About Us

"Tsali" is a word that has no literal translation. It is a concept of supporting and standing for traditional values. At Tsali German and Australian Shepherds we have a traditional home with traditional values and traditional working dogs. While our breeding program is based on the belief that utility is the true criterion of beauty, I believe that by breeding for physical and mental soundness first, while paying attention to the original purpose of the breed, the "show dogs" will come.

I’ve been “in dogs” most of my life with various breeds. Growing up we had horses, a Scottie, a couple of Collies, German Shepherds, various mix breeds and anything else that would follow me home kicking and screaming at the end of a long rope! I’d just say, “Look what followed me home” and being an only daughter in a house full of boys, well …. You know the rest!

I started with the herding breeds at the ripe old age of eight with a Rough Collie. Major was my first love, lived to be eleven years old, and taught me a hard lesson about epilepsy in companion dogs. It is his legacy that I never want to see another child with a sick dog. I had a couple of GSD's then, in 1978, received Kelly, a German import bred bitch, as a gift. Through her I met George Stephens, a local obedience trainer and breeder of German and Australian Shepherds. With George’s help, Kelly became Kel Sarbo’s Terra CDX, TT, HIC, TDI, CCE (Class Clown Extraordinaire!). She had fun in Schutzhund and was the unofficial club mascot for the GSDC of Atlanta for many years. George also introduced me to Aussies with the help of Ch. Riverbend’s Gypsy Rose CD.

In 1983 I started dabbling in Herding. I took two GSD's to the local Border Collie herding clinic and almost got laughed off the field - until BOTH girls started right in working sheep that they hadn’t seen in several generations. Since then, all our dogs have been Herding Instinct Certified.

George Stephens introduced me to the Aussies and I've been in love ever since. It must be a "coat" thing and hold over from my Collie days. Aussies have similar temperaments to the original GSDs - sound, aloof with strangers, willingness to work, etc. They are not JUST "those little blue dogs." My respect for the breed is strong and the friendships I've made in the breed will be lifelong. And the same holds true - Utility IS the true criterion of beauty!

There followed a long list of others, Aussies and GSD's, American bred, home bred and German import dogs. I obtained my ASCA judges license (breed and obedience) in 1988 and my AKC Aussie & Juniors judge license in 1998. German Shepherds followed in and my 2003.

Our breeding program is simple.... quality not quantity is our goal. Litters are planned years in advance with careful consideration to health, longevity, temperament, work ethic, and “looks.”

Welcome to our website....Come visit and Catch The Dream!!

This site was last updated on 10/28/04

This website was born on 11/17/01

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