So sad, but our Aussie from RosMar just had to be put down due to seizures at the young age of five...we are devastated to say the least! I am saddened because I should have done the Yelp research. After, $5k in medical expenses, months of treatment, and some devastating test results, we ended her suffering two weeks ago. Still crying and miss her. read more

One of two excellent Ross-Mar pups is my buddy Romeo - see pics, now 6.5 years old This guy has given me great joy just like his great grand uncle I had before him for 15 awesome years! The sad thing is when I was reading another post that I found out Roscoe passed. Just like him there are no guarantees in life. All my thoughts and prayers to MaryAnn and the family. I hope her daughter & son-in-law keep the wonderful family farm and their Aussie Haven going! I'll be back for the next one too. All Aussies are prone to certain illnesses - do your research and investigate as well as negotiate - hip guarantees are not uncommon as well. read more

So, the end of the story. After all of the grief in her life, the last year she began suffering episodes that turned out to be seizures. She was already too old last year to put under anesthesia to run tests, so it was a guessing game. I was told last year it was probably a brain tumor and that is what I was told as I had to let the love of my life to early Sunday morning. Such of life of pain and suffering for such a sweet baby. read more

We purchased our Aussie from Ross-Mar five years ago. He's a great dog. No major health issues and he as an amazing temperament. He's great with kids and is a certified therapy dog and volunteers at nursing homes, homeless shelters and hospitals. We also raise puppies for the Guide Dog Foundation and he has been an asset in their training. I've also met several other Ross-Mar dog owners at local dog parks and have always heard good things about them. Since the folks posting seem to be having the same medical problems with their dogs it seems to me it could be the result of a particular pedigree cross. read more

We picked up our Contessa 4 years ago. I happened on to Yelp and saw some less than stellar reviews and felt compelled to add my own. Tessa is a beautiful and loving dog showing amazing genetic lines. Ross Mar was great for us holding Tessa for a few extra weeks to accommodate our schedule. She was fit, happy and nearly potty trained when we picked her up and has been my constant companion ever since. I cannot say enough praise for Ross-Mar. Any doubts? Drop me a line. read more

I got my first Aussie from there 15 years ago, loved it so much I got more. After 27 years of breeding Aussies I was asked if I could take some of their dogs as they were shutting down due to Roscoe ' s passing and Marry Ann wanting to slow down. I didn't blink, I took several of their younger dogs to add to my breeding program. It's unfortunate some had bad luck but it's a small percentage ..less than 1%. I've been asked several times lately about the poor reviews on here.......I've known them for 27 years and didn't hesitate at all to continue what they started. read more

Do NOT purchase your Australian Shepherd from Ross-Mar! We'd purchased two Aussies in 2008 from this breeder and both ended up having Epilepsy and major health problems. We just recently had to put one down as his seizures were uncontrollable and could not be maintained while being on 4 different types of medication! Our first dog developed seizures when he was just over a year old. We'd called the owner to let him know of the situation and asked if other litters experienced the same thing. He avoided answering the question and instead stated we could bring him back and exchange him for another dog, which was absurd to hear. We had no intentions on "returning" him but to hear that was very upsetting. We've spent years trying to help his condition and consulted with several Vets and rescues and all had heard or treated several Aussies from this breeder with similar conditions. Luckily our second Aussie is doing better but he is currently going blind in both eyes. I recommend that you do your research before purchasing a dog from any breeder. Buy from breeders who screen for eye defects. Reputable breeders have their breeding stock examined by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist annually. Ross-Mar is a horrible breeder and do not care about the well being of their dogs. They over-breed and do not follow best practices! read more

We purchased an 11 month-old female from RosMar in 2002. At the time, there was no Yelp. I wish there were! The RosMar website boasted how the dogs are socialized with the grandchildren. When we visited, our dog went and stood in the corner. She was filthy and stinky. We should have walked away then. But she was cute and we like Aussies. It turns out, our dog was raised in a barn stall. The ONLY thing she wasn't afraid of or spooked by was my tractor. The kennel was a farm. She was phobic during thunderstorms. Our guess was she endured a thunderstorm during her fear period, and she never got over it. She had stage III hip dysplasia. Marianne wouldn't let us meet the parents. Nor would she give us an AKC limited (can't breed, we didn't want to) registration. We had to obtain an IPL. Those of you familiar with AKC rules know about this - you can't participate in obedience or any events without proof of a pure breed. For those that want a great pet, the expense and agony (ours and hers) of the dysplasia was life long. Epilepsy and dysplasia are serious conditions, and their prevalence both indicate less than honorable breeding practices. Marianne knew darn well this dog had bad hips when she sold her to us. RosMar has done well in some shows, so the dichotomy of championship dogs with what ended up seeming like a puppy mill we still don't understand. If you want an Aussie please consider a more reputable breeder. If you really want a RosMar Aussie, we recommend you go to the kennel with an expert (vet, breeder, judge) to be sure your dog comes from the championship side of the house, and not the puppy mill side. Even better, avoid this kennel. It's not worth the pain and aggravation. read more

