Hi. How are you today? We hope doing very well. You are surfing the internet looking at Miniature Australian Shepherd websites. Perhaps you would like to know more about the breed. Perhaps you live near us and are interested in activities you can do with your Miniature Australian Shepherd. Perhaps you are interested in a Mini Aussie. Whichever reason you have for visiting, please feel free to both peruse the website and to contact us for help. In the meanwhile, please let us introduce ourselves.Bob and Sue Lindquist are the owners of Rivers Rest Kennel. We are located in the Catskill mountains of upstate New York, in the quaint country town of Callicoon on the banks of the Delaware River.

Bob grew up with German Shepherds and Sue had a variety of breeds when she was growing up. Through 33 years of marriage, Bob and Sue had German Shepherds, a Sheltie and Central Asian Shepherds. We raised two sons of our own and then, when our boys left home, Sue began showing and doing performance events with our Central Asians. Sue was remarkably successful, winning multiple Best In Shows, national awards and all sorts of titles. It was then that we were introduced to a breed, the Miniature Australian Shepherd, that seized our hearts. For the lifestyle we live (active as a whole, having an empty nest and looking for a “go anywhere, do anything, love to cuddle and watch TV” companion), the Mini Aussie was a perfect fit. Mini Australian Shepherds are active, easy to train, remarkably loving and biddable (a term that means predisposed to please their owner.)

Sue shows and trains our dogs throughout the year. Bob formerly owned a dog photography business and served on the board of MASCA (Miniature Australian Shepherd Club of America) until December of 2022.  Sue now sits on the Board.  Canine considerations are central to our lives. Bob and Sue Lindquist are the owners of Rivers Rest Kennel. We are located in the Catskill mountains of upstate New York, in the quaint country town of Callicoon on the banks of the Delaware River (where Bob can flyfish and the dogs can go for swims!)  For many years, we wanted to breed our dogs, but Sue would say that we had to wait until we could do it right.

Retired now and uninhibited in any way, the time is perfect for us to become the best breeders we can possibly be. Because of Sue’s success in the dog world and Bob’s contacts, we were able to get Mini Aussies of exceptional quality with which to start our breeding program. Our goals are two: first, bring pups of like superior quality into the lives of people who offer supportive, loving homes and with whom we can develop strong relationships. Second, stay true to the greatness of the breed by maintaining the historical character and abilities of the breed while producing healthy, structurally sound dogs.  We believe showing dogs is important because an independent judge evaluates the structure, and to a degree the temperament, of a dog.  We believe performance work confirms the working potential of the dogs.  All of our breeding dogs are champions and either boast performance titles or are working toward titles.  When a structurally sound dog with good temperament can perform well and earn titles, you can be confident the dog possesses superior genetics.  We do not believe we are given blessings (our dogs are wonderful blessings) to heap them up upon ourselves. We are given blessings to make the lives of other people better. Our Minis add richly to our days and we think our pups will bring energy, enthusiasm, laughs and love to your life!  

If we can help you with meeting, greeting and getting to know Miniature Australian Shepherds in general or our dogs in particular, feel free to contact us and/or plan a visit.