The Carrier Family Doodles Difference
With our home-raised puppies, we begin with the end in mind!
Building on the Right Foundation: Health-Tested Parent Dogs
Although we have a lot of dogs, they are all beloved pets in our large-family home. They have access to our main living spaces through a dog door in the family room and enjoy plenty of playtime in our large, fenced yard. To be sure, a house full of dogs can be overwhelming to visitors—they ALL want your attention when you visit! Sometimes they do need to be separated out, either for guests or for the protection of young puppies who are also sharing indoor spaces.
At those times, the dog door into the house may be shut for a while, but the dogs have their own "dog room"—a large, finished, climate-controlled space built just for them. They have beds, crates, toys, chews, and plenty of room to rest or play together, both indoors and out.
Our dogs are pets, but they are also puppy parents. They are genetically health tested and receive annual veterinary exams, for general health and to assess knees, hips, and patellas in particular. Their OFA testing is in progress, with the goal of completion by the end of 2026-early 2027.
Our parent dogs are NOT:
- "Kennel dogs." We have no kennels on our premises. Our dogs are crated at night for sleep, but otherwise enjoy the freedom of a great dog life.
- "Breeding dogs." We value our dogs as parent dogs and appreciate their role in our thoughtfully designed breeding program, but Doodles are highly social dogs that thrive on attention and affection. We strive to meet not only their physical needs, but their emotional needs as well.
We are committed to giving not only our puppies, but also our puppy parents, their best possible life now. While we love each and every one of our dogs, we generally limit our Mamas to five years (or less) of active breeding. When they are ready for retirement, we match them with loving families where they can enjoy life as a spoiled "only" dog.
Early Experiences for Our Puppies
Our puppies are born into a quiet, protected puppy room, where they spend their early days with their Mamas and littermates. We never separate a Mama from her puppies unless she chooses to wean early and it is safe to do so. We also never separate littermates from one another. They grow up in a healthy, natural, and nurturing environment from day one.
Early experiences include:
- Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) from days 3–16. This protocol was developed through the U.S. military's Bio Sensor program and is designed to promote resilience and adaptability as puppies develop.
- Sound introduction. When eyes and ears open at around two weeks of age, we begin playing a variety of sounds in the puppy room: fireworks, sirens, thunderstorms, household noises, classical music, hymns, and more. These alternate with natural quiet and the everyday sounds of our household.
- Affection and affirmation. From the time they are born, our puppies are gently handled, held in different positions, and acclimated to touch on their paws, muzzles, and heads. They are sung to, talked to, and regularly reminded how special, cute, and amazing they are!
- Early potty training. Around three weeks of age, puppies' eyes and ears are open, but their mobility is still limited. They primarily nurse, sleep, and bumble around a bit. They also don't want to potty where they sleep, and we take full advantage of that! Mama and puppies have a large, soft blanket for sleeping and play, surrounded by Astroturf with a waterproof underpad. They quickly learn to associate the turf with elimination, and the amount of Astroturf is gradually reduced as their play space expands.
- Crate introduction. Although not every family chooses to crate train, we believe early exposure helps create positive associations. We leave an open crate in the puppy area with soft blankets and chew toys so puppies can explore it (or sleep in it) on their own terms.
- Physical development. We intentionally design our puppy environments to provide a variety of physical challenges and experiences. Steps, ramps, rocker boards, balance equipment, and play tunnels are rotated regularly. We also vary their play surfaces, including fleece blankets, quilts, grass, stone, concrete, LVP flooring, and, of course, Astroturf. Their chew toys, tug toys, softies, active “treat-dispensing” toys, balls, and other play things are alternated daily. No bored puppies here!
We believe in the Golden Rule: "Do to others as you would have them do to you" (Luke 6:31). Our goal is to raise the kind of puppy we would want to welcome into our own home—happy, healthy, well-socialized, and ready to become part of family life and memories for years to come.
