As any good story does, it starts with a dog. 

A dog named Whiskey.
 
I (Bethany) didn’t know anything about pet vs show quality, standards, and panels in 2013. 

All I knew was I wanted a companion - my first dog as an adult. 

What he lacked physically from the standard, he made up for in temperament. 

Whiskey was the only puppy to run straight towards me when I visited the litter while the others fell victim to distractions. He fell asleep on my foot while I signed the paperwork. And before I left the driveway, he already had my whole heart. 

He was a library reading dog for shy children, an obedience demo dog for intermediate classes, was in Modern Dog Magazine, and had a regular following on social media which earned him a few gigs for companies like Chewy and Barkbox. Someone even recognized him while walking around the Navy Pier in Chicago! 

He earned his CGC and TKA, tried and loved dock diving and herding, traveled to countless states, and was (and still is) the “trust with any child or person in a public setting” kind of dog. 

Every day he showed up, every chance someone stopped me to pet him because he was so handsome with his symmetrical markings, every time he was patient with a child, every time he learned a new trick in an hour - only served to ramp up love and interest in the Australian Shepherd breed. 

Our life will always have an Aussie in it because of his unfailing companionship. And our hearts will always belong to the dog we honor in our kennel name. 

The world needs more dogs like Whiskey. At Whiskey Ridge we aim to make that happen.

Eventually the enthusiasm for Australian Shepherds became a family passion for both myself and my husband Jason. Breeding, raising, and showing Aussies is an activity we truly enjoy together and one we both find will be a lifelong cornerstone of our relationship.

With the mentorship from Corey Michael Hayes of Emerald View Aussies, we obtained our first two show dog (AKC CH Emerald-View's Sippin On Moonshine and AKD CH Emerald-View's Black Magic on the Catwalk) and began diving into the world of conformation shows. One dog turned into two, turned into the proverbial pack and we've never looked back.

We can never thank Corey enough for his guidance upon which the foundations of our kennel exist both in the ring and the whelping box. We recognize his many years of hard work are a large reason we are able to enjoy the breed today. 

Through the help of friends, spectacular handlers, and respected mentors - we are learning to develop an eye for the standard and an appreciation for an Aussie's correct temperament. 

We're dedicated to be constant students and stewards of this incredible breed and while we are a relatively young kennel, we are blessed with a bright future.

Our Australian Shepherds are both AKC and ASCA registered. 

We breed one to two litters each year with the goal of upholding the standard in structure, movement, and temperament. Our intention is to ethically produce competitive dogs in the conformation ring, intelligent dogs for performance, and loving lifelong family companions.

Our dogs undergo comprehensive genetic health testing prior to breeding to ensure they are clear of degenerative hereditary conditions as well as OFA screenings to guarantee structural integrity for multiple generations.

Parents are matched based on compatability of structure, absence of hereditary mutations, and complimentary temperaments.

Healthy, happy, and honestly good dogs.

The AKC and ASCA breed standards for the Australian Shepherd can be found below and we encourage all perspective puppy owners as well as Aussie enthusiasts to review it in its entirety: