10 Australian Shepherd Breeders in Illinois IL

Written by Jonathan Wingfield in Breeders

Australian Shepherd Breeders in Illinois IL

Australian Shepherd Puppies for Sale in Illinois

Australian shepherds are a medium-sized breed of intelligent, sturdy dogs that were originally bred for herding sheep. Today they are popular as family pets and excel at dog sports such as agility and obedience competitions. They have a compact body with a muscular build and medium-length coat, and come in a variety of colors including blue merle (black with gray or silver random splotches), red merle (wheaten to light red with darker randomly splotched patches) and tricolor (rich tan with dark black “harlequin” patterns over the body). Solid white also occurs but is considered undesirable by breeders.

They tend to be very loyal and affectionate toward their owners, and generally good around children. Australian shepherds are not the best choice for homes with cats, as is typical of herding breeds. They are very active dogs who love to run around both indoors and out, so will need daily exercise in the form of walks or playtime.

One Thing You Need To Ask Your Dog Breeder

Australian shepherds are typically healthy and long-lived, living 12–15 years on average. Some health problems can be seen in specific lines of purebreds, including hip dysplasia and autoimmune disorders such as Pemphigus foliaceus. Health testing is available through parentage verification registries such as OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation), and patella certification). Puppies should be screened before purchase for evidence of congenital eye and hip diseases.

Australian Shepherd Breeders List in Illinois

Breeder Location Phone Website
Kickapoo Creek Aussies Mc Lean, IL 309-531-5007 Website
My Body Guard Dogs Marengo, IL 815-568-0484 Website
Windy Acres Puppy Adoptions Atwood, IL 217-722-9615 Website
Rockin Aussies Kennels Marion, IL 618-922-8089 Website
Double R Doodles Stonefort, IL 618-499-2134,
203-939-1964		 Website
Suzanne Mayborne Winnebago, IL 815-218-2663 Website
Alaina Niemerg- Bishop Creek Aussies Dieterich, IL 217-663-5693 No Website
John Howell Red Bud, IL 618-806-5163 No Website
Friendship Farms Paxton, IL 309-536-0413 Website
Riv’s Aussie Doodles Simpson, IL 618-672-4650 Website

Australian Shepherd Breeder Details in Illinois

Kickapoo Creek Aussies
Mc Lean, IL
Call: 309-531-5007
https://kickapoocreekaussies.com/

My Body Guard Dogs
Marengo, IL
Call: 815-568-0484
https://www.mybodyguarddogs.com/

Windy Acres Puppy Adoptions
Atwood, IL
Call: 217-722-9615
https://www.windyacrespuppies.com/

Rockin Aussies Kennels
Marion, IL
Call: 618-922-8089
http://rockin-aussies.webnode.com/

Double R Doodles
Stonefort, IL
Call: 618-499-2134, 203-939-1964
https://www.doubleraussiedoodles.com/

Suzanne Mayborne
Winnebago, IL
Call: 815-218-2663
http://www.shorelandkennel.com/

Alaina Niemerg- Bishop Creek Aussies
Dieterich, IL
Call: 217-663-5693
No Website

John Howell
Red Bud, IL
Call: 618-806-5163
No Website

Friendship Farms
Paxton, IL
Call: 309-536-0413
https://friendshipfarms.net/

Riv’s Aussie Doodles
Simpson, IL
Call: 618-672-4650
http://www.rivsaussiedoodles.com/

Alternative Places to Purchase a Australian Shepherd Puppy

Australian Shepherd Breeders in Neighboring States

For the complete list please see our Listings of Breeders page.

What is The Average Price for An Australian Shepherd Puppy in Illinois?

Prices for Australian Shepherd breed puppies usually range from about $500 to $800, depending on where you get one. Pet quality Aussies are sometimes sold at local shelters or rescues for under $100. The average purebred puppy price is around $600–$750. Breeders can be found on the internet and in some local newspapers that have classified sections.

