L Bar J Australian Shepherds is a small kennel that strives to maintain the Aussie as it was originally intended; a working stockdog, partner, and loyal family member.

Holmestead Ranch is located just east of Big Valley, Alberta, Canada. The dogs are a big part of our ranch life, as they help us maintain our cow/calf herd and also the hair sheep that we raise. We met our first Aussie in the late 80's and in 1993 we acquired our own. It was the start of a wonderful adventure with this breed! A few more have joined us since then and much to our great sadness some have gone over the Rainbow Bridge.

While this is a wonderful breed they are not a good fit for everyone, as it takes a very active lifestyle, and an understanding of what drives a herding-bred dog, to successfully care for the mental and physical demands of an Aussie. A good article about whether an Aussie is right for you: "Don't Buy an Aussie!".

The Aussie is generally a healthy breed, however they are not immune to epilepsy and other inherited diseases. So please research this breed and breeders before you commit to sharing your life with an Aussie. A concise guide to the more common issues: "Inherited Problems in Aussies".

Ask questions and don't be afraid to continue your search if you don't get answers that satisfy you. After all that, if you think an Aussie might fit into your family and lifestyle, and if we can answer any questions for you, please don't hesitate to contact us. We know many breeders both in Canada and the US and can certainly give you some recommendations.

Thanks for stopping by!
Joan