Sunset Hill Mini & Toy Aussies
Lifelong Companionship Starts Here
From loyal service partners to cherished family pets, Sunset Hill Aussies ensures each puppy starts with the foundation they need to thrive.
Knowing your puppy's temperament & personality BEFORE you adopt
Our early foundation (at a glance)
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Days 3–16: Early scent introduction + gentle neurological stimulation, plus lots of snuggles
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Weeks 3–4: Textures, sounds, surfaces, novel items, handling, and weekly nail trimming training
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Weeks 4–8: Litter box training (early potty foundations), early crate training, handling/grooming, confidence building, problem-solving (obstacle courses, new play experiences) + temperament training foundations
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Did you know that we can detect early indicators of your puppy's personality, learning style, and environmental sensitivities by 2 weeks of age?
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Yes—early observation and ESI provide meaningful, science-backed clues. These are early indicators—not guarantees—and we continue to observe and match as puppies grow. ESI (Early Scent Introduction) is a structured way to build confidence and resilience through gentle scent exposure during the neonatal period. We can identify learning tendencies, personality traits, and environmental factors that will either encourage or challenge them. Imagine knowing in advance that your puppy is motivated to learn through human interaction, treats, or the joy of learning for its own sake (no treat needed). Furthermore, knowing that your puppy is sensitive to smells or sounds helps us tailor their early training to give them a confident start before coming home to you. It is a valuable benefit to know these things BEFORE adopting your puppy. This helps you hit the ground running with success!
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We understand you want a confident, eager-to-learn puppy for your family. That begins here at Sunset Hill. We intentionally lay the foundation for your puppy's confidence and learning.
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Naturally, we want to build top-notch confidence in your puppy before they come home. At 3 days old, we begin early scent work and gentle neurological stimulation, then expand experiences as they develop. At 4 weeks old, we also begin potty foundations. It’s amazing how smart their little brains are.
Aussies and Socialization
Socialization is more than meeting new people. It is being exposed to new sights, sounds, textures, experiences, and more. Helping your puppy build confidence as they interact with the world.
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Aussies, by breed, have a wonderful ability to know when their environment changes. This helps working dogs become alert to change and keep their flock safe. But most Aussies are family pets, and we don't want them freaking out every time we rearrange the furniture or a new person comes over.
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We know you want a confident family dog, so we begin early to help them get used to new things. Once you bring your puppy home, you can keep going with that. Take your new puppy places with you. Bring along a mat for them to lie on and their favorite treats. Or you can keep them in your lap. Lots of yummy treats, pets, and snuggles help them associate positive feelings with new places! Start slow, and allow your puppy to take their time. A busy coffee shop could be very overwhelming, but sitting off to the side in a low-key, low-attendance coffee shop and just "people watching" might be just right for your pup.
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If you would like to learn more, check out AKC's site https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/puppy-socialization/
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Service & Therapy Dogs
Our SSH mommas have produced multiple service, therapy, and classroom companion dogs. Sunset Hill will be with you every step of the way—from temperament testing each puppy to matching you with the best-fit puppy for your goals and connecting you with a trusted trainer. We’re honored to help you begin this next chapter of your life.
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While we can’t guarantee a therapy/service outcome, we intentionally breed and raise for stable, biddable temperaments. We will work with you and your trainer to help you get started on the right foot.