It’s Time To Pick Your Puppy: Veela x Magic’s Energy Drinks
It is finally time for you to select your puppy — and this is such an exciting moment for both you and for us. I know it may feel like the wait has dragged on forever, but from my perspective, the time has passed far too quickly. Watching these puppies grow from teeny-tiny little potatoes with legs, to wobbly “drunken sailors,” and now into fully fledged puppies has been an absolute joy.
I am truly thrilled with how each of these puppies tested. Overall, I was very pleased — and I can honestly say there were several surprises along the way. That is exactly why I try to refrain from discussing temperament in depth before formal evaluations are complete. I hope you are as pleasantly surprised as I am, and that you already feel the same fondness for these puppies that I do.
Now, the moment you’ve been waiting for has arrived — it’s time to choose your puppy. Take a deep breath, enjoy this special experience, trust your instincts, and know that the choice you make will undoubtedly bring so much joy and meaning into your life.
This is a very long pupdate and has tons of great information, so please, take your time and read through everything carefully. Once all deposit holders have made their selections, we will update the Available Puppies page of our website. I anticipate that a few puppies will be available after puppy picks are complete. After all current deposit holders have made their selections, we will follow up with those applicants who we asked to wait until after puppy picks were complete and with other families.
All the gathered data is viewable in the spreadsheet. Push the button below to view the spreadsheet. As we move through the process, I will be highlighting and adding the family’s name to the column for each puppy, as they are chosen. After all reservation holders have made their selection, the remaining puppy(ies) will be made available to those interested.
Alright, so you probably opened that spreadsheet and went “WOAHHHHHH, what am I looking at?!?”. I know I would. You’re probably wondering, what the heck does all this mean? Don’t worry, I gotcha!! Keep reading.
BAB Puppy Evaluations
In the past we have done the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test (PAT). This was a great test and provides a lot of great information, however, there were a few things in that test I didn’t like and I felt that the test was not the best at honoring the puppies and building trust. One of our primary goals is to teach puppies that the world is safe, people are good, and other dogs are kind. In the Volhard PAT, there are a few steps to the test that work in direct contradiction to that goal. We’ve began using the BAB Puppy Evaluation designed by Jeanette Forrey of 4E Kennels about 3-4 years ago. This evaluation is more thorough, honors and builds trust with the puppy, and tests the puppy in a more “real” setting. I have been very happy with the results I have seen from both puppies and families from this switch.
How Is The Testing Performed?
The tester sits in the middle of the floor, the puppy is placed into the testing area and is given a few moments to wander around, engage with the tester, check out the toys, or just sit and look around. If the puppy hasn’t wandered over to the tester after a few moments, the tester will begin coaxing the puppy to come greet her. After the tester and the pup have built some trust, the tester will begin the test by asking the pup to play with the toys, work on the equipment, walk on a new surface, experience wobbly surfaces, engage with startling objects, handling, and unstable situations. The test is free-flowing and there isn’t a set order for the pups to be asked to complete the activities. If a puppy becomes too stressed, the test may be stopped to allow the puppy to de-stress.
Definitions
Human Assertive - This is not aggression. Assertiveness is the dog’s willingness to invade your space. Highly assertive dogs will be dogs that will sit in your lap, try to steal your pizza, and will likely want to meet most all people. This is a highly necessary trait for service dogs like Diabetic Alert and Behavior Modification/Disruption. Highly assertive dogs will also need firm boundaries and consistency in those boundaries if you do not wish for them to jump on you, your kids, and other people.
Prey Drive/Intensity - This could be something like chasing cats, but that is not the only thing that comprises Prey Drive. You can train away from chasing your kids and cats. Prey Drive could also be called intensity. Does the pup focus on his toys? Does he pick them up and shake them? Prey Drive is an indication of intensity and focus. Dogs with high prey drive will need a way to channel that safely.
Nerve Strength/Resiliency - This is an indication of comfort and ability to recover from new situations and new environments. This is an adjustable trait and can be fostered in a pup lacking this particular trait.
Tenderhearted - This is a big one. This is an indication of how this particular dog will handle big emotions (Huge Family Celebrations, PTSD, Depression, High Anxiety). Dogs that are extremely Tenderhearted will break down if put in home environments with a lot of extreme emotions. These tenderhearted dogs will feel responsible for your emotions and try to fix them.
