**Blog Post: "Why We Choose the Puppy for You: A Breeder's Perspective"**

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**About Me: Ana, The Passionate Breeder**

Hello there! I'm Ana, the proud owner and breeder of Lighthouse Aussie Family. Nestled in the picturesque town of Savadisla, jud Cluj, Romania, our small family kennel is a labour of love. Breeding Australian Shepherds is more than just a hobby for me; it's a passion. We believe in quality over quantity, which is why we only have 1-2 litters a year. Every puppy is born and raised in our home, right beside our family. They're not just pets; they're family.

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**Q&A: Choosing the Right Puppy for You**

Q: Why don't you let potential owners pick their own puppy based on looks?

A: Great question! While every puppy is undeniably adorable, choosing a puppy should be about more than just looks. Each puppy has its own unique temperament and characteristics. As a breeder, I spend countless hours with them, understanding their individual needs and personalities. This intimate knowledge allows me to match each puppy with the perfect home, ensuring a harmonious relationship for both the puppy and the owner.


Q: Why don't you just sell puppies based on color? 

A: Honestly, it would be easier for me to sell puppies based on colour. I might even have more "happy" customers in the short term. However, my primary concern isn't just customer satisfaction; it's the long-term happiness and well-being of the dogs. Selling based on colour alone doesn't take into account the unique personalities and temperaments of each puppy. By matching puppies with families based on compatibility, we ensure that our Aussies lead fulfilling lives and truly become cherished members of their new families. My commitment is rooted in my love for dogs and the incredible breed that the Aussie is.

Q: What if I have a specific colour preference for my puppy?

A: While we do take note of colour preferences, our primary focus is on ensuring the right personality fit. Sometimes, you might be matched with a puppy that isn't your preferred colour, but remember, it's the bond and compatibility that truly matter in the long run.


Q: How can I trust that you'll choose the right puppy for me?

A: Trust is built on communication. We take the time to talk individually with every person or family considering one of our puppies. If possible, we even encourage you to visit us, meet the dogs, and spend a day with our family. This way, we get a better understanding of your lifestyle, preferences, and what you're looking for in a furry companion. Our goal is always to ensure that both the puppy and the owner are set up for a successful, happy life together.


Q: I understand the importance of matching personalities, but can I at least choose from 2-3 puppies based on their disposition during my visit?

A: It's a common request, and I completely understand where you're coming from. You might spend 30 minutes or so with the puppies, observing their behaviours and trying to gauge their personalities. However, it's essential to remember that during your visit, both you and the puppies are in an excited state. You're thinking, "puppies! puppies! puppies!" and they're equally thrilled, thinking, "human! human! human!" 

In that short window of time, it's challenging to truly understand each puppy's unique disposition. Once the initial excitement settles, their individual quirks and personalities emerge. Me, as breeder, have spent weeks observing them, understanding who's the playful one, who's more reserved, who's the leader of the pack, and so on. I know their personalities inside out, which is why I believe in matching you with the perfect puppy. It's not about limiting choices; it's about ensuring the best fit for both the puppy and the owner.


Q: Why do you feel so confident in choosing the right puppy for families?

A: As a breeder, I'm not just around the puppies; I'm deeply involved in their day-to-day lives. I witness their character developments, understand their likes and dislikes, and even recognize what they might fear. This intimate knowledge isn't something that can be gained in a short visit. When potential owners share what they're looking for in a dog, I can immediately visualise which puppy would be the best fit for that lifestyle and environment.

It's a bit like piecing together a puzzle. The reward? Seeing how seamlessly the puppy integrates into its new family. There's nothing more heartwarming than hearing stories of how "my pups" (even when they're almost grown, they'll always be my pups) enrich the lives of their families. Every photo I receive, every update I get, brings a smile to my face. It's a testament to the love and care that goes into ensuring each puppy finds its perfect forever home.

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In conclusion, our approach is rooted in love, understanding, and a deep commitment to the well-being of both our puppies and their future families. I’m not just breeder; I’m a matchmaker, ensuring that every Lighthouse Aussie finds its perfect forever home.

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When Socialisation and activities are sometimes to much : Stop Stacking Stressors !!!
Five Action Items for Breeders and Puppy Owners
Jane Messineo Lindquist, Puppy Culture
19 Sep 2023 | 10 minute read
https://madcapuniversity.com/blogs/articles-and-product-reviews/socialization-and-emotional-fallout

More about co-owning a puppy!

What is co-owning for us ? 

Because often we get asked to explain coownership I thought writing an article on the subject would be helpful.
* this article refers to normal Pet homes that maybe would be open to co-owning a puppy with us, not to proven Show homes or Breeders ! 

