Hilltop Aussies

Kari S.

Breeder of Australian Shepherds

Petoskey, MI

Meet the breeder

I'm Kari S., the breeder behind Hilltop Aussies located in Petoskey, MI. We're a small family breeder who truly loves our dogs. We've raised Riley from a pup for the past 6 years and she's been such a joy for our family. The experience of having and raising a litter of her pups in our home has far exceeded our expectations! Loving your future pet has been a privilege.

Q. & A. with Kari

Why did you start breeding?
We fell in love with our momma dog - she has been the best family pet we could ever ask for. Her intelligence, loyalty, and sweet nature made us realize how special these dogs truly are. Wanting to share those qualities with others, we decided to start breeding with the goal of raising healthy, well-adjusted puppies that will bring the same joy to new families that she has brought to ours.
What makes your program special?
Our puppies are raised in our home as part of our family. From the start, they're surrounded by regular household life and are loved and played with daily by our kids. This early exposure helps them become well-socialized, confident, and ready to adapt easily to new homes and families. We focus on healthy, beautiful dogs with great temperaments who grow up to be wonderful companions.
What are the different breed coat colors in your program?
Our puppies include blue merle and black tri-color. Colors will vary depending on the parent dogs.
Where do your breeding dogs live?
They live in my home.

Matched dogs

These dogs are already reserved or have gone home.

Kelli Jr.
Went home
Female
Tanner
Went home
Female
Fern
Went home
Female
Mabel
Went home
Female
Chris
Went home
Male
Runty
Went home
Male

Getting a puppy from Kari

Kari has been certified by Good Dog's screening team for responsible and trusted breeding practices. When you're ready to reach out, feel free to ask any questions about the breed, their program, or specific puppies.

Together, you’ll choose the puppy that’s right for you, stay in touch with regular updates, and plan how to bring your new puppy home.

Price

Puppy prices include a $300 non-refundable deposit and between $500 - $650 final payment, before taxes & fees.

Pay over time with Klarna.

"The price includes tail docking, dew claw removal, first vet check and vaccinations, deworming, and extras listed below. Deposit is non-refundable but is transferable to another puppy if available."

Contract & health guarantee

Kari may provide a written contract or health guarantee when you purchase a puppy. This helps protect both you and your breeder, ensuring that you both have a clear understanding of the terms of your puppy purchase. If Kari offers a contract or guarantee, the details will be personalized by them. If you have any questions or want to know more, don't hesitate to reach out to Kari directly.

Always communicate and pay on Good Dog.Learn more

What's included

- From Good Dog
  - Lifetime support from Good Dog’s Care Team
  - 10% lifetime discount on Figo pet insurance
  - Puppy Training Program & private community
- Enrichment & socialization
  - Various sounds
  - Car rides
  - Surface & tactile stimulation
  - Socialized with children
  - Daily handling
  - Introduced to people of different ages and appearances
  - Socialized with other animals
- Puppy health practices
  - Vet check
  - First round of shots and deworming
  - Vet records
- Extras
  - Toys
  - Blanket with mom & littermates’ scent
  - Initial potty training

Location & pick-up

You can drive or fly to pick up your puppy from Kari.

Breeder's location

Meet in Petoskey, MI

4063 miles away

Other pick-up locations

Meet at Pellston /Emmet County Airport

4049 miles away

Meet in Cheboygan, MI

4035 miles away

More about Kari

Kari has been a member of Good Dog for 7 months
Kari was screened for responsible practices and has been a member since 2025.
Kari’s links
- Facebook

Kari is a trusted Good Dog breeder

Hilltop Aussies meets or exceeds our community standards in these areas:

Responsible breeding practices
Health of breeding dogs and puppies
Puppy environment and enrichment
Buyer education and policies

Litter and program updates

Kari S.
Litter update on 18 Sept 2025 •
Remi and Riley's litter
Kari S.
Litter update on 10 Sept 2025 •
8wks and 4 days! Fern is probably the most gentle girl in our litter. She’s down to be held like a baby or play with her siblings.
Remi and Riley's litter
Kari S.
Litter update on 10 Sept 2025 •
8wks and 4 days. Kelli Jr. is petite but spunky! This girl loves to play but is always up snuggles too.
Remi and Riley's litter
Kari S.
Litter update on 01 Sept 2025 •
Remi and Riley's litter

Parent dogs

Riley, mom
Australian Shepherd
About Riley
Riley is as affectionate as she is beautiful. She’s always up for a round of frisbee, but just as content to snuggle up with our kids for a movie. She has an excellent temperament and is well-loved by family and friends, alike.

Parent health testing

Hilltop Aussies reports to performing the health tests below on their breeding dogs. Ask your breeder about the tests performed on the parents of your litter. Learn more about health testing for Australian Shepherds.

Vet Wellness Exam
A breeder may perform additional tests on their dogs that do not fall into these general categories. These tests may be more uncommon or very specific to a particular breed.

Verified owner stories

Hear what other owners say about working with Kari to bring home their puppies.

RW
Ryan W.
Verified owner · Oct. 2025
Kari was very responsive when asked questions. She cared deeply that the puppies were going to good home and you can tell they were very well taken care of. She did a great job on getting the puppies adjusted to being separate from each other. When I took Fern home she quickly adjusted to her new habitat and has been a joy ever since we got her. I highly recommend Hilltop Aussies for anyone looking for a new puppy. I drove 10+ hours to pick up Fern and it was time well spent.
Alexandra F.
Verified owner · Sept. 2025
Kari and her family were awesome to deal with. We have an Aussie puppy named Charlie and she’s so cute! 10/10
Greg D.
Verified owner · Sept. 2025
My family and I picked out the perfect pup, she is everything we wanted in a dog. Breeders are great people to deal with, kind, polite, upfront, and the pickup was great. Truth is, I would do this all over again. Thank you for being so cooperative with my family and I throughout the ordeal! 5 stars