Examples of big emotions can include things like PTSD, Yelling at the TV during Football/Sports Ball, Loud Family Dinners, Kids Birthday Parties and other examples. It also includes things like extreme anxiety and depression
Touch Tolerance - Touch tolerance is really about how much “impolite” or “rude” handling a puppy is willing to take and what choices they make when they dislike it. Some puppies, don’t even recognize it as rude and are just so joyful about the experience, others fight to get away or freeze. This is important when taking into consideration bringing a puppy into a home with kids and is also a good indicator of what your grooming exposure plans need to look like over the upcoming weeks.
The Recordings
Rather than uploading the videos directly to this webpage and slowing down the load time considerably, I have linked each video to the cover photo below. Please click the cover photo for each pup to be taken to Youtube where you can view the videos directly. The scores for this test are found in the sections labeled Stable Traits and Adjustable Traits on the spreadsheet.
I am so impressed with these puppies. Overall they tested fairly consistently with all showing great confidence and human focus. These are some super special puppies and I don’t think there is a “bad” pick among them.
Prime —Male
Prime is an incredibly fun and engaging boy with a big personality and a genuine love for interaction. He truly craves training and being actively engaged with his people, though he does have a shorter attention span, which means keeping sessions upbeat, varied, and fun will be key to his success. When training feels like a game, Prime is all in. He also offers excellent, natural eye contact, making him very rewarding to work with.
He would make a fantastic puppy for a home with children. Prime is not easily overwhelmed or overstimulated by kids and is quick to forgive their enthusiasm and occasional chaos. His easygoing nature in these situations makes him a lovely family companion. He does, however, need consistent mental stimulation — puzzles, interactive games, and ongoing training will be especially enjoyable for both him and his family.
Prime is not tenderhearted and is unlikely to be emotionally affected by big feelings, which contributes to his overall stability. He is highly human-focused and thrives when included in daily activities. He is also an assertive puppy, so establishing clear, consistent rules and boundaries from the beginning will help him grow into a well-mannered adult.
His touch tolerance falls in the mid-range, and he clearly prefers respectful, appropriate handling. Teaching children and visitors how to interact with him kindly and thoughtfully will be important. Prime is expected to have excellent natural recall, as he already shows a strong instinct to stay connected to his people, though continued training will be important to reinforce and solidify that skill.
Prime would make a great sport puppy and would likely enjoy structured activities that challenge both his mind and body. He could also do some light therapy work in environments where respectful handling is prioritized, such as retirement homes or library programs. Overall, Prime is a curious, fun-loving puppy who is going to be an absolute delight to work with and a joy to have around.
BANG — Male
Bang is an adorable little boy who will make a wonderful family companion and a deeply loyal best friend. He is a thoughtful, watchful puppy who prefers to observe his surroundings before jumping in, taking time to assess situations before fully engaging. While he is currently lacking some confidence, he is motivated to try and shows a genuine desire to do well.
What Bang may lack in confidence, he makes up for in resilience. He recovers well from new experiences and challenges, even when they feel a bit overwhelming at first. Helping him build confidence will be best achieved by moving at his pace, keeping experiences positive, and avoiding stacked stress. With thoughtful exposure and steady encouragement, his belief in himself and his abilities will continue to grow.
Bang is a moderately high-energy puppy, though he is not particularly assertive with other dogs. He is tenderhearted and emotionally attuned, often wanting to help and comfort his people during moments of heightened emotion. Because of this, he is highly human-focused and will naturally look to his people for reassurance and guidance, especially in unfamiliar situations.
Overall, Bang is an excellent choice for a family seeking a gentle, emotionally connected companion. With patience, consistency, and a supportive environment, he will grow into a devoted, loving dog and a truly special next best friend.
Celsius — Male
Celsius is a higher-energy boy with a lot of enthusiasm for life and engagement with his people. He is a very clear example of the concept “do not reward the crazy” — his energy is best shaped and directed through calm, consistent handling rather than excitement-based reinforcement. When given structure, he channels himself well and is eager to participate.
He does not demonstrate strong fetch drive, but he does show a nice tug drive, which can be a useful outlet for both play and training. Celsius would make an excellent partner for an active lifestyle and would truly enjoy activities such as hiking, running, or other adventures where he can move his body and be involved with his people.
Celsius lacks strong persistence, which was evident during his problem-solving exercise. In the video, he locates the meatball quickly but gives up on accessing the reward rather than working through the challenge. This indicates that while he is curious, he is not especially determined when a task becomes difficult. This trait can be a positive or a limitation depending on goals and should be considered thoughtfully.
