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Hi and welcome to my site for GraceRok Australian Shepherds! Please have a look around and meet me and my Aussies!!

I'm Suzanne and I've loved dogs my entire life.  I became obsessed with herding breeds in my teens after watching my neighbor's gorgeous sheltie and dreamed of having my own one day.   As a junior handler, I showed my miniature poodle to her CKC Champion title and also titled her in obedience achieving her CD.  She was also trained at the CDX level.  I worked at a dog grooming salon following high school-- grooming mostly poodles, terriers and cocker spaniels, a terrific educational experience. 

I later owned and trained another poodle and also my first herding dog, a blue merle sheltie, Lynphil's Dusty Blue "Dusty" from Lynphil Shetland Sheepdogs.   After that there was no turning back, herding breeds were 'it' for me!  I've been so blessed to have owned Aussies for 7+ years, since 2010, and I still never fail to be impressed with their intelligence, playfulness, vitality and great beauty.  I initially wanted Aussies so I could learn and compete in agility and Rally-Obedience but after my second Aussie I was once again bitten by the conformation bug.  Now I love it all and have titled my dogs in all venues.  When Ditto joined my family it was then that I decided that I want to share my love of this amazing breed and all it can do with other like-minded people.

My Aussies live in the house with me, sleep on my bed, and spend most of their time following me around inside or outside the house. They love spending time outside playing or training in our 7 acres of scenic meadow, pond, and mixed forest. Their large 3/4 acre fenced dog yard is punctuated by many old red pine trees. I am in the process of clearing walking trails out back for recreation and peaceful meditation.

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My dogs are fed a mostly raw diet and a quality, grain-free kibble occasionally.

I follow the Jean Dodds, DVM protocol for minimal vaccinations. All training

is based on the most current, marker-based, positive reinforcement training

methods that have been proven by science to be effective and humane...and FUN!

Where is the name GraceRok from?

A beautiful Aussie that is athletic, graceful and sound - built on a solid foundation. That is GraceRok.  I also love double entendres.  I've been into contemporary cutting edge music all my life and have been a college radio DJ and taught myself guitar.  So this references my recent discovery of how amazing the genre of cutting edge, modern top 40 dance, rock and hip hop Christian music is!  It is every bit at good as Billboard Top 40 but brings a positive and joyful message of Grace.  Both Aussies and this music bring me so much joy so "come let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the ROCK of our salvation" Psalm 95:1

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​I am a member in good standing:

• Canadian Kennel Club (CKC)

• Central Ontario Australian Shepherd Club (COASC) -I am former Vice

President2 on the Board of Directors of COASC

• Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA)

• Australian Shepherd Club of Ontario (CKC affiliate - ASCO, pending

re-registration) - I am a member of the start-up group

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I am the founder and current organizer of:

Toronto Australian Shepherd Meetup Group

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Continuing Education:

2018

How to Groom the Australian Shepherd - online

Show to Win - online

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2017

All day force-free sheep herding workshop with Kynic Stockdogs

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2016

Breed mentoring seminar through COASC with Heather Herron and Ann DeChant

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2015

Handle it Right!  Agility handling Regionals prep series with Dante Comacho

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2014

Conformation Handling with Bob Rowbotham

Herding Clinic (Sheep and Geese) at TeeCreek Dog Training Center with Kathy Warner

Breeding Better Dogs with Dr. Carmen Battaglia

2012

Understanding Canine Body Language at PawsWay Toronto

About GraceRok Aussies.