So, to get back to the point. 
Why do we need co-owners ? 
This is quite simple. Realistically we can not hold on to all the puppies we like and consider Show Quality puppies. We do keep some, but often we sell Show Quality puppies as Pets. If we believe in the quality of one dog, in the pedigree, the temperament and MOST IMPORTANT we feel we would have a good relationship with the future owners we ask them for cowonership.  
This helps us have a wider base of dogs. And helps the dogs have their own families. In our vision responsible breeding can not be done without Coowners - and so we need you in our life !
This would mean the dog is a Pet in his/hers family, and the breeding rights are owned by us. All our puppies are sold as Pet's, but there are some that we might like în co-own and we discuss this prior with the family.  A Show Prospect puppy will have to be examined by us around 12 months of age ( us coming to the owners, or the owners visiting us ). If we do like how the puppy has developed, and the family is still open to co-own - then we can move forward. 
If we agree to this then all the expenses that have to do with a Show dog are on us/the breeder. Any shows, handler fees, photos, travels, hip/elbow examination, eye tests, genetic tests, etc are covered by us. And as said before the breeding rights to said dog belong to us. 
For males : 
- breeder can use the Stud Dog on any of the Bitches in their breeding program ( owned or co-owned ) without and stud fees. If asked for an outside female, the breeder will forward a part of the breeding fee to the owner ( this will be discussed at that time, depending on circumstances ) 
- owner has no obligation to do anything related to Show or Breeding, but should try to be compliant with his time 

For female: 
- females in co-own would have 2-3 litters at home with the breeder.
- females can stay with us in boarding for free whenever the owners need this help - it also helps the female to get use to our house environment and be relaxed with us. 
- we would NEVER continue with a breeding with a female that we see is not feeling ok in our home environment 
- a part of the profit from the litter will be forwarded to the female owners ( to be discussed depending on circumstances )
- we only consider co-owning females that are in a town/region close to us. 
Ana Muresan, Lighthouse Aussies, 06.03.2023

Hey everyone, 
First of all I want to thank you for expressing interest in our puppies. Before we embark on this journey together I feel I must share some info with you !

We are a small kennel and we only plan to have 1-2 litters / year. This is most important for us because each and every litter needs attention and dedication. The puppies are born in our house and are raised beside our family. We consider each puppy to be unique in characteristics, and we dedicate the time spent together with them knowing their temperament and needs. 
What does this mean? It means that our puppies are not chosen by color or from pictures. 
We talk individually with ever person/family that considers having one of our babies. If the distance permits it we encourage you to come and visit us and the dogs. Meet them, spend a day with us and see if it is what you imagined. 
Our puppies are raised with the Puppy Culture program. This means that from the 3rd day of life and until they leave for their new home we work with them on different levels. Socialisation, sound/surface/etc habituation, clicker training, crate training, attention, recall, leash training, etc. We also provide a video course + book for the future owners to help them understand the next steps in puppy raising. On top of all this, communication between us and you is key. Preparing the house, the accessories and everything you need to make your puppy feel at home when he/she arrives ! 

As I have said before, puppies are raised in our home with our children and are used to everyday life and activities!
Yes, Australians Shepherds can be a high drive bread. And this is why we like to pair puppies by character and temperament. 

For the ones that understand romanian, here is a video about Puppy culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhv0HfNTVXc and about bringing a new puppy into your home: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDAn3DE2ilQ&t=4436s

Pet puppies/ Co-owning/ Show puppies:
 Another important aspect of our breeding is that the majority of puppies are placed as Pet Quality puppies. What does this mean? This means that puppies are without Breeding of Show rights. All puppy pedigrees will remain with the breeder until the puppy is sterilised/castrated. The Pet Quality referes to nothing else but the pure paperwork that comes with the baby - it does NOT mean in any way that the puppy is less healthy or perfect ! They are, again, all the same in our eyes. Why do we do this ? Because the majority of people coming to us are not breeders or have any experience about aussies or breeding and we consider it important to hold the rains to the future of our breed tight and under supervision. 
 Co-ownership situations occur when we feel a puppy of a high quality can go to a family that is located near us or to a breeder/handler which whom we are able to comunicate closely. What does co-ownership mean ? It means that the breeding and show rights for the puppy are ours and the puppy is just a normal Pet puppy. IF we consider that the puppy is Show Quality when he/she has matured, then we will take the puppy to shows and do all the necessary measures for breeding. 
 Selling Show Quality puppies is a difficult choice, and we take it very very seriously. So if you are looking for something like this, you would have to be patient and colaborate closely with us ! 
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Mail: [email protected]
Phone: 004 0749210020

Fb: https://www.facebook.com/Aussies.of.Cluj
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/lighthouseaussies/
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