Emotionally, Celsius is a tenderhearted boy, though food initially captured his attention during testing. Once he lost interest in the meatball, he was able to settle, snuggle, and offer comfort. He is best described as “vaguely aware” of human emotions — he notices them, but he is not deeply affected or emotionally influenced by big feelings. This can make him fairly steady and uncomplicated in emotionally charged environments.
He is highly motivated to be with people and genuinely enjoys engaging in shared activities. Because of this, he could be a reasonable service dog prospect for the right home — particularly for someone working closely with a professional trainer or for a handler who has previously trained a service dog. His assertiveness means he will require consistent, clear, and confident boundaries to help him thrive and stay balanced.
Overall, Celsius would be happiest in an active household that enjoys movement, structure, and involvement. With thoughtful leadership, appropriate outlets for his energy, and clear expectations, he has the potential to be a fun, loyal, and engaging companion.
Red Bull — Female
Red Bull is one of the puppies who truly surprised me, and very pleasantly so. Her testing results exceeded my expectations, and she consistently presented herself as a polite, thoughtful puppy. While she is willing to enter personal space, she does so with good manners and without an excessive need to push boundaries. Overall, she carries herself with a respectful and balanced demeanor.
One of Red Bull’s most outstanding qualities is her exceptional nose. She clearly wants opportunities to use it, and her natural interest in scent work is unmistakable. Because of this, she would be a fabulous candidate for Diabetic Alert or Allergy Alert work. She is nicely confident, motivated, and highly human-focused, with a comfortable medium energy level that will make daily life with her enjoyable and manageable. She also demonstrated terrific problem-solving skills, approaching challenges thoughtfully rather than impulsively. In addition, Red Bull is extremely tolerant of physical handling — even when the handling is less than ideal — which speaks to her patience and resilience.
Emotionally, Red Bull is a very tenderhearted puppy. This sensitivity is one of her greatest strengths, but it does mean she is not well suited for a home with extreme or ongoing emotional vulnerability. She tends to take on the emotions of the people around her and can feel responsible for them. Normal, occasional big emotions are absolutely fine, and in those moments she genuinely wants to help by offering comfort, snuggles, and closeness. In the video, you can see her desire to be helpful, along with some uncertainty about how to best offer support. You can also observe the stress she experiences in response to the temper tantrum, which highlights just how deeply she feels.
Where Red Bull truly shined was in her willingness to work with Jackson. She was actually more eager and engaged working with him than she was with Lesli, showing a high level of forgiveness, enthusiasm, and cooperation. Because of this, she would make an excellent service dog prospect for a child. She would also be a terrific 4-H dog, thriving in an environment that values teamwork, learning, and positive interaction. As an added bonus, Red Bull offers beautiful, voluntary eye contact, further reinforcing her strong connection to her handler and her natural inclination to engage and work thoughtfully with her people.
Alani Nu — Female
Alani Nu, in many ways, reminds me a lot of Violet — and one of the things we love most about Violet is just how polite she is. Violet never demands attention; instead, she’ll gently approach and place a paw on you as if to say, “Excuse me, Violet would like some pets, please.” Alani gives off those exact same vibes. She has a calm, pleasant presence and moves through the world with quiet confidence and excellent manners.
Alani would make a very nice service dog prospect, particularly for someone looking for a thoughtful, steady partner. While she is not an especially sporty dog, she could certainly enjoy casual sport activities and structured enrichment. She offers truly superb eye contact, and you can almost see the gears turning as she works through how to earn her treats. Her problem-solving style is deliberate and engaged rather than frantic.
She would be well suited for psychiatric service work and would also likely enjoy therapy work, where her calm demeanor and polite interaction style would really shine. Alani is nicely independent and self-entertains well, making her easy to live with and emotionally balanced.
She greatly prefers polite, respectful handling, and when handling becomes inappropriate, she chooses to remove herself from the situation rather than escalating. She has great human focus without being demanding and is not a highly assertive dog. Alani shows excellent confidence, motivation, and nerve strength, along with moderate energy and moderate touch tolerance. She is not tenderhearted, which contributes to her emotional steadiness and suitability for working roles.
Overall, Alani Nu is a composed, thoughtful, and quietly capable puppy who would thrive with a handler that values manners, consistency, and partnership.
