HiredHandKennel.com
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index.html
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ABOUT US
Hi. My name is Connie Hayes, owner of Hiredhand Kennel, established in 1985. Hiredhand Kennel is located on our 100 acre farm in Locust Grove, Georgia just south of Atlanta.
In the 80's I showed registered Paint Horses all over the United States. At a show in Oklahoma I noticed several people with these real neat little dogs following them around. I really liked the dog so I inquired about them and decided I would like to have one. I found a litter of puppies that were ready to go. I came home with my first blue heeler for 50.00 (bobtailed and no papers). He was a great dog and an aggressive worker. All the cattle farmers wanted him. So on my next trip out west I brought back two pups, but was talked into selling them. On a trip to Missouri I met Gary and Sissy Merrill. They had a litter of AKC registered puppies with them. I came home with my Katie, the most wonderful pup you could ever have. She was sired by Champion Cattlenips Heelfly Red. Everybody wanted Katie, but she was mine. So then they wanted me to breed her so they could get a puppy. When Katie was about two I decided I would raise a litter of puppies. Breeding champion Paint Horses for many years, I decided if I was going to breed her I would breed her to something nice, but finding it was a different story. I called the Merrill's in Missouri and they said they were cutting back on some of their show dogs. I bought Champion Cattlenip Silver Dude, Champion Bryn Mawrs Scarlet Fever, and a young pointed import female. In 1985 I established Hiredhand Kennel (you know they say "one good cattle dog is worth several hiredhands"). I really did not have much interest in showing the dogs. My main goal was to breed a good-looking strong dog with the aggression, grit, and intelligence to work cattle. I gave up the horse showing when my children were born and as they got older I began to think about showing the dogs. In October of 1995 I entered my first dog show with a 9 month old blue male pup. We took Best of Winners and I was hooked. I went on to finish my first champion, Hiredhand Rodeo Boss. I really do enjoy showing dogs and I do it for fun. All of my dogs are home bred, shown only by me and my daughter Michelle, and are mostly shown in the bred-by class. We only show mostly at the Georgia shows now, but we venture to Alabama and South Carolina, and as time allows, we hope to travel to more shows.
I hope when you decide and are sure that the Australian Cattle Dog is the breed for you, you will call me and let me tell you about my puppies. I stand behind my puppies 100% and will always be available for any help you may need with your dog.
