, I narrowed my search by breeder. I spent several more months researching different breeders. This
was a very important process, as I learned that there are hundreds of breeders, all with different policies and code of ethics. Along the way, I
met several great breeders that were happy and willing to teach me everything I wanted to learn about Aussies, breeding, pedigrees, health,
temperament, structure, testing, etc. I am still learning.
Once I felt I had a good handle on what to look for, and what I wanted, I narrowed down my search again to a select few breeders here in Canada
and the United States. Then I started watching which dogs were having litters and when. Sure..I looked at A LOT of puppies, but what I really
concentrated on were the parents. I wanted to see what my pup might be like when it was full grown, not how cute it was now. I also had
learned about pedigrees and I wanted a puppy from a bloodline of good temperament dogs. At this point, conformation titles were a not a big
deal to me. (Later it would be) I found about 5 different breeders that had either puppies now, or had puppies on the way. A few pups that I
liked were quickly purchased out from under me while I sat back still researching pedigrees and thinking and deciding. I wasn't going to make a
hasty decision. Not one as important as this.
After a few disappoints of pups being sold...I found another breeder sort of by accident while researching on the web. I liked what I saw and
read on his website. Honey Creek Toy Aussies had just had a litter of four pups. When I found his site, the first picture I saw was the mom of
this litter. She looked exactly like the desktop picture of a pup I had selected from a web image, of a dog I liked, a Red Merle with a white blaze.
When I saw her, I thought, that is exactly the dog I want. After scrutinizing the website and corresponding with the breeder, I started to watch
her litter very closely. I really liked this little blue Merle male at first. But as the weeks past and Jim would send me new pictures of the pups, I
started to turn my attention to the red Merle female that was beginning to look just like her Mama. I knew she was the one, that day he sent me
her '3 weeks old' photo. Her picture screamed "I'm yours!" That day, I sent an email reply telling Jim I wanted her. That same day, some
young hikers were coming by the breeder's place to look at the pups. I had yet to put down my deposit, so technically she was still up for grabs.
Good thing they were looking for a bigger dog! I sent my deposit the next day. And from then, I watched her grow to 8 weeks old through
emailed photos. Jim and I conversed through email almost daily. We started to talk about the pups potential as a breeding prospect. I had
given it some thought prior, but was unsure all of what was involved. We talked a lot about it, and as she grew, it was becoming evident that this
little girl was looking like she was going to be of show/breed quality. We discussed in great length about me breeding her and if her evaluation
at 8 weeks old came back as Jim had predicted, then I would at least breed her once in order for him to get a breeding prospect to keep the line
going. I agreed. I knew I was in good hands, and I had some great people around me that I could get advice and help from. It turned out she
was indeed a breed/show quality pup and that is how this website became. I couldn't wait to get my pup in my hands. The hardest part in all this
was never actually getting to see my puppy in person. It was a bit of a gamble, but I had a real good vibe about it. The happiest day was when I
went to the Airport in Toronto to pick her up from a long plane ride from Portland, Oregon. She was very anxious to get out of that crate and
meet us. She has been a wonderful dog so far. It's like she has always been here. She fit right in. I can't imagine what life was like before her.
Keeyla has wonderful temperament. She does not have any Aussie reserve at all. She loves everyone she meets. It is impossible to get in the
door without a lick on the chin or a wiggle butt attack. She loves kids. I am with her most of the day, and when I leave her and then return, you
would think I was gone for a month! She is devoted and loving and so smart. She loves to learn. She can be active one minute and settled down
the next. She can last all day playing hard, and then cuddle up with you to watch a movie on the couch. She is my constant companion an is
great in the car. As she grows with us...I will add more information and about her. To see pictures of Keeyla as she grows...go to the photos
page. I have no doubt that someday, she will produce beautiful, wonderful puppies.
