About Us
Welcome to our family at "Happy Heelers"! We're a bustling household of six, including myself, my spouse, and our four wonderful children aged 5 to 17. Our furry companions include two amazing dogs, Blue and Loki, along with our beloved tabby cat, Simba.
Blue, an Australian Cattle Dog, joined our family first in February 2023, shortly after we said goodbye to our cherished Onyx after twelve amazing years. In May of the same year, we welcomed Loki, a loving Australian Shepherd, to keep Blue company.
​
Both Blue and Loki were adopted at 8 weeks old from cattle farms in Ontario and have since become important members of our family. As we transitioned from Ontario to Cape Breton Island, in October 2023, our pack continued to thrive, with an unexpected but delightful development—Blue and Loki's budding romance. This surprising turn of events led to an adorable litter of puppies!
Our Family
THE PARENTS
As dedicated parents and professionals—I'm a talented artist and he's an experienced carpenter of over 20 years—we bring intelligence, common sense, and impeccable maternal and paternal instincts to our breeding. We are deeply committed to our dogs, conducting extensive research and meticulous preparations for every litter. Besides our passion for dogs, we are active outdoor enthusiasts—hiking, running, and camping as a family. Our dedication extends to everything we do, ensuring our puppies receive the best start in life.
THE KIDS
We have four wonderful children who are a big part of our Happy Heelers family. Our youngest, a sweet 5-year-old girl, is joined by three boys aged 9, 12, and 17. They're all exceptionally well-behaved, gentle, and respectful, traits they've developed from being raised around animals since birth. They excel in school, love the outdoors, and are passionate about our dogs and puppies, helping in every way possible. However, we wait until the puppies are 3 weeks old before they handle them to ensure their bond with their mother isn't disrupted. After 3 weeks, our children play a vital role in caring for our puppies. They handle them daily, nurturing their socialization skills and ensuring they grow accustomed to human interaction. This early exposure helps the puppies become well-adjusted companions, ready for their future homes. Our kids are gentle and patient, instilling confidence and trust in the puppies. It's heartwarming to see how our children bond with each puppy, fostering a connection that lasts a lifetime
Why Choose Us?
What sets us apart as dog breeders? We treat every puppy as if it were one of our children, with continuous monitoring to ensure it is always safe, warm, healthy and happy. From nutritious homemade meals to long-distance daily walks and ample backyard playtime, our dogs live a life of health and happiness. They're fully vet-checked, vaccinated, and enjoy plenty of socialization with our family and children. As a homemaker, I'm fortunate enough to be able to dedicate all my time to caring for our dogs and their puppies. With our responsible and mature children by our side, we ensure that each puppy receives the love, attention, and socialization needed to become a well-adjusted and beloved member of their future families.
CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT A DAY WITH US IS LIKE!
Our Home
We live in a small, cozy house in Sydney, Nova Scotia, on the beautiful Cape Breton Island. Our home features a large, fully fenced grassy yard and side yard, perfect for playtime and exercise.
LOCATION: Currently, our puppies are kept in our temperature-controlled master bedroom to ensure they stay warm, as they can't regulate their body temperature.
TEMPERATURE: The room is always above 85 degrees, free from drafts, and kept quiet with the door closed to keep them safe from our cat.
AIR QUALITY: We run a dehumidifier constantly to maintain ideal humidity levels, which helps prevent respiratory issues.
BEDDING: The puppies are housed in a hand-built, 4x3 feet pine whelping box with 16" sides to keep them secure. This box has a foam floor covered with doggy pee pads and warm, soft cotton blankets, which are changed and washed daily.
24/7 MONITORING: We sleep beside the whelping box to monitor the puppies throughout the night, keeping the room dark and quiet.
MOTHER DOG: The mother dog (Blue) stays with the puppies all day long, except for short bathroom breaks. She always has an ample supply of nutritious premium raw dog food and water with added vitamins and nutrients. Blue has a comfy bed outside the whelping box to retreat to if she feels stressed. Proper hygiene is very important, therefore Blue is bathed regularly, and her paws and teets(nipples) are wiped each time she uses the bathroom to keep the puppies from getting infections.