Classified ads online are generally best because you can see who else is advertising dogs in your area, and how reputable the breeder seems before making a visit to their facility. Dealing with someone face-to-face can lead to being scammed if they decide not to let you take the dog home after seeing it (especially if they ask for payment ahead of time). Be sure to ask the breeder as many questions as you can, and request references.

The Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) is a good resource for finding reputable breeders near you. Our website lists the top breeders in the state of Illinois.

How to Find A Responsible Australian Shepherd Breeder in Illinois

Below are some tips to find a responsible breeder in your area.

  • Look for a breeder who is actively involved in their breed’s parent club, the Australian Shepherd Club of America. The ASCA has an online breeder referral directory that can help you find a breeder nearest you.
  • Breeders should be active with their dogs and engaged in dog sports such as agility, rally, tracking, or herding. They should also have shown their dogs competitively at local and national obedience or herding events. Responsible breeders are happy to discuss these activities with you if asked.
  • Breeding dogs should have OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) certification numbers after their names to indicate they have been tested for healthy hips by the age of 2 years old. Ask to see the certificates for both parents of the litter.
  • Make sure the breeder has a good reputation and is known for breeding healthy dogs. Ask for references from other puppy buyers, and check online review sites such as Yelp or Google Places.
  • The breeder’s home should be clean, well-maintained, and free of any signs of neglect or abuse. The puppies should be housed in a clean area with plenty of space to run around and play.
  • All puppies should have been vet checked and vaccinated before going to their new homes, and the breeder should provide you with a health certificate. If you’re looking for an Australian Shepherd puppy in Illinois, be sure to do research ahead of time to find a responsible breeder.

Visit Your Illinois Australian Shepherd Breeder in Person

When looking for a breeder, you should definitely visit their home in person. If a breeder is not willing to let you come to see where the dogs live and how they are treated then that may be a red flag that something’s wrong with them or their dogs.

You can learn important information from actually visiting your breeder as well as seeing the facilities where the puppies were born and raised. You will be able to see the temperament of the dogs that the breeder has on-site.

Visiting your breeder will give you an opportunity to talk to them about any questions or concerns you have about caring for your new dog – it’s also a nice way for both of you to get a sense of each other so if there are any problems later on, you know who to contact.

Questions to Ask

Ask for References from Your Australian Shepherd Breeder in Illinois

When looking for a breeder, be sure to ask for references from other people who have bought puppies from them in the past. Checking online review sites is also a good way to get an idea of what people thought about their experience with that particular breeder.

If you’re looking for an Australian Shepherd puppy, make sure to contact the ASCA breeder referral department for a list of breeders near you. Responsible breeders will be happy to answer any questions you have and provide you with references.

References will also give you an idea of what to expect when you bring your puppy home. People who were satisfied with their experience will generally be happy to share the details of it, including information about the age of the puppy that they received and how much it cost them.

Disreputable breeders tend not to keep in touch with previous buyers, so if there are no references available then you should be extra wary. The breeder may have had a bad experience with someone or could be hiding something – either way, you probably want to look for another one.

Ask Your Illinois Australian Shepherd Breeder if You Can Meet Past Customers

It’s also a good idea to ask your breeder if you can meet some of their past customers.

A responsible breeder will be more than happy to connect you with people who have purchased puppies from them in the past. This gives you a chance to ask them about their experience and get some honest feedback about the breeder.

Past customers can provide valuable information, such as how well the breeder follows up with their puppies after they’ve been sold and whether or not the breeder was available for support if needed. They may also be able to tell you about the temperament of the puppy that they received and how well it has adjusted to its new home.

If meeting past customers is not an option, then the breeder should at least be willing to provide you with plenty of general information about the puppies.

Does Your Illinois Australian Shepherd Breeder Have A Good Veterinarian They Use?

You should also ask to see the veterinarian that the breeder takes their puppies too.

