Time To Pick Your Puppy : Minnie x Magic - The Drive-In Theatre
Seven weeks have passed in what feels like the blink of an eye 🐾
It feels like just yesterday we were welcoming six tiny Drive-In puppies into the world. Since then, they've grown from helpless newborns into adventurous, curious little dogs who are ready to begin the next stage of their journey.
Over the past seven weeks, these puppies have experienced an incredible amount of purposeful, age-appropriate development. From Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) and Early Scent Introduction (ESI) to Puppy Culture exercises, grooming, new surfaces, household adventures, outdoor exploration, novel objects, and their Puppy Culture Puppy Party, each experience has been carefully planned to help them build confidence, resiliency, and adaptability.
One of the greatest joys of raising a litter is watching those tiny daily moments add up. A puppy that pauses at a new obstacle one day is climbing it confidently a few days later. A startling sound becomes just another part of the environment. Those small victories are how confident, capable dogs are built.
I am incredibly proud of how this litter has developed. Each puppy has embraced the opportunity to learn, explore, and grow in their own way, and it has been a privilege to watch them mature over these past seven weeks.
And now we've reached one of the biggest milestones of the entire process—it's time to Pick Your Puppy.
Over the following pages, you'll find each puppy's temperament evaluation along with my observations and recommendations. While the temperament evaluation provides an important, objective snapshot of each puppy in a standardized setting, it is only one piece of the puzzle. My recommendations are built on seven weeks of daily observations, developmental milestones, recovery patterns, interactions with people and littermates, Puppy Culture experiences, structural evaluations, and everything we've learned about these puppies since the day they were born.
As you review the evaluations, I encourage you to keep an open mind. There isn't a "best" puppy—only puppies whose individual strengths, needs, and natural tendencies make them a better fit for different homes and lifestyles. The goal isn't simply to choose a puppy you like; it's to find the puppy that is most likely to thrive with your family for the next 12 to 15 years.
Thank you for trusting me to raise these special puppies and for allowing me to be part of this exciting milestone. I can't wait to help each of you find the puppy that's the right fit for your family.
Families interact with the Minnie x Magic Standard Poodle puppies during a Puppy Culture Puppy Party, giving the puppies positive experiences with new people in a fun, supportive environment.
This is a long pupdate with a lot of important 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 on our website. At this time, I do not anticipate that any puppies will be available.
After selections are complete, we will begin following up with applicants who were asked to wait until after puppy picks, as well as any other families who may be a good fit for future litters.
All of the temperament evaluation data, observation notes, and scoring can be viewed in the spreadsheet below. Simply click the popcorn to access it.
As families make their selections, I will update the spreadsheet by highlighting each puppy as it is reserved and adding the selecting family's name to that puppy's column. This allows everyone to follow along with the selection process in real time.
Once all current reservation holders have made their selections, any remaining puppy(ies) will be offered to approved applicants and interested families.
Alright… so you probably opened that spreadsheet and immediately went:
“WOAH… what exactly am I looking at?!”
Fair enough 😂
There’s a lot of information there, and at first glance it can definitely feel overwhelming. Don’t worry — I’m going to walk you through what everything means, how to read it, and most importantly, how to use the information to help guide your decision-making process.
Puppy Evaluations
Our puppy evaluations are designed to provide insight into how each puppy naturally engages with the world around them while still honoring the puppy’s emotional development, autonomy, and trust.
Rather than relying on rigid or highly stressful testing methods, our evaluation process focuses on observing:
confidence,
engagement,
recovery,
problem solving,
environmental stability,
adaptability,
and workability
in a way that feels natural and supportive for the puppy.
The goal is not to create stress, but rather to provide puppies with opportunities to experience new environments, surfaces, objects, handling, and challenges while observing how they respond, recover, and interact.
Over the years, I have found this style of evaluation to provide a much more complete and realistic picture of each puppy while also aligning closely with our Puppy Culture and puppy raising philosophy.
How Is The Evaluation Performed?
The evaluator begins seated quietly within the testing area while the puppy is brought in and given time to acclimate to the environment.
During these first few moments, the puppy is allowed to:
explore freely,
investigate the environment,
engage with toys,
interact with the evaluator,
or simply pause and observe.
