About Us

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, we strive to produce happy, healthy Aussies with correct conformation, sound movement, lovely temperaments and solid, well rounded minds. Our main focus is producing Aussies that meet the breed standard, are competitive in the Show and Performance venues and win your heart as fabulous family companions.

Here at Paramount, we are proud breeders of top quality family pets as well as versatile Aussies titled in AKC and ASCA Conformation, Agility, Rally, Obedience, Herding, Therapy Dog, Dock Diving, Fast CAT, Scent Work and Trick Titles. We also have had the privilege of breeding Best in Specialty Show and Reserve Best in Show winners, multiple Group winners and placers, multiple National Specialty class winners and placers, Winners Dog and Winners Bitches at National Specialties and National Specialty Pre-show, Award of Merit and Premier winners (in USASA and ASCA Nationals). The Paramount kennel was founded by Valerie Yarber and is continued with the joint efforts of Valerie & Klayton Yarber and Makya Blake.

Valerie has owned Australian Shepherds since 1996. After getting her first Aussie, she was hooked! In 2004, she entered her first conformation show and found her niche. Valerie is an ASCA Breeder Judge, an USASA Approved Breed Mentor, has earned her Breeder of Merit Silver, is currently President of the Smoky Mountain Australian Shepherd Club (SMASC), is President of the Old Dominion Australian Shepherd Association (ODASA), sits on the Board of Directors for the Blue Ridge Australian Shepherd Club (BRASC) and is a committee member for the USASA Breeder Education. She was a founding member of ODASA in 2015. She has served in multiple offices, (including multiple terms as President at multiple clubs) and on the BOD of BRASC, CASC, Tidewater ASC and ODASA over the past several years. Valerie has handled multiple Aussies to BOB wins, Group placements and National Specialty class wins and placements.

Klayton was awarded an ASCA Degree of Excellence Level I in Junior Handling for the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 fiscal years. He was awarded an ASCA Degree of Excellence III in 2015-2016 fiscal year. He has earned multiple Best Junior Handler and Reserve Junior Handler wins. He also is competitive in the classes; piloting them to major wins and National Specialty placements. Klayton retired from showing in the Junior Showmanship ring when he lost his beloved show dog in 2016; but continues to enjoy assisting us at dog shows. Klayton also gives time back to this wonderful breed by ring stewarding and show secretaring at ASCA shows. Klayton has also earned his AKC Breeder of Merit.

Makya currently sits on the SMASC BOD. She was awarded an ASCA Degree of Excellence II in Junior Handling for the 2014-2015 fiscal year and ASCA Degrees of Excellence IV for the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 fiscal years. She also won Reserve Best Junior at the 2017 ASCA National Specialty as well as AKC Group win, Group placement and multiple Best Juniors. Makya has piloted multiple of our girls to Top 30 in ASCA rankings. She has finished multiple dogs and put major points on many Aussies including National Specialty class placements. Makya has also earned her AKC Breeder of Merit.

We thank God that he has blessed us with wonderful Aussies throughout the years and hope that we can help you find the Aussie of your dreams here at Paramount! -Valerie, Klayton & Makya

About Us

Concerning Mini Aussies and Aussiedoodles:

Please do not be fooled into getting an Aussiedoodle. They DO shed and that aussie hair will MAT underneath the non-shedding poodle hair and it will be a nightmare for the dog, for you and the groomer. Most groomers charge over $100 to groom a doodle and they have to be groomed every 6 weeks. That's over $800 per year in just grooming expenses! They will inherit genetic problems from both parents/breeds. There is no such thing as mixed breeds being healthier; in fact they are more likely to have even more health issues since they are from two separate breeds that have different health issues. Doodle breeders only care about making a quick buck from unsuspecting buyers. All reputable breeders are breeding to better their breed and actively compete with their dogs in kennel club events to prove their merits.

The following statement about Mini Aussies was obtained from the USASA's website. Paramount Aussies is in full agreement.

Recently there has been a rise in the movement to breed miniature and toy versions of the Australian Shepherd.

The Miniature Australian Shepherd and the Toy Australian Shepherd are not recognized or considered varieties of the Australian Shepherd by this organization, the United States Australian Shepherd Association, Inc. (USASA), or by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Since these dogs are not AKC registered, they cannot be verified by USASA as purebred, and therefore are not considered Australian Shepherds by this organization.

The USASA does not support the purposeful breeding of Miniature Australian Shepherds and Toy Australian Shepherds, and expects all members who have breeding programs to breed to the USASA/AKC recognized standard of excellence. The USASA further expects all members to be ever vigilant in the preservation and protection of the Australian Shepherd.