Our Goal

Let me state clearly and for the record: I am a dog breeder. I breed dogs. I raise puppies. I like it. I'm very proud of it. I raise two or three litters a year. I wish I could raise more puppies, but can't figure out how to do it without driving myself into bankruptcy.

I consider myself to be personally responsible for every puppy I raise, from birth until the day it dies. It always has a home at my house if its new owner can't keep it or no longer wants it. That's a contract written in blood between the puppy and me.

I happen to love dogs. I love being around them. I love working with them. I love watching a puppy grow up and discover its potential. I love having the privilege of experiencing a truly great dog in its prime. I love sharing supper with my dogs, wrestling with puppies, and sacking out with them on the couch. I lose sleep when they get sick and work myself unmercifully to care for them. I spend almost all of the money I have on them, and some money that I don't have.

My heart breaks when they grow old and die. I have a dozen lifetimes' worth of beautiful memories. My life is filled with love and joy and beauty, and I owe much of it to my dogs. They have helped to keep me sane when sanity was not a given. They have given me courage on the days when all I wanted to do was lie down and quit. They have given me strength to endure on the days when all I wanted to do was run away and hide.

I owe them my life. The result is that the vast majority of people who buy a puppy from me love it. When I sell a puppy, chances are that it has found a home for the rest of its life. The puppy will have a great chance of leading a wonderful life. I produce puppies that make people happy to own them and want to keep them. That's my job as a breeder. I am proud, too, that I am producing dogs that are so intelligent, so loving that you want them with you every second of the day, so bold and brazen that nothing bothers them, and just plain drop-dead gorgeous to boot.

They make me smile a lot. I think I make them smile, too.

I've heard many say I am doing it for the money. They accuse me of exploiting animals for profit.

I am very happy when I am able to sell a puppy.

It makes me feel good because it shows me that someone appreciates the work I am doing. It makes me feel good because I have earned it, and earned it honestly. With all of the sacrifices I have made and the hard work I have done, I should be rolling in money.

Alas, not to mention old dogs that are retired and have a home here until they die of old age. It takes money for dog food, supplies, veterinary bills, kennel licenses, repairs, advertising, internet, and phone bills.

Being a breeder takes sacrifice. I can't count the number of family events I've missed or special occasions I've been absent from. I sit at the side of each mom as she delivers her babies. I've spent too many nights and days to count holding, feeding, and warming that new pup that just isn't doing well, knowing how heartbroken the new mom will feel (yes, moms cry and understand when they lose a puppy), yet never giving up hope I may be able to pull it through.

I open my home freely to families who want to see their new lifelong companion. I may be sick, my house may be a mess, yet you are welcome here! It is important for me to know in my heart this extension of me is going to be loved and cherished by you.

Yet through it all, it is an amazing, wonderful, joyful existence. It makes me happy.

Another way of putting it is that both my dogs and my own example provide proof that life is not pointless drudgery and exploitation. We provide living proof that joy, beauty, and personal fulfillment are possible in life.

How we raise our puppies

We are passionate and take very seriously our commitment to raising pups that you will love and care for their entire life!

We are a small in-home breeder, and we only have a few litters each year. We raise all our litters right here inside our home and they are handled and loved from birth. We begin puppy culture protocols from about 4 days old.

At 3 weeks we introduce the Baxter and Bella training program.

By the time your puppy comes home they are already ahead of the curve on socialization, training, accustomed to many different life sounds, and just being an overall well-rounded pup!

Our puppies are introduced to a potty area as soon as their eyes open! By 4-5 weeks they are using this area consistently. We have a covered outside potty area and by 6-7 weeks they are doing well going there during the day!

We provide small individual crates for our puppies, but always leave the doors open and often find 2 or 3 snuggled up inside one! At 4 weeks we begin providing some individual door-closed crate time with lots of love and support. Most pups are sleeping in the crate alone for a few hours a day!

For waitlist details, downloads, and pickup preparation, visit our Information page.