Allowing the puppy choice and autonomy during this stage is extremely important and provides valuable insight into how the puppy naturally engages with new environments and experiences.
Once the puppy is comfortable, the evaluation progresses naturally through a variety of activities and experiences, including:
toy engagement and play,
problem solving,
navigating obstacles and equipment,
exploring novel and unstable surfaces,
recovery from unexpected experiences,
handling and grooming tolerance,
and overall environmental adaptability.
The evaluation is intentionally fluid rather than rigidly scripted. Puppies are worked through exercises in a way that supports confidence and trust while still allowing us to observe meaningful developmental traits and tendencies.
An important part of our evaluation philosophy is recognizing that puppies are individuals with their own autonomy, preferences, and emotional thresholds.
Puppies are given free will throughout the evaluation process and are allowed to communicate:
“I’m unsure,”
“I need a moment,”
or even
“I do not want to do that right now.”
We may guide, encourage, coax, and coach a puppy through an exercise, but we do not force participation. If a puppy chooses not to complete a task, that information is valuable in and of itself — and that choice is respected.
Likewise, if a puppy becomes overly stressed or overwhelmed during the evaluation, we may pause or stop the evaluation entirely to allow the puppy time to decompress and recover.
The goal of the evaluation is not for puppies to “pass or fail,” but rather to better understand how each puppy naturally responds to and interacts with the world around them.
Traits Evaluated
The evaluation looks at both more stable developmental tendencies, as well as traits that are highly influenced by environment, experience, training, and maturity.
Stable Traits
(Scored on a scale of 1–5, with 5 being the highest)
Assertiveness with humans
Assertiveness with other dogs
Motivation
Energy level
Intensity
Human focus
Tenderheartedness
Adjustable Traits
(Scored on a scale of 1–5, with 5 being the highest)
Confidence
Nerve strength / resiliency
Touch tolerance (compliance, not necessarily enjoyment)
For the following sensitivity categories:
1 = little to no sensitivity
5 = high sensitivity
These include:
Sound sensitivity
Sight sensitivity
Definitions & Understanding the Traits
Human Assertiveness
Human assertiveness is not aggression. Rather, it refers to the puppy’s willingness to engage with and “invade” human space.
Highly assertive puppies are often the dogs that:
climb into your lap,
enthusiastically greet new people,
attempt to investigate everything you are doing,
or try to steal your pizza if given the opportunity 😂
These puppies are typically very socially confident and people-oriented.
Higher levels of human assertiveness are often highly desirable in many working roles, including:
Diabetic Alert Dogs,
Psychiatric Service Dogs,
and Behavior Interruption/Modification work.
However, highly assertive puppies also require clear structure, boundaries, and consistency as they mature. Without guidance, these dogs may become overly pushy, jump on people, or struggle with impulse control simply because they are so eager to engage.
Prey Drive / Intensity
Prey drive is often misunderstood as simply “chasing cats,” but it encompasses much more than that.
In many ways, prey drive is better thought of as:
intensity,
engagement,
focus,
and desire to interact with the environment.
Examples may include:
focusing intensely on toys,
grabbing and shaking toys,
chasing movement,
strong engagement in play,
or persistence when working through tasks.
Dogs with higher prey drive or intensity often excel in:
performance sports,
advanced training,
scent work,
service work,
and other highly engaging activities.
These dogs typically benefit from having appropriate outlets and structured ways to channel that intensity productively and safely.
Nerve Strength / Resiliency
Nerve strength and resiliency refer to a puppy’s comfort level with novelty, environmental pressure, and their ability to recover from uncertainty or stress.
This includes things such as:
recovering from startling experiences,
adapting to new environments,
navigating unfamiliar surfaces,
or bouncing back after being unsure.
Importantly, this is considered an adjustable trait, meaning it can be significantly influenced by:
environment,
training,
exposure,
confidence-building,
and life experience.
A puppy with lower resiliency at seven weeks is not “doomed” to remain that way. Thoughtful handling and continued positive exposure can dramatically improve confidence over time.
Tenderheartedness
Tenderheartedness is one of the more important — and often overlooked — traits we evaluate.
This trait reflects how deeply a dog emotionally absorbs and responds to the emotions and energy of the people around them.
