Hayley And Paws Dog Training

07/21/2026

Working hard on making good choices at Lowe's Home Improvement

06/16/2026

Stevie is a fluffy ball of joy and I love her for it 🩶

05/22/2026

Screaming because I got to work with an absolutely precious 15 week old Irish Wolfhound named Wilson last night.

I can’t stare at him too long or else I’ll get puppy fever.

03/28/2026

Many of my clients have heard me talk about the importance of finding a breeder doing all of the health testing recommended for their chosen breed.

This is a great explanation of the difference -

Health Tested vs. Vet Checked

I had someone come to me this week asking me to vet a breeder they were considering, and one of the things highlighted on the website was that all of their dogs were “vet checked” by a veterinarian who had been practicing for over 50 years. To the average puppy buyer, that kind of wording probably sounds like a breeder who’s doing a great job. Most buyers wouldn’t know that is not the same thing as actual health testing, which is exactly why this kind of content matters.

A dog being vet checked simply means a veterinarian has examined that dog. That could mean routine care, a wellness exam, vaccines, illness visits, or a basic pre-breeding appointment.

A dog being health tested means that dog was specifically screened for the inherited conditions that matter in its breed before being bred. Those are two very different things.

For Australian Shepherds, the USASA Health & Genetics Program lists the required CHIC screenings as hips, elbows, and an eye exam by a board certified ophthalmologist. USASA also lists autoimmune thyroiditis, Collie Eye Anomaly, and Multiple Drug Sensitivity as optional testing.

Routine veterinary care does not replace actual health testing. A dog can look perfectly healthy in an exam room and still not have had the breed-specific screening that should have been done before producing a litter.

If you are talking to a breeder, do not just ask whether their dogs are “health tested.” Ask what testing was done on the sire and dam, whether it is the testing recommended for that breed, and whether the results are publicly verifiable (the results for hips, elbows and eyes should be listed on OFA.org)

And for those who do not have Aussies, OFA.org has a Browse by Breed section where you can look up the recommended health screenings for your breed.

“Vet checked” tells you a dog has seen a veterinarian.
“Health tested” should tell you the breeder did the breed-appropriate screening before ever producing a litter.

03/24/2026

Did someone say treat?

Gus the Braque Francais is celebrating his first with some kennel training & the beginning steps of being gentle with his feline sister.

Isn’t he precious?!

03/09/2026

Multi dog households can be challenging - even more so when there is a baby on the way.
This trio has been working to keep their cool when visitors come over. They are excited and don’t know what to do with all that joy!
Being a part of bringing harmony to this growing family is a privilege and I can’t wait for the arrival of baby Siemion 🩶

02/17/2026

Hi Gus 👋🏻

Gus is a nervous little guy who thinks the world is out to get him.

Fear is a complex behavior and sometimes we don’t get to know “why” a dog is nervous. You can raise a puppy the same way you did your last and still have a dog behaving completely different. Some dogs need extra guidance so that they can confidently and safely navigate the world, and that’s okay!

I love watching Gus work through his fears towards a braver future 🩶