We purchased our first Australian Shepherd puppy from Ross-Mar over 14 years ago. He was the most wonderful pet. Remarkably smart. Loved people and other dogs. It wasn't until he got quite old that developed some health issues. When he passed at 14, I contacted Ross-Mar to see if they had an older puppy and they did. We are now the happy owners of a new blue merle that is 9 months old. Like our previous dog he is very well socialized (loves people). Our local vet was most impressed with our puppy in every way. I recommend Ross-Mar to anyone who loves Australian Shepherds. read more

We have 2 Ross-Mar dogs and they are wonderful. I will say that Roscoe now has cancer sadly, and things are not what they were when they were both able to help raise the puppies, but our newest is great with no big health issues. She loves everyone. read more

We have purchased 2 aussies from Ross mar. The first we had to put down at age 7 due to ongoing epilepsy issues. We had her on 3 different kinds of medications over the years and unfortunately they stopped working. It was very sad to see a dog go through this. Our other Aussie has been trouble free so far and is 6 years old. Hopefully this will continue to be the case. read more

I was just searching to see how things were at the Thurmont, MD, Australian Shepherd breeders who sold me my fine dog, when I saw this horrible yelp situation. I was looking for an Australian Shepherd puppy in 2008, when I contacted a newspaper ad for Ross-Mar Kennel. I visited the kennels about 2 hours from my house, and I bought a 9-week-old puppy. The kennel owners were very nice and very professional. They even let me see the father and mother of the puppy I chose. They knew a lot about the breed. They have raised many show-dog champion Australian Shepherds, including a dog that competed twice in the Eukanuba Dog Show in California. The dog they sold me is 7.5 years old now. He is a tri-color Aussie. He is the nicest, friendliest dog I have ever met. He loves children to play with him. He is very strong and healthy, and he is well-behaved. He has had no serious health issues. He is a very good, sweet, kind dog. I am sure they have had many happy customers like me. So, please do not be convinced by the loud complainers. I can attest this kennel is a wonderful place to buy an Australian Shepherd puppy. read more

We purchased our Aussie from RossMar about 13 years ago - he has been a great dog except for some crazy fearful nervous behaviors,-- but he went blind at two. I was considering returning to Ross-Mar, but having read here it appears that my dog is not alone for health issues. I am sorry to learnthis. I wish these folks well, but looks like they have made some poor choices. At least my dog did not have epilepsy. read more

I got a puppy from Ross-mar years ago. Found out at the first vet check that he had dysphasia in both hips. They offered to replace him, but i already loved him and that wasnt an option. We had his hips surgically repaired in the 2 years following. I recently had to put him down after 16 1/2 years. Knowing what I know now about responsible breeders, I never would have purchased a dog from them read more

I purchased my Male Aussie from Ross Mar just over 8 years ago. He is my best friend and has had no health issues. He is amazing around all people and would not hurt a fly! read more

We also have issues with our Australian Shepherd that we purchased from Ross-Mar. He is just over a year old and has head tremors, bowel, and bladder issues. It has been very upsetting seeing him go through this. We have had Australian Shepherd our whole life and have never had a dog with this many issues. Do not purchase your dog from this breeder! read more

We purchased a female pup from them approx. 10 years ago/ By the time she was 12-18 months old she had been diagnosed with severe cataracts in her eyes (which we had surgically removed - very expensive surgery). She was diagnosed with a heart murmur before the eye surgery. I was also told I could exchange her but that was not an option for us. read more

We purchased our blue merle Aussie 11 1/2 years ago at Ross Mar. She has been a WONDERFUL family member. She has a wonderful personality and is great with kids. She has had no major health problems. Now that she is getting older, she has some arthritis. We have her on meds, but I don't think that is unusual for her age. I think maybe there should be some research on the specific breeding lines? As for me, I am one pleased customer. read more