Highly tenderhearted dogs are often:
deeply empathetic,
emotionally aware,
highly connected to their humans,
and strongly affected by emotional environments.
These dogs frequently excel in:
emotional support work,
therapy work,
and deeply bonded companion homes.
However, highly tenderhearted dogs can also struggle in homes with:
chronic high stress,
intense emotional volatility,
frequent yelling,
or highly chaotic environments.
Examples of “big emotions” may include:
PTSD,
severe anxiety,
depression,
loud sporting events,
chaotic family gatherings,
children’s birthday parties,
or emotionally charged households.
These dogs often feel compelled to absorb, respond to, or “fix” the emotional state of their people.
Touch Tolerance
Touch tolerance refers to how a puppy responds to handling that may feel uncomfortable, inconvenient, impolite, or intrusive from the puppy’s perspective.
This is not necessarily about whether the puppy enjoys handling, but rather:
how willing they are to tolerate it,
how they communicate discomfort,
and what choices they make when they dislike the interaction.
Some puppies:
remain joyful and highly tolerant throughout handling,
while others may:
pull away,
freeze,
resist,
or actively attempt to escape.
This trait is especially important when considering:
homes with children,
grooming expectations,
veterinary handling,
and future training goals.
Touch tolerance also provides valuable insight into what a puppy’s continued grooming and handling exposure plan should look like over the coming weeks and months.
The Recordings
Thriller - Most Likely to Be Your Favorite Coworker
Thriller is a puppy who naturally seeks partnership. From an early age, he has consistently demonstrated a strong desire to engage with people and be involved in whatever they are doing. His combination of exceptional human focus and high human assertiveness makes him the type of dog who wants to work alongside his family rather than simply exist around them. He enjoys being part of the action, frequently checks in with his people, and seems happiest when he has a shared purpose. If there is one quality that defines Thriller, it is his desire to do life with his humans.
Throughout his development, Thriller has shown himself to be a confident and resilient puppy. New environments, novel objects, unfamiliar sounds, and changing situations have not significantly impacted his ability to continue exploring and engaging. During his early outdoor adventures, he confidently explored the environment while continuing to maintain awareness of the people around him. Even when he took time to investigate independently, he consistently re-engaged with his handlers, demonstrating both confidence and an innate desire for connection. His low sound and sight sensitivity further reinforce the picture of a puppy who is naturally comfortable navigating the world around him.
Thriller possesses exceptional motivation and problem-solving ability. He enjoys engaging his mind and working through challenges rather than becoming discouraged by them. While his overall energy and intensity are more moderate than some of his littermates, he brings purpose and enthusiasm to whatever task is in front of him. This balance makes him especially appealing for families looking for a dog that enjoys learning and working without requiring constant activity simply to remain content. He has the drive to excel when asked, but he is equally capable of settling and simply enjoying time with his family.
One of Thriller's greatest strengths is the combination of confidence and emotional awareness. His higher tenderheartedness means he is naturally more perceptive of the emotional state of the people around him while still maintaining excellent confidence and resiliency. He is likely to form deep, meaningful relationships with his family and genuinely enjoy being involved in their daily lives. This emotional connection, paired with his environmental stability, makes him particularly well suited for roles that require both partnership and reliability.
Thriller demonstrated average touch tolerance during his evaluation. He willingly accepted handling but was more inclined than some of his littermates to communicate when something felt inconvenient or unnecessary. This is not a concern, but it is an important area for intentional development—especially for families with young children or households where handling may be less predictable. Thriller will benefit greatly from consistent, positive exposure to a wide variety of handling experiences, including those that may feel awkward or intrusive from his perspective. Building tolerance for “inappropriate touch” through structured, reward-based training will be essential to help him remain comfortable and confident in real-world situations. Continued cooperative care work, thoughtful grooming routines, and clear guidance around respectful interactions—particularly with children—will set him up for long-term success. Like all Standard Poodles, regular grooming will be a lifelong requirement, and maintaining positive, well-managed handling experiences will be especially important for him. While he is quite affectionate and enjoys being pet, held, and cuddled, he also benefits from interactions that respect his boundaries and allow him to feel like an active participant rather than a passive recipient.
