About Hart Of Aussies
We are a proud family-owned dairy farm located in central Hart County, Kentucky. Today, we are one of only three dairies remaining in Hart County.
My husband, Brian and I, Missy, live here on the farm with our two youngest children, Clay and Sarah, along with members of Brian’s family. Farming, family, animals, and hard work are a part of our everyday life, and that same way of life has helped shape what Hart of Aussies has become.
How We Started
Dogs have always been a big part of my life. Growing up, my mother raised German Shepherds for as long as I can remember. After I got married at age 18, I naturally thought I would someday have a German shepherd of my own.
Once I began living full-time on a working farm, though, I realized I needed a dog that was better suited to our lifestyle.
Then a friend of my husbands and a life long worker here on our farm gave me an Australian shepherd.
Believe it or not at first I did not even want one!
It only took a few days of bonding before I completely fell in love with the Aussie breed.
Their intelligence, loyalty, willingness to learn, and ability to become such a close part of the family amazed me.
That experience started a journey of learning everything I could about Australian Shepherds. I began studying coat colors, genetics, temperament, care, DNA and genetic testing, training, structure, and responsible breeding practices. I also reached out to experienced breeders and learned from those who were willing to share their knowledge.
That experience taught me something very important: everyone has to start somewhere. Because of that, I have always wanted Hart of Aussies to be a place where people feel comfortable asking questions and learning.
I don’t simply think of the people who take one of our puppies home as buyers. I think of them as part of our Aussie Family.
The Dog That Started It All
My first merle Australian Shepherd was Diesel, and he quickly becamemy lifelong furry friend.
I brought Diesel home at seven weeks old and immediately began bonding with and training him. I was amazed by how quickly he learned commands and how eager he was to work with me.
One of the things I value most in training is teaching a dog to pay attention to body language. To me, a command is truly mastered when the dog understands what is being asked without needing a treat or constant verbal direction.
Diesel showed me just how intelligent and connected Australian Shepherds can be.
Because our dairy operation can be busy, loud, and stressful for a young dog, I waited until Diesel was around two years old before allowing him to begin spending time around the milking parlor. I wanted him to be mature, confident, and prepared before introducing him to that environment.
From there, my love for the breed continued to grow, and I began carefully choosing companions and building what would become Hart of Aussies.
The Hart of Aussie Way
Our adult dogs are treated with love, respect, and care. I continue to research, read, and learn about training, genetics, temperament, puppy development, and responsible breeding because I believe there is always more to learn.
We use genetic testing as part of our breeding decisions and work to make thoughtful pairings with the goal of producing healthy, well-rounded Australian Shepherds.
Our puppies are handled regularly and introduced to different toys, sounds, surfaces, activities, and everyday experiences. We want to help them develop confidence and prepare them for the much bigger world they will experience once they leave our farm.
Just as important, we want to support our puppy families.
Raising a puppy can be wonderful, exciting, exhausting, and sometimes overwhelming. If something I have learned can help one of our families through those challenging stages, I am always happy to share it.
Our hope is to help families, farmers, and individuals find an Australian Shepherd that can become a loyal companion for the journey ahead.
Whether that Aussie grows up helping around a farm, joining family adventures, or simply becoming someone’s best friend, our greatest joy is watching our puppies become deeply loved members of their new families.
Welcome to Hart of Aussies. We’re glad you’re here.
—Missy
Owner & Trainer, Hart of Aussies
