Willow River Aussies
Meet the breeder
I'm Whitney R., the breeder behind Willow River Aussies located in Van Alstyne, TX. We are a small, home-based breeding program. Our dogs are bred for health and temperament. The environment in which we raise our litters contributes to well-socialized, confident puppies. Our goal is to raise dogs that will transition well and live long, happy lives with their new families.
Q. & A. with Whitney
Why did you start breeding?
Breeding wasn’t something I sought out to do. I fell in love with the breed after we got our first Australian Shepherd, Willow, and I knew I wanted to have a puppy out of her. We had our first litter, and my love for breeding began. It was such a rewarding feeling watching the happiness the puppies brought to their new families and seeing them grow and thrive!What are the different breed coat colors in your program?
Our puppies include black, red merle, blue merle, red, black tri-color, and red tri-color. Colors will vary depending on the parent dogs.Where do your breeding dogs live?
They live in my home.
Getting a puppy from Whitney
Whitney 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 $400 non-refundable deposit and between $800 - $1,600 final payment, before taxes & fees.
Contract & health guarantee
Whitney 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 Whitney 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 Whitney 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
- Socialized in new places
- Scent introduction
- 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
- Microchip
Extras
- Toys
- Food & treats
- Initial potty training
- Basic obedience & manners
- Registration
Location & pick-up
You can drive or fly to pick up your puppy from Whitney.
Breeder’s location
Meet in Van Alstyne, TX
More about Whitney
Whitney has been a member of Good Dog for almost 4 years
Whitney was screened for responsible practices and has been a member since 2022.
Whitney is a trusted Good Dog breeder
Willow River 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
Parent dogs
River, mom
Australian Shepherd
About River
River is a female Australian Shepherd. Carefully selected as a great representative of her breed, Whitney decided to make her part of their program. Whitney has passed Good Dog’s screening process, which involved a review of their breeding practices, environment, and the mental and physical health of their dogs.
Parent health testing
Breeder-Reported Testing
Good level
Willow River 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.
PawPrint Genetic Panel (Breed Specific), Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Generalized, Multifocal Retinopathy 1 (CMR1), Intestinal Cobalamin Malabsorption (IGS CUBN Exon 8), Border Collie Type, Intestinal Cobalamin Malabsorption (IGS), Australian Shepherd Type, Hyperuricosuria (HUU), Hereditary (Juvenile) Cataracts (HC; JC), Australian Shepherd Type, Degenerative Myelopathy (DM; SOD1A), Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA), 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).
