Queensland Heelers For Sale

We don't have a set date for expected puppy litters at this time. However, we do plan to have more puppies soon. We're looking at possibly two litters (Yoda and Jabber) in March 2009 (we passed on fall 2008). We are currently taking names for our waiting list. When a litter is born, we go straight down the waiting list based on the date you submitted your request to be added to the list.

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What are the prices for the puppies?

Females - Blue or Red	$275
Males - Blue or Red	$275

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Is it better to call or e-mail for more information?

We handle all of our communication for puppies through e-mail. Please do not call about Queensland puppies. E-mail can be responded to at any hour of the day or night, and allows us to answer more completely any questions you might have, since we will have time to prepare a thorough, well thought out response. E-mail is checked on a regular basis. However, we have numerous demands on our time, including work, school, and the ranch, so at times it may take a while to receive a response. Please be patient, we will respond. The date added to the waiting list is based on the date your email was sent to us, not on the date we respond back. Our waiting list is done entirely by email and requires an email address. You cannot be added by phone, since it leaves us with no record of our communications. Those who call will be referred back to the website. Click here to go to our Contact Us page.

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Can I reserve a puppy?

No, we do not take pre-litter reservations for puppies. (The waiting list is your reservation, in a sense.) We will not accept any reservations for puppies until we know exactly how many of each color and sex we have, at which point we notify everyone on the waiting list and proceed directly down the list. We would not want to promise a puppy we could not provide.

However, we are accepting names and information for our waiting list. When a litter is born, those on the waiting list are notified. At that time, reservations will be accepted if it is your turn on the waiting list.

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How do I get on the waiting list?

To be added to the list please e-mail us your
-- name
-- location,
-- phone #
-- color/sex preference

You will receive a confirmation at some point after you have been added. Your position on the list is determined by the date we received your request.

The request can only be made by email, not phone, since an email address is required and all further notifications are made by email.

Our e-mail is

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How does the waiting list work?

Our waiting list is currently about a year long. Yes, actually a year, sometimes a bit longer, from the date you first asked to be placed on the waiting list.

We will notify all persons reachable on the waiting list when the puppies are born and photos of each puppy have been posted to the website. At that point, they are open for purchase and payment for a set amount of time. The date you are placed on the waiting list will determine first eligibility for a puppy. If you notice puppy photos have been posted to the website, but you have not yet received a notice, it is safe to assume that you were not immediately reachable on the waiting list based on: Date of placement on the list, availability of color and/or sex of desired puppy. If you do not receive a puppy at that time, the good news is that you will have moved up the waiting list probably high enough to receive a puppy in the next litter. We send a notice of advisement to all persons on the waiting list, whether you are set to receive a puppy or not.

We generally do not send out email advisements until a litter is scheduled to be born. When we know we're going to have something, an update email will go out providing the information to you. This email is also seeking to update and finalize the current waiting list, in preparation of the impending litter(s). That will give us our final list working order when the puppies are born.

After the puppies are born and a few days old, we take photos of each puppy and post it to the website. We will send out an advisement to everyone on the waiting list. Everyone will then have a defined period of time (somewhere in the range of 10 days to 2 weeks) to respond with their puppy choices. We go straight down the waiting list based on your pre-established preferences and the puppy selections you now make to determine the puppy you get.

If you believe you are 'low' on the waiting list, be patient. Surprises do happen! Often people higher on the waiting list will 'pass' on a litter because for whatever reason, they just aren't ready for a puppy at the moment. This allows people lower on the waiting list an opportunity for a puppy, even though they haven't been on the waiting list very long. Sometimes it just works out that way! So... don't get discouraged if you have not been on the waiting list very long. You just never know when the opportunity for a puppy will present itself!

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How far in advance will you accept payments?

We will not begin accepting payments until puppies are born, and you have been advised that you are reachable on the list and we have a puppy available for you. As it is impossible for us to know how many of each color and sex will be born, we cannot guarantee that we will have the puppy you want until after they are born. We do not accept money for a puppy that we may not be able to provide.

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Where should I send my payment?

Payments should be mailed to:

You can hand deliver it to the ranch. If you would like to use this option, please call or e-mail to make arrangements.

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Can I pay part now and part when I pick up my puppy?

No. A puppy is not 'sold' until full payment is received. We accept a temporary reservation after puppies are born only on the condition that full payment is received shortly thereafter. We try to be equally fair to everyone on the waiting list, and give everyone the same opportunities.

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Is anything sent home with my puppy?

Our 'puppy package' is sent home with each puppy. This includes:

>> the vials from puppy's first shot

>> a small ziploc bag of dry puppy chow (enough to last a couple days)

>> an information sheet giving you the dates of all wormings and shots, as well as parents, birthdate, and general health information for your puppy

>> a CD containing all the photos taken of the puppies since birth, as well as pictures of parents and an electronic copy of the information sheet

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At what age will my puppy be ready to leave?

Puppies are able to leave as soon as they are weaned. The puppies begin to naturally wean themselves at around 5-6 weeks old. At that time we separate them from their mother and put them on a dry puppy chow while they wait to be taken to their new homes. We guarantee the puppies to have good temperaments, be friendly, happy and healthy.

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Can my puppy be shipped to me?

Yes. You have two options:

You can pick the puppy up or arrange to have a friend pick it up for you.

