Why should I choose a BriarPatch Poodle puppy to add to my family?
Not all breeders are created equally.... Once you’ve decided that your family is ready for the commitment of raising a puppy, it’s important to add the right puppy for your family. Finding the right breeder to work with should be a huge part of that decision. After all, you’re looking to add a forever family member to your family, and not all breeders operate under the same principles, with the same goals and same level integrity. Here, we place a huge emphasis on raising quality family members for other families- dogs that will make people fall in love with the Poodle so that they can never imagine themselves ever living without one again. We want our puppy families to proudly tell all of their friends “we have a BriarPatch Poodle puppy and you should have one too!” In order to do that, we make sure we are focusing on the three most important aspects of the Poodle: health, temperament and beauty.
Our Poodles are all extensively genetically tested, so that we can confidently say that our puppies are FREE of all genetic diseases that are currently being tested by Embark (over 200+ genetic diseases). None of our dogs are even ~carriers~ for any of these diseases, which makes it impossible for any of our puppies to carry any of these genetic diseases. We also make sure our puppies are examined by our veterinarian prior to going to their forever homes and make sure our veterinarian administers vaccines. We have our veterinarian administer vaccines because many vaccine companies do not guarantee the efficacy of thier vaccines if they are not administered by a licensed veterinarian. Our sire, Bullet, has had his hips and elbows evaluated by OFA (the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), to ensure that he is not passing on a genetic predisposition for orthopedic issues. Our mommas are in the process of being tested as well (as we must schedule these exams and xrays around their heat cycles, pregnancies and nursing, which all can affect the laxity of the hips). Many breeders skip these important steps, but they are non-negotiables for us. We prioritize health.
Our Poodles are all our personal pets. They live inside our home and are treated like family members. Raising them and their puppies are our passion, which means that an incredible amount of love and attention is poured into them on a daily basis. Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) and Early Scent Intriduction (ESI) are performed while the puppies are 3-16 days old. During weeks 3-8, the puppies are put through rigorous exposure and training techniques, outlined by the Empowered Badass Breeder (BAB) program, which is highly regarded in the dog world. This means potty training and crate training will be started before the puppies go to their forever homes at 8 weeks. This ensures that the puppies we are producing are intelligent, well-rounded, highly socialized and ready to begin bonding with their forever family right away. Many breeders raise their puppies in kennels and the puppies are terrified when they are exposed to normal household sounds and experiences. This will never happen with a BriarPatch Poodle puppy, because they will already be accustomed to the joys of living in a home.
We pride ourselves in having beautiful puppies. Whether you prefer the look of the traditional solid-colored coat, or the flashy look of a parti or merle poodle, you will be guaranteed to have a beautiful, structurally-appropriate Poodle, with a temperament that is unmatched with one of our puppies.
Prior to our split with Good Dog, due to several of their policies that did not align with our mission here, we were recognized for having good health testing practices and standards for our Poodles.
Do you offer a military discount?
Yes! We proudly offer a military discount to all active and retired military. Message us for more information.
We also provide discounts for healthcare workers, first responders and educators.
Do you offer a discount for repeat puppy purchases?
Yes! We love when our puppy families return for a second puppy to add to their families. We offer a $300 discount for any family who returns to us to purchase a second puppy.
Are Poodles high maintenance dogs?
Poodles were designed to be the all-around dog. They thrive on companionship, learning and adventures. They will do anything and everything that their owners would like them to do. They were also created to be beautiful. With that aspect of beauty comes maintenance. Your Poodle can be as fancy or as low-maintenance as you would like them to be, though. That is the beauty of the Poodle and their incredible versatility. If you would like to keep your Poodle in a a longer, luxurious cut, expect to spend a significant amount of time grooming and taking your Poodle to a professional groomer (every 4-6 weeks). There are many cuts that are viewed as less frilly and will be easier to maintain on your own, with only occassional trips to a professional groomer. Here, we make sure puppies are exposed to good grooming practices from an early age, because we know their lives will be filled with grooming appointments. In our opinion, Poodles are worth every ounce of maintenance that they require, but we want to be transparent that the Poodle is a dog that was meant to be groomed. They will get tangled and matted if they do not receive proper grooming regularly.
Are Poodles hypoallergenic?
Purebred Poodles are the absolute best option for those with dog allergy symptoms.
Many people suffer from dog allergies, my own children included. Having a dog allergy diagnosis can feel devastating because for so many of us, dogs are an irreplaceable part of our lives. I know we would feel like our lives were empty if we did not have our beloved dogs. Because Poodles are truly non-shedding, their hair and dander (which is typically what people are allergic to) are not released into your home on an excessive, continual basis, which means that you will be exposed to less allergens. People who have dog allergies to dog dander usually do not experience allergy symptoms while living with their Poodles. If you are one of the people who are allergic to dog saliva, then you will need to be more careful. Poodles are not a "drooly" breed and are typically dry-mouthed, but their saliva is not hypoallergenic, however, no other dog breed is either.
What size can I expect my puppy to be?
Typically, Moyen Poodles average 20-35 pounds. Standard Poodles average 45-70 pounds. Our puppies are in the 20-45 pound range. Unfortunately, because size is determined by many different factors and goes back several generations, we do not guarantee the adult weight of our puppies. Our goal is to make quality, medium-sized dogs, that have personalities closer to Standard Poodles, rather than Miniature Poodles, that are perfect for all families. To do that, we make sure that genetically, our puppies are more Standard Poodle than they are Miniature Poodle, while still being smaller in size. If you need a puppy that will mature to 20 pounds, a Miniature Poodle may be a better fit.
Do you have puppies that have become Therapy Dogs?
Yes! Several of our lines have produced service and therapy dogs. Rosie has produced puppies that have become Facility Dogs for a dentist office. She has also produced a puppy who is in task training at Duke.
Kwynnie has produced seebweal puppies currently in Service Dog training as well!
What are ALT levels?
Most Poodles in general come back with low ALT levels on their Embark testing. This means that their baseline levels will be lower than other breeds, and therefore, their elevated levels may look diagnositically different. This is important information for your vet to have. Here is additional information from Embark: https://embarkvet.com/resources/your-dog-has-a-high-chance-of-low-alt-should-you-worry-2/