My aussie, Foster, from Ross Mar passed away last month. He was a loving, beautiful intelligent dog who lived until 12 1/2. Upon looking around for where I would like to find my new companion I came across these reviews and needed to chime in. My Foster too developed ideopathic epilepsy at the age of 5 and upon countless trips to vets and medications it was never under control. I finally went to a neurologist in Pittsburgh and developed somewhat better results but still cluster seizures evrey month or so and sometimes upwards of 15 in a 36 hour period. They are obviously not taking this seriously and should have their registrations pulled. Thousands of dollars and endless hours of heartache for the family and most importantly the dog himself. Please don;t buy from this breeder, no animal should have to go through this terrible disease. read more

Two Aussies from Ross-Mar. Many friends also adopted from this reputable farm. Animals exceptional in every way, and properly documented. Nellie from 1994, that lived to be 16, so smart, sweet and brilliant...no health issues, and another in 2009 a retired 3 yr old breeding female (bitch) who is also very well breed, smart, sweet, lovable and very easily socialized. I love in S. Reston, VA and if you see a large blue merle smiling in the woods it's DESA. Yes, Ross-Mar is a farm and other than the young pups, the dogs live in barn stalls like horses. Very structured lives, great food, structured exercise and play, roof over their heads, free healthcare, weekly hugs from kids...but yes to the other reviewer,..this is a working farm. I would get another Aussie from Ross-Mar in a heartbeat, and recommend them to anyone who can deal with dogs smarter than many people. read more

I want to respond to the complaining. When I posted my intention was not to complain. What I'd hoped was for the breeder to stop breeding relatives of dogs known to have epilepsy. They may very well be nice people, and I know first hand how wonderful their dogs are, but when I contacted them they just wanted me to go away. They told me that they hadn't had a problem in many many years. After reading the posts here I realized that wasn't the case. Ignoring this problem isn't going to make it go away. I realize this is their livelihood, but I cannot understand why anyone would knowingly sell puppies that are at a high risk for seizures. There is an uptick in canine epilepsy cases and it is now happening with puppies and much older dogs. If it wasn't a huge problem why would AKC be spending thousands of dollars and asking for donations for research? Just because your dog is 7.5 you're not in the clear. If your dog is carrying the gene it can happen at any time. What I want is for any prospective buyer to ask all of the right questions and do their research so that they don't have to go through the hell we've been through. We love and adore our Aussie as much as you do. I'm an adult and this is heartbreaking. Can you imagine a child sound asleep with a best friend and companion sleeping at the foot of the bed and suddenly the dog has a seizure? Can you understand why I would want to do everything I can to keep that from happening? They're very close to finding the genetic link in Aussies which will eventually lead to a blood test. For now though we have to rely on reputable breeders to step up and do the right thing. If they do that the numbers will start dropping. That's what I'm asking for. read more

I have delved into answers for seizure symptoms in Australian Shepherds. It is quite possible that Ross-Mar has not experienced illness related to the MDR1 gene mutation if they have not dosed their dogs with Ivermectin that has been shown to have devastating effects in the collie family. One mutated copy of the gene can cause reactions in certain dogs while 2 copies almost guarantees it. This is certainly a breeding issue. In my opinion, and the reason for my low rating, is that breeders, as responsible parties to improving the breed, should have knowledge of all facets of their breeding stock and should also counsel their buyers about issues related to the breed. You may read our experience above (Alec. G.s response). I am wondering if our girl had double copies of the gene and that her issues would have been avoided if we had known. We could have chosen a different protocol for Heartworm protection. We will never know as we cannot now have her tested. We have since had our new puppy checked for the MDR1 mutation and since she is normal/normal, she may take ivermectin. Please check your dogs for this mutation. The cost of the test is $70, results come to you in about two weeks, and you will save a lot of heartache and expense if you are informed. Ross-Mar does have beautiful dogs, and they are really down-to-earth, nice people. I just think they are not as particular as they should be from a breeding/selling standard. read more

So I thought I should chime in about Ross- Mar since we bought our Aussie back in 2011.I really don't write alot of reviews but thought I should leave one for those that are considering Ross- Mar. Marley is 6 years old and has suffered from seizures as well,not as frequent as some of you have experienced. She also has tremors in her legs constantly. I called Marianne about this after our first couple of trips to the vets and she informed me that she had never heard of tremors before and had never experienced that before in her dogs. Well when we heard that we knew that they were not being truthful. We are a little upset after reading some of these reviews. When we think back we would agree that it had that Puppy Mill feel when we visited. Other than those issues Marley has been a great dog and we hope that she lives a long life free of any major medical issues,however we would not buy another puppy from Ross Mar read more