10/11/2026
🐾 A little reminder for anyone searching for an Australian Shepherd puppy 🐾
I saw a post recently advertising Australian Shepherd puppies as “chocolate merles” and “chocolate tris.” I also noticed the parents weren’t health tested, and the puppies were being sold for a very low price.
I’m sharing this because puppy buyers deserve to know what questions to ask. “Chocolate” is not a recognized Australian Shepherd coat color. Red merle and red tri are the correct color terms. And health testing the parents matters: it helps breeders make informed decisions and reduce the risk of passing on inherited health problems; like MDR1 for example: when you pair 2 parents that carry the MDR1 gene there is a high chance your puppy could carry 2 copies of MDR1 which you need to know to keep your puppy safe.
A very low price doesn’t prove that a breeder lacks knowledge, and price alone doesn’t tell the whole story. But when puppies are advertised with inaccurate color descriptions and there’s no health testing, those are reasons to slow down, ask questions, and learn more about the breeder’s program before committing.
Take time to ask questions: What health testing have the parents had? How are the puppies raised and socialized? What support will the breeder provide after your puppy comes home? A responsible breeder should be happy to explain their program and share the information behind their choices.
At BFF Aussies, our puppy price reflects the time, care, health testing, early experiences, and continued education we invest in our program. We keep learning and making thoughtful improvements because we want to give each puppy the best start we can. We’re grateful that some families have come back for a second or even third puppy; sometimes after being sure one dog was all they needed. ❤️
Please do your research and ask breeders what health testing they’ve completed, what the results mean, and how they raise and support their puppies. A puppy is a longterm commitment, so it’s worth taking the time to make an informed choice for the right forever puppy 💕