[AssinHT]

All the advice is fantastic and most welcome. I have already started looking into American Kennel Club and Australian Cattle Dog Association of US certified breeders in the state. I would never purchase a dog or cat from a pet store. Those places give me the creeps.

I have also looked into ACD rescue farms groups in Michigan, but from what I've read so far, early training is of great importance with this breed. We've rescued all of our pets thus far from Humane Societies, so I won't feel too guilty about buying directly from a breeder.

Additionally, I've been reading into particular issues with hip dysplasia, deafness and retinal problems that are common with this breed. The OFA has some excellent resources, and it seems that some breeders already screen for these maladies. Still need to do more reading though to be prepared for potential medical costs.

Reading is obviously going to be the main thing that I can do for now, and I plan to read up on disciplinary techniques, obedience training and anything else that may be of use before making a final decision on whether to purchase and when. All of your help here will be of great use to me as I continue to learn about this great responsibility, and I plan to wait perhaps a year before finally taking it on.

Thanks again, guys. Please keep sharing.

Oh, and I'd love to see this just become a discussion on dog ownership. Feel free to stray from my original topic.