Hi! My name is Megan and these are my boys- my most trusted little helpers and my inspiration for everything that we do here at BriarPatch Poodles.
BriarPatch Poodles was founded in 2019, however, our story started long before that.
Loving dogs comes naturally to most people, but for some, loving dogs is ingrained into the core of their being. That is how it is with me. I was born with a passion for dogs that was fostered by my mother's support as a little girl. I grew up with various rescue dogs, but the dog love of my life was a beautiful tri-colored Rough Collie. I would take him to show-and-tell at school and trained him to do various agility tricks in my backyard. While other children were riding their bikes and playing with thier friends, I was teaching my Collie how to crawl and sit patiently for treats.
As an adult, my love for animals continued to grow and I pursued a career in the veterinary field as I earned my Master's in Public Administration. I worked at several high-paced, multi-doctor practices and loved every minute of it. I appreciated all of the experience and knowledge I gained from daily exposure to routine medical procedures, as well as fascinating medical mysteries and complex surgeries. I also became heavily involved in animal rescue. I primarily rescued and rehabilitated special needs cats and dogs because I had a heart for those who were deemed unworthy by others. During this time, I became particularly interested in reproductive medicine, genetics and breeding to both improve a breed and produce puppies that families needed.
Many years later, when my first child was born, it became clear that he struggled with dog allergies, and my heart feared he wouldn't have the blessing of growing up with dogs, the way I did. For several years we were dogless and our house did not feel like a home. Eventually, my second son was born and I knew in my heart that our time of doglessness needed to come to an end. I knew we needed a Standard Poodle because of their hypoallergenic coats and thankfully, a friend of mine was able to bring her two Standard Poodles to meet my boys and I instantly knew they were, in fact, the breed for us. Her dogs were friendly, affectionate and playful. They were the embodiment of everything a child would need in a companion, and, most importantly, they were hypoallergenic. From there, my love for Poodles caught like a wildfire (although if I'm being honest, I had an affinity towards them for a long time, absolutely adoring their long faces, exceptional temperaments and luxurious coats.)
I intensely researched the breed ~ what a perfect temperament should look like, what breed-standard structure should look like, and what health issues the Poodle breed was encountering. I then began looking for a breeder that was striving for the same goals I had in mind for my program ~ to create dogs intended for families, with solid temperaments, gentle, yet playful, demeanors, an affinity for children and an activity level that families could easily accomodate. I wanted to stay away from all high-drive dogs, knowing that what a family like mine needed was a dog that would be equally content snuggling on the couch as they would be hiking. After a lengthy search, I began carefuly selecting the dogs that I needed as family members and foundations for my program.
I was, and still am, absolutely smitten with the personality of my Poodles. They are regal, dignified, and beautiful, while also being agile, strong and athletic. Watching them play is like poetry in motion. Their elegance and fluid motion when they prance delights my heart daily. Their intelligence inspires me and their devotion to my family and children humbles me.
Now, I am compelled to share these perfect dogs with other families. Other children needed to grow up with perfect dogs like my children are. Other children deserved to be looked at with the heart eyes of a loving poodle. With my knowledge of veterinary care and breeding standards, I knew I would only raise puppies in an ethical fashion, with an emphasis on quality, health testing, prenatal care, Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) and intense stimulation and socialization protocols. My passion for breeding has stemmed from my love of these magnificent dogs, and because of my love for them, they are kept as family pets first and foremost. My program continues to grow as I place emphasis on beauty, temperament, socialization and health-testing, to make sure I am offering the sweetest puppies to other families. Every BriarPatch Poodle puppy is raised in my living room, and snuggled daily by myself, my toddler and my 7 year old, so that their forever families know they are getting an incredibly well-adjusted puppy, that is used to all of the sights and sounds that come with living in a home, rather than a kennel.
My family has truly been blessed by the love of these dogs and they continue to be a blessing, as I get to share my love for them with other families.