Thriller is an exceptionally versatile puppy with tremendous potential. His confidence, motivation, resilience, and remarkable human focus make him an outstanding candidate for service work, therapy work, classroom or facility settings, advanced obedience, scent work, and a wide variety of performance activities. At the same time, he possesses an "off switch" that allows him to relax and simply enjoy spending time with his family. This versatility means he is likely to thrive in many different homes, provided he is given opportunities to remain mentally engaged and involved in family life.
Life with Thriller is likely to feel like having a constant companion who genuinely enjoys being by your side. Whether accompanying you on errands, hiking a favorite trail, learning a new skill, or simply relaxing at home, Thriller is the kind of dog who wants to be included. He is not driven solely by activity; he is driven by connection. His family should expect a dog who looks to them for guidance, enjoys working as a team, and finds fulfillment in participating in everyday life together.
Thriller's greatest gift is his ability to combine confidence with companionship. He has the resilience to confidently navigate the world, the intelligence to solve problems, and the heart to form deep partnerships with the people he loves. For the family looking for a devoted teammate who wants to share every adventure—big or small—Thriller has all the makings of an exceptional lifelong companion.
Milkshake - Most Likely to Surprise You
Milkshake's journey has been one of the most rewarding to watch throughout this litter. Early in her development, she experienced a significant startle event with the adult dogs that temporarily shook her confidence. Rather than allowing that single moment to define her, we continued providing thoughtful exposure, opportunities to recover, and the space to work through new experiences at her own pace. What emerged was a puppy who beautifully demonstrates what true resilience looks like. Confidence is not the absence of being startled—it is the ability to recover, adapt, and move forward. By the time her formal temperament evaluation arrived, Milkshake surprised us with just how confident, resilient, and capable she had become.
Milkshake is an energetic, intelligent puppy who thrives when she has both purpose and partnership. She genuinely enjoys working with people and naturally seeks engagement with her family. Her combination of excellent human focus, confidence, and motivation creates a puppy who is eager to participate in whatever life has to offer. Whether learning new skills, exploring new environments, or simply joining in on everyday activities, Milkshake wants to be involved.
One of Milkshake's greatest strengths is her exceptional confidence and resiliency. Throughout her evaluation, she consistently recovered quickly from new experiences and remained comfortable navigating unfamiliar environments, sounds, and visual distractions. She demonstrated a steady nervous system, excellent environmental stability, and impressive problem-solving ability. Rather than becoming overwhelmed by challenges, Milkshake approaches them with curiosity and determination, making thoughtful decisions before moving forward.
Milkshake also demonstrated a thoughtful approach to learning new tasks. She is very much a "show it to me twice" kind of dog. Not because she lacks confidence, but because she appreciates understanding what is being asked before fully committing. She benefits from clear demonstrations, consistent expectations, and patient guidance when introduced to something new. Once she understands the assignment, she eagerly joins in and works with enthusiasm. Families should expect a puppy who responds best to calm, intentional leadership rather than pressure or repetition.
Emotionally, Milkshake is exceptionally resilient. She forms close relationships with her family while maintaining the ability to think clearly and continue working even when emotions run high. Rather than becoming emotionally overwhelmed by the people around her, she remains steady, allowing her to be an excellent candidate for many forms of service work and other jobs that require dependable decision-making under pressure. Her emotional stability is one of her greatest strengths.
Milkshake demonstrated excellent touch tolerance throughout her evaluation and accepted handling with confidence and cooperation. She has a strong foundation for lifelong grooming, veterinary care, and cooperative handling exercises. Continued positive experiences will help maintain that confidence as she matures.
One area where Milkshake consistently expresses her opinions is confinement. Throughout puppy raising, she has been one of the more persistent vocal puppies when crated or otherwise physically restricted. This should not be mistaken for fear or separation anxiety. Rather, Milkshake appears to question boundaries that do not yet make sense to her. She benefits from calm, consistent expectations and will likely require patience during crate training. It will be especially important that her family does not reward the crazy. Releasing her, talking to her, or otherwise responding while she is actively protesting can unintentionally reinforce the behavior. Instead, calm, quiet behavior should consistently be what earns freedom, attention, and opportunities. Milkshake is a puppy who responds beautifully to thoughtful leadership and clear, predictable routines.
