About Us
Our Story
At Willow Creek Acres, dogs have been part of our family and our lives for decades. Melanie has been breeding dogs since 1990, with experience raising and showing Shelties and Labrador Retrievers before eventually finding her way to the two breeds that Willow Creek Acres focuses on today — Rough Collies and Mini Dachshunds.
Our love for Dachshunds began when we purchased our first Dachshund in Wyoming. It didn’t take long for the breed to completely win our hearts. We took our Dachshunds with us on road trips and quickly discovered what wonderful traveling companions they could be.
There is something especially endearing about the devotion of a Dachshund. They tend to form an incredibly strong bond with their person, and we love their loyalty, companionship, and big-dog watchdog personality packed into a little body. They became an absolute favorite, and today Mini Dachshunds are an important part of Willow Creek Acres.
Our journey to Rough Collies has its own special history. Melanie previously raised and showed Shelties, a breed she has loved since childhood. However, the Sheltie show standard calls for a very specific size range, and puppies can mature outside that range. Over time, that made continuing to breed and show Shelties more challenging.
Melanie also raised Labrador Retrievers with a focus on hunting lines, but eventually decided that was no longer the direction she wanted her breeding program to take.
Rough Collies felt like coming home.
Growing up, Melanie’s family always had Collies and Shelties, so she already knew firsthand what wonderful family companions they could be. The Rough Collie also offered greater consistency in the size Melanie wanted for her breeding and showing goals. Most importantly, the breed brought her back to dogs that held a special place in her childhood.
Today, one of our greatest joys is being able to share that same blessing with other families.
Our Breeding Philosophy
At Willow Creek Acres, our dogs are home raised and are not kenneled. They live as part of our everyday lives and receive individual attention, love, and care.
Health is also an important part of our breeding program. Our parent dogs are health tested, and we are committed to providing our dogs and puppies with premium veterinary care.
Our breeding program is especially unique because caring for our puppies truly is a family effort. Melanie’s oldest daughter, Dr. Brandi Waheed, serves as our program’s veterinarian and personally handles our puppies’ well checks.
For us, breeding is about more than raising a litter of puppies. It is about knowing our dogs, caring for them individually, and helping each puppy begin life with a strong foundation before joining their new family.
A Lifetime With Dogs
Melanie has been breeding dogs since 1990. Over the years, her experience with different breeds, showing dogs, hunting lines, and raising puppies has helped shape the Willow Creek Acres program of today.
Every chapter taught us something, but our focus today is clear: raising Rough Collies and Mini Dachshunds that can bring the same kind of companionship and joy to other families that these special dogs have brought to ours.
We understand how deeply a dog can become part of your family because our dogs are part of ours.
Meet Melanie Graber
Melanie is the breeder behind Willow Creek Acres and oversees the heart of the breeding program. She handles the breeding and raising of the dogs and puppies, manages the breeding program, and personally meets and works with clients as they prepare to welcome their new puppy.
With breeding experience dating back to 1990, Melanie brings decades of hands-on experience and a lifelong love of dogs to Willow Creek Acres.
Meet Jessica Graber
Jessica brings another important set of skills to the family program. In addition to Willow Creek Acres, Jessica owns her own racehorse and works as an assistant horse trainer in pari-mutuel horse racing.
At Willow Creek Acres, Jessica handles the technical and IT side of the business, advertising, and client logistics. Her behind-the-scenes work helps keep families informed and makes the process of connecting with Willow Creek Acres and preparing for a new puppy run smoothly.
Our Family Commitment
Willow Creek Acres is a family program in Elko, Nevada. From Melanie’s decades of breeding experience, to Jessica’s work supporting clients and managing the technical side of the program, to Dr. Brandi Waheed providing our puppies’ veterinary well checks, each family member brings something special to the care and experience we provide.
We love our Rough Collies and Mini Dachshunds for different reasons, but both breeds have earned a lasting place in our family.
Our hope is simple: to pass along the blessing of a wonderful dog to other families, just as these dogs have been a blessing to ours.
© Copyright 2026. Melanie R Graber.
All Rights Reserved.