MilkyWay Aussies with Tails

Rhonda J.

Breeder of Australian Shepherds

  • Garland, ME
  • Responds within a day

Meet the breeder

I'm Rhonda J., the breeder behind MilkyWay Aussies with Tails located in Garland, ME. We are a small family breeder who raises standard size with full tails & dew claws intact. Our focus is on low-medium drive & sweet temperaments. We are looking for families & individuals that will provide our puppies with the same level of love and care.

Q. & A. with Rhonda

  • Why did you start breeding?

    Since our very first Aussie rescue, we have fallen in love with this breed and think you will too. They are so smart and just want to be with you! We decided to start breeding so I could have a way to work while home schooling my children. It has been a lot more work than we expected but we really love the dogs and meeting all the families that God has sent our way!
  • What makes your program special?

    We believe in keeping our puppies the way God made them! We take a stand that all our puppies will keep their tails and dewclaws and we test our breeding dogs to make sure that we will produce beautiful full tails every time. We will not breed natural bobtails and WILL NOT dock...even if requested. Puppies are exposed to different sounds, textures, and toys. In the summer they go outside in a small play area sprayed with Cedarcide, which is an all natural repellant for pesky insects to keep the puppies safe. Every puppy goes home with a "Gotcha Day" gift basket full of toys, treats, food, supplies, a Calmeroo, and a blanket that has the mother's scent to help sooth your puppy after leaving mom.
  • What are the different breed coat colors in your program?

    Our puppies include black, 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.

Matched dogs

These dogs are already reserved or have gone home.

Getting a puppy from Rhonda

Rhonda 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 $500 non-refundable deposit and $1,500 final payment, before taxes & fees.
Pay over time with Klarna.

“A $500 non-refundable deposit is needed to hold your puppy. The remaining $1500 balance will be due via Good Dog a minimum of 24 hours before pick-up day. Deposits are only taken AFTER puppies are born and you have chosen your puppy. If you contacting us through Good Dog then we have made an agreement with them that ALL payments will be processed through them.”

Contract & health guarantee

Rhonda 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 Rhonda 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 Rhonda 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
      • Socialized with other dogs
      • 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
      • AKC registration
      • Initial potty training
      • Puppy starter kit
      • Toys
      • Food & treats
      • Blanket with mom & littermates’ scent

Location & pick-up

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

Breeder’s location

Meet in Garland, ME

3476 miles away

·

Other pick-up locations

Meet at Bangor Airport

3473 miles away

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Flexible meeting point

Rhonda can meet at a location that works for both of you

More about Rhonda

  • Rhonda has been a member of Good Dog for almost 3 years

    Rhonda was screened for responsible practices and has been a member since 2023.

  • Rhonda’s links

Rhonda is a trusted Good Dog breeder

MilkyWay Aussies with Tails 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

Parent dogs

Parent health testing

Breeder-Reported Testing

Great level

MilkyWay Aussies with Tails 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.

  • 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 Finals (OFA, BVA, SV, FCI)

    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.