While Milkshake demonstrated outstanding confidence and resiliency throughout her formal evaluation, she continues to show some hesitation around unfamiliar dogs following her earlier experience with the adult dogs. This should not be viewed as a concern but rather as an important area for continued development. Building her confidence around unfamiliar dogs should remain a priority throughout adolescence. This does not mean greeting every dog she encounters or encouraging frequent on-leash introductions. Instead, the goal should be helping Milkshake learn to confidently exist and work around other dogs without feeling the need to interact with them. Calm exposure, structured training near neutral dogs, and positive experiences in shared environments will continue strengthening the confidence she has already worked so hard to build.
Milkshake has all the qualities to excel in a wide variety of roles. Her confidence, resiliency, environmental stability, intelligence, problem-solving ability, and desire to work with people make her an excellent candidate for service work, performance sports, scent work, hunting activities, and active companion homes. She is happiest when she has opportunities to learn, solve problems, and share experiences with her family.
Life with Milkshake is likely to feel engaging, rewarding, and full of opportunities to grow together. She is the kind of dog who wants to understand the world around her, appreciates a family that communicates clearly, and rises to meet the expectations placed before her. With thoughtful guidance, consistent boundaries, and an emphasis on rewarding calm, intentional behavior, Milkshake has all the ingredients to mature into an exceptional partner whose confidence, resilience, and intelligence will continue to shine throughout her life.
Sundae - Most Likely to Be Someone’s Superhero
Sundae's formal temperament assessment was one of the biggest surprises of the litter. Going into the evaluation, neither Lesli nor I expected the results we saw. While Sundae had always been a lovely puppy, it wasn't until we systematically worked through each exercise that her true strengths became unmistakably clear. As the evaluation progressed, she quietly and consistently demonstrated exactly the qualities we hope to see in an exceptional working dog—confidence, resilience, human focus, motivation, and an incredible willingness to engage. By the end of her assessment, we found ourselves looking at each other in genuine surprise. Sundae reminded us why formal temperament evaluations are so valuable: they often reveal qualities that aren't fully appreciated through day-to-day observation alone.
Sundae is an exceptionally balanced puppy whose greatest strength is her ability to combine confidence, intelligence, resilience, and partnership into one remarkable package. She approaches the world with purpose, naturally seeking connection with people while maintaining the confidence to navigate new experiences independently. She is engaged without being overwhelming, confident without being reckless, and eager to work alongside the people she loves. Her temperament gives her tremendous versatility, allowing her to excel in many different roles while remaining an absolute joy to live with.
One of Sundae's defining characteristics is her exceptional human focus. She genuinely enjoys interacting with people and naturally looks to them for guidance and engagement. During her early outdoor adventures, she confidently explored her surroundings while continuing to check in with the humans nearby, demonstrating a beautiful balance between environmental curiosity and partnership. She enjoys learning with her people and appears happiest when she has both a purpose and someone to share it with. Rather than working independently for the sake of the task itself, Sundae seems to find the greatest reward in working together.
Another quality that consistently stood out during her evaluation was her natural desire to use her nose. Sundae demonstrated a strong inclination toward scent work, eagerly engaging in nose-based problem-solving and thoughtfully working through challenges rather than giving up. This natural scenting ability, combined with her motivation, confidence, and remarkable resiliency, provides an outstanding foundation for nose work, tracking, and many types of medical alert and detection work. While no seven-week-old puppy can be guaranteed to become a successful service or detection dog, Sundae possesses many of the natural building blocks trainers often hope to find when evaluating future scent-driven working prospects.
Perhaps Sundae's greatest strength is the remarkable stability of her temperament. Throughout her evaluations, she consistently demonstrated outstanding confidence and resiliency. Novel environments, unfamiliar sounds, changing visual stimuli, and unexpected situations did little to interrupt her willingness to continue exploring and engaging. Rather than becoming overwhelmed by change, Sundae quickly assessed what was happening, adapted, and confidently moved forward. Her exceptional environmental stability allows her to remain thoughtful and dependable even when the world around her changes.
Emotionally, Sundae is beautifully balanced. She forms meaningful relationships with her family without becoming emotionally overwhelmed by the people around her. She develops deep bonds while maintaining the emotional stability to think clearly and continue working when situations become stressful or unpredictable. This balance is one of the qualities that makes her such an exciting service prospect. She is invested in her handler without becoming consumed by their emotions, allowing her to remain reliable when clear thinking matters most.