Responsible breeders tend to keep recommended veterinary practices they work with for many years, so if your breeder is only referring you to a new vet then there could be something wrong. You can always call up the practice and ask about your breeder’s experience with them if you’re not sure how reliable it is.

If you’re looking for an Australian Shepherd puppy, make sure to contact the ASCA Breeder Referral department for a list of breeders near you who are active members in good standing of ASCA. They will be happy to answer any questions you have and provide you with references.

Look out for The Signs of An Unethical Australian Shepherd Dog Breeder in Illinois

As a general rule, you should stay away from breeders who are secretive about their practices or seem to be in a hurry to sell their puppies. Unethical breeders often have something to hide, such as the fact that they are breeding dogs without health clearances or that they are not screening their buyers carefully enough. They may also try and convince you to purchase a puppy before you’ve had a chance to meet the parents and see where the puppies are being raised.

If any of these red flags are present, then it’s best to walk away and find another breeder. It’s not worth risking your money or the health of your new dog just to save a few bucks.

Ask The Illinois Breeder if Your Australian Shepherd Puppy Has Any Health Problems

It’s also good to ask the breeder if your puppy has any health problems.

Responsible breeders will never knowingly sell a puppy with serious genetic disorders. If they tell you that the parents of the puppies are clear and everything looks fine then you can be sure that this is true (note: not all Australian Shepherd Breeders test for these conditions, even though it would be helpful).

If however, they aren’t willing to provide you with thorough information about the health of their dogs then you should think twice about doing business with them. Unethical breeders are often more concerned about making money than providing healthy pets, so there’s no reason why they shouldn’t have similar policies as responsible ones.

How to Prepare Your Home for Your Australian Shepherd Puppy

Before you bring your Australian Shepherd Puppy Home, make sure that you have everything ready for him in advance. Below are some tips to help you get prepared:

  • Pick a safe spot in your home for your puppy to sleep and spend most of his time. A designated area with a comfortable bed, toys and plenty of water is ideal.
  • Make sure that your puppy has a collar and identification tag with your contact information on it in case he ever gets lost.
  • Create a routine for feeding, bathroom breaks and exercise and stick to it as closely as possible. This will help your puppy to feel secure and comfortable in his new home.
  • Be prepared for lots of energy and mischief. Australian Shepherds are very active dogs and love to play, so make sure you have plenty of toys and enough space for them to run around.
  • If you do not have a fenced-in yard, take your Australian Shepherd Puppy to an enclosed space or dog park for exercise until he is old enough to be let off the leash safely.
  • Be patient with your puppy as he learns his new home and family rules. He will need consistent training, loving discipline and lots of love from you in order to adjust successfully.

Australian Shepherd breeders are located all over Illinois offering everything from Australian Shepherds for sale, puppies, stud service, boarding, training & much more.

Potty Training Your New Australian Shepherd Puppy

Potty training your Australian Shepherd puppy can be a very rewarding experience for you and your dog, as it is one of the first important tasks that he will learn.

Here are some steps to help you start this process quickly:

  • Take your Australian Shepherd Puppy outside to potty frequently during the day every 2 hours or so until he learns where to go. Remember that puppies cannot hold their bladder for long periods of time, so take him out often.
  • Take your puppy to his designated potty spot each time you let him outside to make sure that he goes in the same area. Use a command word like “Go potty” or “Do your business” while taking him there so that you can reinforce this idea later.
  • Treats are a great reward during the potty training process because they will reinforce in your puppy’s mind that going potty means receiving something good. Be careful not to give him too many treats though, as this may cause him to become overweight over time.
  • If you catch your Australian Shepherd Puppy in the act of going inside, immediately pick him up and take him outside to finish what he has started. This is another way that treats can be used effectively.
  • Use praise and affection when your puppy goes potty outside so that he knows what behavior you want from him.

After a few weeks, your Australian Shepherd Puppy will get the hang of it and go potty on his own without needing constant supervision.

Good luck with your new family member!