Monster — Female
Monster is a lovely, well-rounded puppy who would make an excellent family companion. She is the kind of dog that fits comfortably into a wide variety of family environments and lifestyles. While she isn’t particularly motivated to be “a dog for your dog,” she is perfectly content sharing her home with another canine and would coexist nicely with a resident dog. She is likely going to be an excellent “everyone in the family” kind of girl, rather than fixating on just one person.
She would be a nice option for someone interested in casual dog sports or structured activities, especially with a family that enjoys doing things together. While she is a very nice puppy overall, she does not stand out to me as a strong service dog prospect, as there are other puppies in the litter who are better suited for that type of work. Where Monster truly shines is as a companion for a working or active household that appreciates a dog with both independence and presence.
Monster has a healthy ability to self-entertain and shows a nice level of independence for her age. She is thoughtful and emotionally aware — tenderhearted enough to notice when her people are experiencing big feelings — but she is not overly affected or destabilized by them. This balance makes her emotionally steady and pleasant to live with. Her problem-solving skills fell within the average range, which is very appropriate for a puppy at this stage.
She demonstrated a high tolerance for physical handling, though she was clear about her boundaries when she felt handling became impolite or unfair. Rather than escalating, she chose to remove herself from the situation, which is a valuable and appropriate response. Because of this, establishing positive, respectful grooming routines early on should be a priority to ensure she remains comfortable and confident with regular care.
Monster is an assertive puppy, though not excessively so. She has enough confidence to advocate for herself and move through the world with intention, without being overwhelming or pushy. Overall, she is a solid, balanced puppy who will thrive with thoughtful leadership, clear expectations, and an active, engaged family that enjoys including their dog in everyday life.
Rockstar — Female
Rockstar is very much a “less intense Magic Jr.” — though she absolutely has the ability to dial that intensity right back up when the situation calls for it. She is an assertive, confident, highly motivated girl with exceptional human focus. In many ways, she embodies exactly what I typically look for in a service dog prospect: driven, engaged, resilient, and eager to work.
That said, if the goal is service work, Rockstar is not a puppy for a novice handler or a true “do-it-yourself” training approach. For the greatest chance of long-term success, working alongside an experienced trainer who understands how to appropriately channel her intensity and energy is strongly recommended. When guided correctly, her drive becomes a tremendous asset; when reinforced incorrectly, it can easily spill into over-arousal.
She is extremely toy motivated, which provides an excellent training currency, but she is also a very clear “do not reward the crazy” puppy. Calm, intentional reinforcement will be essential, and this applies not only within the household but also with strangers. Rockstar is the type of dog where the phrase, “Can my dog pet you?” is going to be important — she is social, people-loving, and eager to engage, but her interactions need to be thoughtfully managed to maintain balance and focus.
Rockstar would make a fantastic active family dog. She is highly social, very people motivated, and exceptionally forgiving. She recovers quickly from mistakes or moments of chaos and is always ready to re-engage and try again. Her resilience and enthusiasm make her a joy to work with for the right home.
As an added note, she does demonstrate stronger item retrieval skills than Magic, which could be an advantage depending on training goals. Overall, Rockstar is a powerful, driven puppy who will thrive with structure, experience, and intentional leadership — and in return, she offers tremendous potential as both a working partner and an active companion.
Ghost — Female
Ghost is truly the happiest of girls, with a tail that seems to wag at lightning speed almost all the time. She brings a joyful, upbeat presence wherever she goes and approaches the world with enthusiasm and optimism. She is nicely confident, motivated, and resilient, recovering quickly from new experiences and challenges.
She demonstrates excellent human focus while also maintaining a healthy ability to self-entertain, which makes her both engaging to work with and easy to live with. Ghost is quick to approach and genuinely loves strangers, greeting new people with openness and friendliness. She has strong potential as a service dog prospect, though she is a clear example of a puppy where the principle “do not reward the crazy” very much applies. Her excitement is best shaped through calm, thoughtful reinforcement so that her enthusiasm becomes an asset rather than a distraction.
Ghost is extremely forgiving and recovers quickly from mistakes or moments of chaos, but she does value trust within her working relationship. Once that trust is established, she is eager to engage and work with her handler. She is a moderately high-energy puppy who will benefit from regular physical outlets and mentally engaging activities.