Sundae demonstrated moderate touch tolerance during her evaluation. She willingly accepted handling but was also comfortable communicating when something felt unnecessary or intrusive from her perspective. This should not be viewed as a weakness but rather as an important consideration for her future family. Continued cooperative care training, positive grooming experiences, and thoughtful handling throughout adolescence will be especially important. Because Standard Poodles require lifelong grooming, helping Sundae actively participate in handling rather than simply expecting compliance will strengthen both her confidence and her trust. Families with young children should also be committed to teaching respectful interactions and carefully supervising handling so that her communication is understood and respected.
Sundae possesses an exceptional combination of qualities that opens the door to an extraordinary range of opportunities. Her confidence, resilience, human focus, motivation, environmental stability, and natural scenting ability make her an outstanding candidate for service work, particularly roles that rely on partnership, advanced training, and scent discrimination. She also has the versatility to excel in performance sports, advanced obedience, and many active companion homes. Whatever path she ultimately follows, Sundae has both the temperament and the desire to work alongside her person.
Life with Sundae is likely to feel like having a true teammate. She is the kind of dog who wants to accompany her family wherever life leads, whether that means learning complex skills, accompanying them on daily outings, or simply sharing the routines of everyday life. She thrives when she has both purpose and partnership, finding fulfillment not only in the work itself but in the relationship she builds with her people. She is the kind of dog who wants to contribute, participate, and be included.
Sundae's greatest gift is her quiet capability. She possesses the confidence to embrace new experiences, the intelligence to solve problems, the motivation to keep learning, and the stability to remain dependable when it matters most. While her evaluation surprised us, it also made one thing abundantly clear: Sundae has all the qualities to become a truly exceptional partner. Whether she ultimately changes someone's life through service work or simply becomes the unforgettable companion every family hopes for, she has the temperament, heart, and ability to leave a lasting impact.
Marquee - Most Likely To Make Himself at Home
Marquee is the kind of puppy who seems to naturally settle into whatever life asks of him. He carries himself with quiet confidence, enjoys being with his people, and approaches new experiences with a thoughtful, balanced attitude. He doesn't feel the need to be the center of attention, nor does he shy away from participating. Instead, he simply fits. Whether the day calls for playtime in the backyard, a family outing, or a quiet evening at home, Marquee has the temperament to comfortably adapt while remaining an engaged and enjoyable companion.
One of Marquee's greatest strengths is his balance. He demonstrates a wonderful combination of confidence, resilience, and human focus without being overwhelming or demanding. He enjoys interacting with people and naturally seeks connection, but he does so politely rather than insistently. Throughout his development, Marquee has consistently shown himself to be socially appropriate, comfortable with both people and other dogs, and capable of navigating new situations without becoming easily unsettled. His excellent resiliency and minimal sound and sight sensitivity suggest a puppy who is well-equipped to take everyday life in stride.
Marquee enjoys learning and participating with his family. His motivation to engage makes training enjoyable while his moderate energy and intensity create a puppy who is unlikely to feel overwhelming for the average household. He has enough drive to enthusiastically join family adventures, learn new skills, and participate in activities, yet he also possesses a natural ability to settle and relax when the excitement is over. This balance often makes for an exceptionally enjoyable adult companion.
Emotionally, Marquee falls comfortably in the middle. He forms meaningful relationships with his family without becoming emotionally burdened by every feeling around him. He is affectionate, people-oriented, and genuinely enjoys spending time with those he loves, while maintaining the emotional stability to handle the normal ups and downs of everyday family life. This combination allows him to be deeply connected without becoming overwhelmed by a busy household.
Marquee demonstrated lower touch tolerance during his evaluation, making continued cooperative care an important part of his development. While he accepted handling, he was more likely to communicate when something felt unnecessary or uncomfortable from his perspective. This is not unusual and is something that can improve substantially through positive experiences. His family should continue regularly practicing grooming, veterinary-style handling, and cooperative care exercises while teaching children to interact respectfully and thoughtfully. Helping Marquee view handling as a positive, predictable experience will support his long-term comfort and confidence.