You can have the puppy shipped to your location.

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How much is shipping?

If your puppy needs to be shipped, you are responsible for contacting your local airlines and making all necessary arrangements. They will give you a price to ship Air Freight from the Sacramento International Airport (SMF). You'll want a direct flight, if possible, to minimize flight time for the puppies. The price is based on the size of the shipping crate the puppy rides in, and the overall weight of the puppy and crate. A puppy can ship in a cat shipping crate, which keeps the price down. Many airlines make shipping crates available for purchase direct through them. If not, we can purchase one for you, but the crate goes with the puppy, so you would need to reimburse us for the cost of the crate. We will not make or confirm any shipping arrangements, nor do we have anything to do with payment. Just tell us when and where to take the puppy.

Also, we charge an additional $250 for shipped puppies due to the cost, time and effort required in getting a veterinarian's Certificate of Health so the puppy can be shipped, coordinating all commitments required to ship the puppy, and getting the puppy to the airlines at the proper day/time.

Expect the total cost to include:

>> cost of puppy ($275)
>> additional fee ($250)
>> shipping crate & water bowl (approx. $40)
>> Air Freight shipping cost

Please note that arrangements to ship your puppy must be made as soon as possible to ensure that your puppy leaves within a few days of the other pups in the litter.

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Can you leave the tail on?

Yes. We do not dock tails until the puppies are 2-3 weeks of age. Once a puppy has been paid for you can let us know if you have any special requests. This includes leaving the tail on. If we have not received payment for your puppy by the time tails are docked, we will dock your puppy's tail along with the others. We actually band the tails for a bloodless docking, which allows us time for your request.

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Are they current on vaccinations and wormings?

Yes. All puppies are wormed at least twice, and are given vaccinations using a killed/modified live virus solution to protect against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus, and Coronavirus, in addition to others.

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Can I come out and see the puppies or their parents?

We are always happy to show you around the ranch and let you see both the parents and the puppies. If you would like to come out please contact us by e-mail to make arrangements so that we can make sure someone will be home.

However, we ask that you not try to come out too often to see your puppy before they are ready to go, as we all have work and/or school full time. While we do not mind making time for you, please understand that it is difficult for us to make enough time for everyone interested in a puppy to come out multiple times. We try to make up for this by posting updated photos of each puppy once a week, so that you are still able to watch your puppy grow. We also offer at least one, possibly more, visitation days where all new or potential puppy owners are welcome to come out and visit the puppies.

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When are pictures posted?

We'll take photos of each puppy at a few days old (back shot & face shot to show markings), then post them to the web. We try to post photos routinely on the website so the new owners can watch their puppy grow. To see pictures of a litter click here. Remember, though, that those puppies have aleady been sold and are in their new homes.

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What colors are the parents?

The father (Jake) is a red heeler. The mothers are blue heelers.

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Are they from working parents?

Our Queenslands are working dogs. They herd both cattle and horses. Jake goes out nearly every day to help herd the cattle. Some Queensland Heelers are natural heelers, while others can be natural headers. All of the Queensland Heelers we have now are natural heelers. Although they will work both horses and cows, the dogs do all have a preference. Jake prefers working cattle over horses.

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Where can I find pictures of the parents?

Pictures of the parents can be found at the Queensland home page. To go there now click here.

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Are they good with children?

While these dogs do make wonderful family pets, they are incredibly tough, sturdy dogs and are more naturally aggressive than a labrador retriever or a similar breed. You have to be strict when they are young so they know what is and is not acceptable. Behaviors that may be cute when they are puppies are not nearly as cute once they are full grown, at which time bad habits are much more difficult to get rid of. Also, (and this is with any puppy you get, not just Queenslands) puppies like to chew on things, especially toes and fingers. Small children have much more sensitive skin than older children and adults, so you will need to watch them with the puppy.

You won't have to worry too much about the children hurting the Queensland puppy, though, because they are such hardy dogs. We have had a two year old child out playing with the puppies (attended by an adult, of course), not always in a delicate manner, and the puppies thought the two year old child was wonderful.

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Do they make good watch/guard dogs?

While they do have a natural herding instinct, Queenslands are loving, devoted pets and very reliable watchdogs. They tend to be extremely loyal, protective family and watch dogs, and use discretion. In our experience, they bond strongest to one person, but will love and protect the entire family. They can sense your emotions and can discern when a person is sick or weak, and will treat that person more delicately. They tend to be especially careful and protective in those situations.

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What is the difference between a Queensland Heeler and an Australian Cattle Dog?

Queensland Heelers are not an AKC recognized breed, so they cannot be registered. Australian Cattle Dogs, which are essentially Queensland Heelers with long tails, are AKC recognized. They are Queensland Heelers that can be traced to a specific lineage in Australia. People often confuse the two breeds because they used to be one breed. Queensland Heelers are also known as Blue Heelers or Red Heelers. Heelers only come in 'blue' (all blue, or blue with brown legs) or 'red'. Blue really isn't blue, but are hairs with gray, black and silver on each hair. These colors in each hair give a 'blue' look. Queensland Heelers can also have face and/or body patches. Blues have black patches, and reds have brown patches. Pretty much every dog has different markings, but most Queensland Heelers have the small white patch on the top of their head.

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