I'm Anita U., the breeder behind MercyHills located in Mead, WA. Our dogs are purposefully bred for great temperaments and health. Many of our pups are excelling in the conformation ring as well as in performance fields. We do health testing. Our pups make great family members!
Q. & A. with Anita
Why did you start breeding?
I was introduced to breeding by wanting a show puppy. I wanted to continue to improve the breed along with staying true to the standards.
What makes your program special?
At Mercyhills we aren’t afraid of breeding outside of our own stock. We firmly believe that outside lines can improve a program. Research of lines and health testing along with knowing and understanding the breed standard, will set our program apart from others.
What are the different breed coat colors in your program?
Our puppies include black tri, red merle, blue merle, and red. Colors will vary depending on the parent dogs.
Where do your breeding dogs live?
They live in my home.
Getting a puppy from Anita
Anita 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 $150 non-refundable deposit and between $700 - $3,350 final payment, before taxes & fees.
“The price includes a vet health check, utd on deworming and vaccines. Assistance throughout the puppies life. We also have onsite puppy show classes for those that are wanting to show. Older pets will be sold spayed or neutered. The deposit is non refundable and can be made as soon as a litter is confirmed. Deposits are non refundable, and amount will be taken off balance. Payments are accepted for qualified buyers with references.”
Contract & health guarantee
Anita 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 Anita 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 Anita directly.
MercyHills 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
Parent health testing
Breeder-Reported Testing
Great level
MercyHills 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 Miniature American Shepherds.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip testing reduces the chance of passing down hip dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause hip pain and the eventual loss of the function of the hip joint.
Elbow Dysplasia (rDVM, not registered)
Elbow testing reduces the chance of passing down elbow dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause arthritis in the elbow joint and front leg lameness.
Eye Examination (rDVM, not registered with OFA)
Eye testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide range of hereditary eye illnesses including retinal dysplasia, lens luxation, and glaucoma, which can cause impared vision or blindness.
Cardiac Evaluation (rDVM, not registered with OFA)
Heart testing reduces the chance of passing down congenital heart disease, which can cause a range of symptoms ranging from trouble exercising to heart failure.
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.
DNA Disease Panel, Multiple Drug Sensitivity (MDR1), PRA, Rod-Cone Degeneration (PRA-prcd), Hereditary (Juvenile) Cataracts (HC; JC)
Genetic testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide variety of hereditary diseases of differing prevalence and severity such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (an eye disease) and Von Willebrand's Disease (a blood disease).