At Flat Rock we believe what breeding dogs is all about is Temperament and Performance.
A dog can be as beautiful as any dog ever was, but the true test of a good dog is how they react and respond to people and other dogs.

We breed our dogs to be part of the family, the beauty just happens along the way!



Flat Rock's Beginnings





Ever since I was young I loved animals and particularly horses and dogs. I spent my teen years working at stables to get a chance to ride. During college and after I rode whenever I could and began showing hunter jumpers. Later when I came south to Georgia I met and married Ben Hamilton and we raised and showed quarter horses. We always had some dogs too. One day a friend and neighbor persuaded me get an Aussie and she said I would love the breed. How right she was! So my first Aussie Sissy came to live at Flat Rock Farm. We bred Sissy to one of my friends males and Buster was born. Imagine the beginning to breed dogs and in your first litter you produce a beautiful blue Merle male dog, two blue eyes and this is what he achieved ROMII,AKC, ASCA, CKC, CH Hamilton's Buster Brown HSAs, CDX And this was my first show dog. The love of my life.



PORTER





What can I say about this fluffy dog who became a conformation CH and then a Duel Champion with the completion of his Herding Championship. It was in the end a really fun time. Porter got of his crate in the Atlanta airport after more than 19 hours in the air with a big jump and wagging his tail. Can you believe after Aussies he had a tail. That cute ball of fur was ready to go and see what America was about. He was my first Australian imported dog. My daughter Tina said he look like a Porter and so he was named. He became a conformation CH at 9 months with ease and did well with may breed wins and group placements. then we tried the herding pen and he was hooked, and so was I. So we started with sheep, he lost all interest in conformation although we continued with some conformation until he was 3. By the age of three he achieved his ASCA Working Trial Championship-WT CH working sheep, cattle and ducks. Then we worked in AHBA and then started competing in AKC herding events. In 2004 we earned a belt buckle for the high scoring CH of record in STD B course at the BCSA Nationals-a real thrill for me.



"Then we hit a slump and just couldn't seem to progress, I was about to give up herding but with a lot of support and encouragement from Doyle, I laid Porter off, worked with other dogs and got to be a better trainer/handler. After 8 months, we started back and what a difference. What had been a fight and chore really began to click and I saw what Bob Vest had told me would happen when you and your dog truly work together. It started with me in the arena, calmly trusting my dog and his ability. I found there was not much for me to do in the trial arena but to quietly give minimal directions, Porter really did know what to do. We achieved our HX on sheep and ducks in 2005.

Doyle and I talked and we decided to go for a herding championship in late 2005 with the goal to complete it by the end of 2006. Doyle took Porter to Florida (I was at the KBCC Regional Specialty with fluffy dogs) and they earned 3 points, a major and put us within 2 points o the HCH. Well in May 2006 we earned those final points right here at Woods End. Porter earned his major, 3 points and went High in Trial to end our quest. This was my first Herding Championship and Dual Championship. So much time and effort paid off, and without the help and support of Doyle it would not have happened.

Thanks a million Doyle and Porter for helping me achieve this!





FLAT ROCK DOGS
P.O. Box 764
Farmington, GA, 30638
chamilton083@yahoo.com