  • von Willebrand Disease II (vWD II), von Willebrand Disease I (vWD I), von Willebrand Disease III (vWD III), Kooikerhondje Type, von Willebrand Disease III (vWD III), Van Den Ende-Gupta Syndrome (VDEGS), Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome, Cohen Syndrome (TNS), Hyperekplexia, Startle Disease, Stargardt Disease, Spondylocostal Dysostosis, Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA), Spinal Dysraphism (SD), Skeletal Dysplasia (SD2), Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease, Terrier Type, Sensory Neuropathy, Border Collie Type (SN), Retinal Dysplasia/Oculoskeletal Dysplasia 2, Retinal Dysplasia/Oculoskeletal Dysplasia 1 (RD OSD), Recurrent Inflammatory Pulmonary (Collie Type) - Single Assay Test, Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Phosphatase 1 Deficiency (PDP1), Protein-Losing Nephropathy (PLN; NPHS1 Gene Variant), Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Generalized, Prekallikrein Deficiency, Fletcher Trait, Primary Open Angle Glaucoma and Primary Lens Luxation (POAG/PLL), Shar-Pei Type, Primary Lens Luxation (PLL), Primary Hyperoxaluria, Glycogen Storage Disease Type II or Pompe's Disease (GSD II), Persistent Müllerian Duct Syndrome, P2RY12 Receptor Platelet Disorder, Oculocutaneous Albinism, Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 8 (NCL8), Setter Type, Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 7 (NCL7), Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 12 (NCL12), Australian Cattle Dog Type, Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 5 (NCL5), Border Collie Type, Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 4A (NCL4A), American Staffordshire Terrier Type, Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 2 (NCL2), Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 10 (NCL10), American Bulldog Type, Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 1 (NCL1), Cane Corso Type, Neonatal Encephalopathy with Seizures (NEwS), Myotonia Congenita, Australian Cattle Dog Type, Multifocal Retinopathy 3 (CMR3), Multifocal Retinopathy 2 (CMR2), Multifocal Retinopathy 1 (CMR1), Mucopolysaccharidosis VII (MPS VII GUSB), Shepherd Type, Macular Corneal Dystrophy, MCD (CHST6), Lundehund Syndrome, Ligneous Membranitis, LM (PLG), Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency, Type III, Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency, Type I, Lethal Acrodermatitis (LAD), Bull Terrier Type, Late Onset Ataxia, Spinocerebellar Ataxia (LOA, SCA), Lagotto Storage Disease (LSD), Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis (HNPK), Hereditary (Juvenile) Cataracts (HC; JC), Australian Shepherd Type, Glycogen Storage Disease Type VII, Phosphofructokinase Deficiency, PFK Deficiency (PFKM Wachtelhund Variant), Glycogen Storage Disease Ia, Glaucoma (BCG), Border Collie Type, Gall Bladder Mucocele Formation (Shetland Sheepdog Type), Fucosidosis, Factor IX Deficiency (G418E), Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC), Episodic Falling Syndrome (EFS), Epidermolytic Hyperkeratosis, Elliptocytosis, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Ectodermal Dysplasia, X-Linked (Shepherd Type), Early Retinal Degeneration, Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa, Dry Eye Curly Coat Syndrome (CKSID), Dilated Cardiomyopathy 2 (DCM2), Dilated Cardiomyopathy 1 (DCM1), Dental Hypomineralization (DH), Degenerative Myelopathy Early-Onset Risk Modifier, Pembroke Welsh Corgi Type, Dandy-Walker-like Malformation (DWLM), Eurasier Type, Cystinuria Type II-A, Australian Cattle Dog Type, Cyclic Neutropenia, Grey Collie Syndrome (CN), Congenital Stationary Night Blindness (CSNB), Cerebellar Degeneration, Cerebellar Cortical Degeneration (CCD), Centronuclear Myopathy (CNM), Catalase Deficiency, Canine Scott Syndrome (CSS), Acral Mutilation Syndrome (AMS), Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 8 (NCL8), Australian Shepherd Type, Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 6 (NCL 6), Hyperuricosuria (HUU), Canine Multifocal Retinopathy (cmr3; BEST1 Exon 10 SNP), Intestinal Cobalamin Malabsorption (IGS), Australian Shepherd Type, Degenerative Myelopathy (DM; SOD1A), Cone Degeneration, Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA), DNA Disease Panel, Multiple Drug Sensitivity (MDR1)

    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).

Verified owner stories

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

  • WZ

    Wei Z.

    Verified owner · July 2024

    Rhonda is definitely an amazing breeder and a kind person! We got the most lovable Aussie boy Jupiter from her last year. The whole process was very smooth and Rhonda is very responsive and knowledgeable. Jupiter is very smart and cuddly. It was so easy to potty train him and he has been very healthy, happy and obedient. We’re very glad to work with Rhonda and highly recommend MilkyWay Aussie to anyone looking for a quality pup!

    Jimmy P.

    Verified owner · Mar. 2024

    Our experience was all positive. Everything was spot on. From her communication to knowledge and friendliness, Rhonda was great. We’re so happy with Max. I would highly recommend Milky Way Aussies.

  • AB

    Alan B.

    Verified owner · Mar. 2024

    Rosie! is amazing! She was born Oct 25th and we picked her up in December. She has yet to meet a person or animal she doesn’t love. Incredibly smart and wants to learn. She is the absolute rockstar in our town. The last photo is the most recent. She has a very nice brown color coming in on her legs. Milkyway was great and easy to work with. They even gave us a very nice adoption basket. They produce absolutely amazing Aussies. Genetically I think this dog is perfect hahaha.

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Health testing is one key piece of responsible breeding and is performed on breeding dogs to prevent the presence of heritable conditions in their puppies.

Health testing is one key piece of responsible breeding and is performed on breeding dogs to prevent the presence of heritable conditions in their puppies.

Health testing is one key piece of responsible breeding and is performed on breeding dogs to prevent the presence of heritable conditions in their puppies.

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