Life with Marquee is likely to feel wonderfully uncomplicated. He is the puppy who simply enjoys being included. Whether accompanying the family on weekend adventures, joining children in the backyard, relaxing while dinner is prepared, or curling up nearby at the end of the day, Marquee has the temperament to become an easy and natural part of everyday life. He doesn't need to be constantly entertained, nor is he likely to demand that every moment revolve around him. Instead, he brings a steady, enjoyable presence that complements the rhythm of his family.
Marquee is especially well suited for families looking for a well-rounded companion who can comfortably participate in many different aspects of life. His balanced temperament makes him an excellent choice for first-time Standard Poodle owners, active or moderately active families, couples, and homes looking for a dog that is both enjoyable to train and easy to live with. While he certainly has the ability to learn and participate in a variety of activities, his greatest strength is not found in any one specific job—it is his remarkable ability to become an effortless part of the family.
Marquee is the puppy who quietly reminds us that sometimes the very best dogs are the ones who simply make everyday life a little richer, a little easier, and a lot more enjoyable.
Cruiser - Most Likely To Take It All In Stride
Cruiser is the kind of puppy who approaches life with confidence, enthusiasm, and an incredible ability to roll with whatever comes his way. Throughout the past several weeks, he has consistently demonstrated a steady, resilient temperament. Whether exploring new environments, experiencing unfamiliar sounds, navigating different surfaces, or meeting new people, Cruiser has shown that he is comfortable engaging with the world rather than withdrawing from it. He is naturally optimistic, adaptable, and difficult to rattle. If there is one quality that defines Cruiser, it is his ability to take life's challenges in stride and keep moving forward.
One of Cruiser's most noticeable qualities is his balance between independence and connection. He enjoys people and naturally seeks interaction without becoming emotionally dependent on them. During our early outdoor observations, Cruiser repeatedly stood out for his willingness to check in with people, offering prolonged eye contact and choosing human interaction despite the many distractions around him. He enjoys being part of what is happening and values working alongside his people, but he also possesses the confidence to investigate, explore, and think independently when appropriate. This balance makes him especially enjoyable to live with.
Cruiser is a puppy with substantial drive. His high energy level, strong intensity, and exceptional problem-solving ability indicate a dog that enjoys having a job to do. Whether that job becomes performance sports, scent work, service work, hiking, advanced obedience, or simply accompanying an active family on life's adventures, Cruiser is happiest when both his mind and body are engaged. He is curious, persistent, and eager to participate. Rather than giving up easily, Cruiser tends to work through challenges until he finds a solution.
His confidence and resiliency are among his greatest strengths. Cruiser recovered quickly throughout his evaluations and demonstrated very little concern about either auditory or visual distractions. His exceptionally low sound and sight sensitivities, combined with his excellent confidence and nerve strength, suggest a puppy who is likely to adapt well to new environments, travel, busy public settings, and changing routines. While continued socialization remains important for every puppy, Cruiser has an excellent foundation upon which to build.
Emotionally, Cruiser is a remarkably steady puppy. His low tenderheartedness score does not mean he is aloof or lacking affection. Instead, it means he is less likely to absorb and carry the emotional burdens of the people around him. He is capable of forming deep bonds with his family while maintaining emotional stability during stressful or emotionally charged situations. This quality is particularly valuable in many working roles, as it allows him to remain thoughtful and functional even when the people around him are experiencing fear, anxiety, or excitement. Rather than becoming overwhelmed by those emotions, Cruiser is more likely to remain grounded and continue doing his job.
Cruiser also demonstrated outstanding touch tolerance throughout his evaluation. He accepted handling calmly and cooperatively, even when the handling itself was inconvenient or something he would not have naturally chosen. Combined with his environmental stability, this should make grooming, veterinary care, training, and everyday handling significantly easier as he matures.
Because Cruiser is naturally enthusiastic, energetic, and highly engaged, it will be imperative that his family does not reward the crazy. Excitement should never become the behavior that earns attention, affection, access, or rewards. Instead, calm behavior should consistently be reinforced. Waiting politely, offering eye contact, settling independently, and thinking before acting should be the behaviors that open doors, start games, earn greetings, and unlock opportunities. Cruiser has tremendous natural enthusiasm, and with thoughtful guidance he can learn to channel that energy into exceptional self-control. His family should view calmness as a skill worth actively teaching from the very beginning.
