WHO ARE WE ?
My journey with Australian Shepherds began in 2008 when I, Pernille Jakobsen, had my first Aussie as a teenager. Since then, this remarkable breed has been my primary focus and passion. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of learning from some of the most respected Australian Shepherd breeders in Denmark, and in 2015, I became a certified breeder myself, having my first litter in 2016. Also in 2015, I started studying Animal Science at Copenhagen University for 2.5 years before changing direction to pursue Landscape Architecture, which I completed in 2023.
My boyfriend and co-breeder, Adam Mahfudh, has been an essential part of this journey since 2011. Together, we showcase our dogs around Europe and engage in training focused on obedience and behavior. Adam also enjoys herding, which allows us to have a well-rounded approach in our breeding program. Our goal is to continually improve the breed by focusing on both working and physical traits, as we believe that these two elements should go hand in hand. When Adam is not doing dog-related activities, he works with Architectural Consulting as a Constructing Architect.
In our breeding philosophy, we recognize that no dog is perfect. We strive to identify each dog's strengths and weaknesses to find suitable matches for breeding's that would contribute positively to the next generation. This includes finding suitable dogs internally and externally. We carefully select the best puppies from each litter, with the hope of improving the breed generation by generation. This means that we retain a number of dogs from every litter for future breeding. However, this does not equate to having a dozen dogs at home, as most of our dogs are placed in co-owned homes where they are loved and cared for as family members every day, the same way the dogs that live with us do.
We prioritize normal, happy lives for all our dogs, whether they reside with us, with their co-owners, or in the homes of those who purchase them fully. Additionally, we do not rehome our older dogs or those that are no longer part of our breeding program, as they remain cherished members of our family. This principle extends to how we match puppies with new owners as well. We place a high priority on ensuring that each puppy is placed in a home where they are understood, loved, and set up for success.
ACQUIRING A PUPPY
When you choose to welcome a puppy from our breeding program into your home, we believe it’s essential to establish a strong relationship from the outset. We invite potential owners to engage in an initial meeting with us, either in person or online. This meeting allows us to get to know you better, understand your expectations and plans for your future dog, and provide you the opportunity to learn more about us and our breeding philosophy.
After this initial discussion, we closely observe the puppies to find you the right match, considering various assessments when they are around 7-8 weeks old. This includes mental, structural, and herding assessments performed by external specialists.
The Mental assessment is particularly crucial, as it helps us understand traits such as cooperation, confidence, independence, dominance, and stress levels. This ensures that each puppy is matched with the right home based on their specific needs and temperament, by giving us an understanding of each puppy's tendencies.
The Structural assessment ensures alignment with breed standards. This assessment, beyond show qualities, emphasize physical health to support the breed’s working capabilities.
The Herding assessment provides insight into each puppy’s instinct and ability to focus on livestock, which we believe is fundamental to preserving the breed’s heritage as a working dog.
Given our commitment to ensuring the best possible match, we cannot guarantee in advance that a puppy will be available for you. Instead, we focus on finding a puppy whose temperament and needs align with what you can provide and wish for, ensuring a successful and harmonious relationship between you and your dog.
We sell our puppies as family dogs, and we expect them to be treated as such. To protect the well-being of our puppies, we have puppy contracts that protect the dog and include the right for us to buy back the dog if it ever needs rehoming, as well as provisions to ensure any potential future breeding is conducted responsibly. We hope that our puppy buyers will allow us to remain involved or informed about the dog’s life and seek our advice when needed, so we can address any issues or questions together.
ARE YOU OUR NEXT CO-OWNER ?
We believe in a collaborative approach to raising our dogs, and co-ownership is a key part of that vision. Co-owning a dog with us gives you the opportunity to enjoy all the rewards of having a top-quality Australian Shepherd while also playing an integral role in our breeding program. Many of our dogs live in co-owned homes, where they are cherished family members, and they continue to help us shape the future of the breed.
As a co-owner, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with having a safety net in us. We’ll guide you through every aspect, from upbringing, training, and even showing, if that interests you. Whether you're new to the breed or a seasoned dog owner, we provide access to expert resources and ongoing support, ensuring that both you and the dog thrive as part of our community.
Co-ownership also comes with some financial benefits. When a co-owned dog is part of our or other breeders' programs, we share some of the earnings with the family who cares for the dog. This collaboration ensures that you not only get the joy of having a dog but also share in the rewards of its success.
We take great care to ensure that co-ownership feels like a natural part of your life. It should feel like you have your own dog, and we simply "borrow" them occasionally for breeding or dog shows, always with plenty of notice so you can plan around it. We value flexibility and communication on both ends of the table, making sure the arrangement works smoothly for everyone involved.
To give you further insight into what co-ownership entails, we offer the option to contact some of our current co-owners. This allows you to hear about their experiences on what it’s like to share this journey with us.
We prefer co-owner homes that are located near us, allowing us to be involved in the dog's life through activities like dog-sitting or shared outings. However, we're also open to homes further away, particularly if you have experience in showing or other dog sports that would benefit the dog and our ambitions.
If co-ownership sounds like it could be a good fit for you, we’d love to discuss the details and the many benefits it offers. Feel free to reach out, and we can explore how this opportunity can enrich your life with a wonderful Aussie by your side.
CONTACT
KENNEL NIVIOS
3670 Veksø Sjælland, Denmark
Pernile Jakobsen
Email:
Phone:
Adam Mahfudh
Phone:
WhatsApp:
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