Lisa Hartjes
owner. I must have researched over a year to figure out what breed of dog would best suit me and my family and our lifestyle for the next
12-15 years. I research many breeds and found myself always coming back to the Aussie. I admit, it was their gorgeous looks that caught my
attention first. Soon after that I discovered all that they had to offer. Their attentiveness towards their owners and their smarts always amazed
me. I met a few in person, and looked into those soulful eyes and found a dog breed that was perfect for me. After I concluded I wanted an
Australian Shepherd, I was a bit apprehensive on the size. I wanted a small dog, one that would be easy for me to take in the car, and wouldn't
take up too much room in the house. I love cats, and wanted a dog of similar size. That's when I found the Toy Australian Shepherd. They were
perfect for what I was looking for. Next, I narrowed my search by breeder. I spent several more months researching different breeders. This
was a very important process, as I learned that there are hundreds of breeders, all with different policies and code of ethics. Along the way, I
met several great breeders that were happy and willing to teach me everything I wanted to learn about Aussies, breeding, pedigrees, health,
temperament, structure, testing, etc. I am still learning.
Once I felt I had a good handle on what to look for, and what I wanted, I narrowed down my search again to a select few breeders here in Canada
and the United States. Then I started watching which dogs were having litters and when. Sure..I looked at A LOT of puppies, but what I really
concentrated on were the parents. I wanted to see what my pup might be like when it was full grown, not how cute it was now. I also had
learned about pedigrees and I wanted a puppy from a bloodline of good temperament dogs. At this point, conformation titles were a not a big
deal to me. (Later it would be) I found about 5 different breeders that had either puppies now, or had puppies on the way. A few pups that I
liked were quickly purchased out from under me while I sat back still researching pedigrees and thinking and deciding. I wasn't going to make a
hasty decision. Not one as important as this.
After a few disappoints of pups being sold...I found another breeder sort of by accident while researching on the web. I liked what I saw and
read on his website. Honey Creek Toy Aussies had just had a litter of four pups. When I found his site, the first picture I saw was the mom of
this litter. She looked exactly like the desktop picture of a pup I had selected from a web image, of a dog I liked, a Red Merle with a white blaze.
When I saw her, I thought, that is exactly the dog I want. After scrutinizing the website and corresponding with the breeder, I started to watch
her litter very closely. I really liked this little blue Merle male at first. But as the weeks past and Jim would send me new pictures of the pups, I
started to turn my attention to the red Merle female that was beginning to look just like her Mama. I knew she was the one, that day he sent me
her '3 weeks old' photo. Her picture screamed "I'm yours!" That day, I sent an email reply telling Jim I wanted her. That same day, some
young hikers were coming by the breeder's place to look at the pups. I had yet to put down my deposit, so technically she was still up for grabs.
Good thing they were looking for a bigger dog! I sent my deposit the next day. And from then, I watched her grow to 8 weeks old through
emailed photos. Jim and I conversed through email almost daily. We started to talk about the pups potential as a breeding prospect. I had
given it some thought prior, but was unsure all of what was involved. We talked a lot about it, and as she grew, it was becoming evident that this
little girl was looking like she was going to be of show/breed quality. We discussed in great length about me breeding her and if her evaluation
at 8 weeks old came back as Jim had predicted, then I would at least breed her once in order for him to get a breeding prospect to keep the line
going. I agreed. I knew I was in good hands, and I had some great people around me that I could get advice and help from. It turned out she
was indeed a breed/show quality pup and that is how this website became. I couldn't wait to get my pup in my hands. The hardest part in all this
was never actually getting to see my puppy in person. It was a bit of a gamble, but I had a real good vibe about it. The happiest day was when I
went to the Airport in Toronto to pick her up from a long plane ride from Portland, Oregon. She was very anxious to get out of that crate and
meet us. She has been a wonderful dog so far. It's like she has always been here. She fit right in. I can't imagine what life was like before her.
Keeyla has wonderful temperament. She does not have any Aussie reserve at all. She loves everyone she meets. It is impossible to get in the
door without a lick on the chin or a wiggle butt attack. She loves kids. I am with her most of the day, and when I leave her and then return, you
would think I was gone for a month! She is devoted and loving and so smart. She loves to learn. She can be active one minute and settled down
the next. She can last all day playing hard, and then cuddle up with you to watch a movie on the couch. She is my constant companion an is
great in the car. As she grows with us...I will add more information and about her. To see pictures of Keeyla as she grows...go to the photos
page. I have no doubt that someday, she will produce beautiful, wonderful puppies.
Lisa Hartjes