She is highly toy motivated, which provides an excellent training tool, and she absolutely melts into handling — even when that handling is less than ideal. This high level of touch tolerance, combined with her joyful nature, makes her very easy to work with in hands-on situations. Ghost also demonstrated excellent problem-solving skills, approaching challenges with curiosity and confidence.
Overall, Ghost is a bright, happy, and capable puppy with tremendous potential when guided with structure, consistency, and calm leadership.
Reign — Female
Reign is a girl with a purpose that goes well beyond being “just” a pet. She consistently demonstrates a desire to do more, and she truly stands out as an excellent service dog prospect. From the very beginning, she gave me the strong impression of a dog who can calmly and steadily bear witness to human emotions — present, grounded, and unaffected by emotional intensity. She is not tenderhearted, which makes her particularly well suited for psychiatric work where big emotions are part of daily life.
Reign carries herself with a generally calm energy, but it’s important to note that she can be built into a high-arousal, triggered state fairly easily. Once she reaches that heightened level, her off switch is not easily flipped. Because of this, she is a clear “do not reward the crazy” puppy; thoughtful handling, emotional neutrality, and reinforcement of calm behavior will be essential to her long-term success.
She has excellent human focus and shows a strong desire to engage with her people. When she is not actively interacting, she is perfectly capable of entertaining herself appropriately, which speaks to her confidence and mental stability. Reign is not dependent or frantic for attention, but rather secure and purposeful in how she moves through her environment.
Her touch tolerance is particularly interesting. She is not overly tolerant of handling she perceives as inappropriate or unfair, yet her recovery is immediate. She forgives instantly and readily re-engages, often offering affection and kisses without hesitation. This combination of clear boundaries and rapid emotional recovery highlights her confidence, resilience, and emotional maturity.
Reign is a very confident, motivated girl with excellent problem-solving skills and outstanding human focus. With the right handler, consistent structure, and clear expectations, she has the potential to develop into a truly exceptional working partner.
NOZ — Female
NOZ has been my favorite puppy for several weeks now. She is a beautifully built, square little puppy with endless curiosity and a remarkable amount of natural eye contact. If I were keeping a puppy for myself, she would be the one — though I want to be very clear that this should not sway your decision. What I personally love in a dog is not always the puppy who is objectively “best,” or the best fit, for someone else. Finding the right match is always about alignment, not favoritism.
NOZ is an extremely nose-oriented puppy, and this is truly her standout trait. She would thrive in a home that actively encourages and develops this ability through activities such as tracking, nosework, search and rescue, truffle hunting, or even duck hunting. She genuinely wants to use her nose, and providing appropriate outlets for this drive will be key to her long-term fulfillment and success.
She is nicely independent and self-entertains well, making her an easy dog to live with. She would also make a wonderful therapy dog, bringing a steady presence and confidence into those settings. NOZ is very confident and has an excellent touch tolerance, handling physical interaction with ease.
It is important to note that she is highly dog-assertive, so careful consideration should be given if there is already a dog in the home that has strong boundary preferences. While she is tenderhearted, she is not excessively so, and she recovers well from everyday stressors. Her human focus and motivation are lower compared to some of her littermates, largely because her attention is so strongly driven by scent rather than people.
In addition to her working potential, NOZ would be an excellent show prospect. She combines confidence, structure, and presence in a way that makes her stand out. Overall, NOZ is a bold, capable, and fascinating puppy who will shine brightest in a home that values and nurtures her natural instincts and independence.
Picks will be done in order of deposit received/commitment to the litter. As a reminder, the order is as follows.
Katlyn MCCurley
Jessica Wodskow
Kate Bulgakova
Blake Weaver
Meadow Adams
Sarah Brown
Coralie Vansant
Open
Open
Open
Following puppy picks, I will be circling around to those who are “waiting in the wings” and then we will be opening puppy picks to newcomers on a first-come basis.
Following the receipt of this e-mail, I will begin reaching out to individuals to discuss and confirm their selection. This could be as simple as an e-mail stating “I want Red Bull, please” or a more complex phone conversation. Please plan to have an appointment within the next 36 hours. The document that tabulates all the testing details is changeable on my end. As puppies are chosen, I will mark them as unavailable on the master list. I will also make announcements on the Valaurah Farms Facebook and Instagram as well regarding chosen puppies.
I will be reaching out to figure out our go-home schedule. It is always nice if we can combine trips to the various places with multiple puppies. But in the meantime, check out the survival guide.