Cruiser is exceptionally well suited for active homes that enjoy training and involving their dog in daily life. He has tremendous potential for performance sports, scent work, hunting activities, and many types of service work. His confidence, resilience, environmental stability, and emotional steadiness also make him an excellent companion for active families with children. While he certainly enjoys affection and companionship, he is not the puppy most likely to be content spending every day relaxing on the couch. He thrives when given opportunities to think, explore, work, and participate.
Living with Cruiser will likely feel like having an eager teammate by your side. He is the puppy who is ready to load into the car for the next adventure, tackle a new challenge, learn another skill, or simply accompany his family wherever life leads. With clear expectations, consistent structure, and appropriate outlets for his energy, Cruiser has all the ingredients to mature into an exceptionally capable, stable, and versatile adult dog—one who truly takes it all in stride.
Popcorn - Most Likely to Read the Room
Popcorn is an exceptionally thoughtful puppy who approaches the world with confidence, curiosity, and remarkable discernment. She is not impulsive or quick to react simply because something changes around her. Instead, she takes in information, evaluates the situation, and makes intentional decisions about how she wants to respond. Throughout her development, Popcorn has consistently demonstrated a wonderful balance of confidence, resilience, and emotional awareness, making her one of the more naturally intuitive puppies in the litter.
From an early age, Popcorn has shown herself to be highly motivated and eager to engage with both people and her environment. She enjoys learning, solving problems, and participating in whatever is happening around her. During her early outings, she confidently explored new environments while maintaining a healthy interest in the people nearby. She is the type of puppy who enjoys being involved, but she doesn't feel the need to rush headlong into every situation. Instead, she processes what she sees before deciding how to proceed.
One of Popcorn's greatest strengths is her outstanding confidence and resiliency. Throughout her evaluations, she recovered quickly from novel experiences and remained comfortable navigating unfamiliar environments, sounds, and visual distractions. Her exceptionally low sound and sight sensitivities, combined with her excellent confidence and nerve strength, suggest a puppy who is well-equipped to adapt to the many changes and surprises that life inevitably brings. She is unlikely to become easily overwhelmed by the world around her and instead demonstrates a calm willingness to explore and learn.
Perhaps the most impressive quality Popcorn demonstrated during her evaluation was her ability to assess changing social situations. When human behavior suddenly became unusual and unpredictable, she made the thoughtful decision to remove herself from the interaction rather than becoming distressed or reacting impulsively. Importantly, as soon as the situation returned to normal, she confidently chose to re-engage. This wasn't avoidance born from fear, nor was it emotional overwhelm. It was good judgment. Popcorn appears to possess an innate ability to evaluate social situations, establish healthy boundaries when something feels uncertain, and then reconnect once she determines everything is safe again. That level of discernment is an exceptionally mature quality for such a young puppy. This thoughtful awareness and responsiveness to changes in human behavior could be developed through training into reliable help-seeking behaviors in the event of a medical emergency.
Popcorn also demonstrated excellent touch tolerance throughout her evaluation, accepting handling with cooperation and confidence. She appears comfortable working with people and has an excellent foundation for continued grooming, veterinary care, and cooperative handling exercises. Combined with her strong problem-solving abilities, she is likely to enjoy learning new skills and participating in activities that challenge both her mind and body.
Life with Popcorn is likely to feel like living with a dog who is constantly paying attention. She is observant without being worried, engaged without being demanding, and affectionate without becoming dependent. She enjoys being part of the family and participating in daily life, but she also possesses the confidence to think independently and make good decisions when faced with something unfamiliar. She is the kind of companion who quietly inspires confidence because she so often seems to make thoughtful choices.
Popcorn is an exceptionally versatile puppy who has the potential to thrive in many different homes. She would likely enjoy performance sports, scent work, advanced training, and a wide variety of active family lifestyles. She also has the stability, intelligence, and social awareness to excel in therapy work, classroom or facility settings, or as a devoted companion. While she forms meaningful relationships with her people, one of her greatest strengths is that she maintains enough confidence and independence to navigate the world thoughtfully rather than simply reacting to it.
Popcorn's greatest gift is her judgment. She possesses the confidence to embrace new experiences, the intelligence to solve problems, and the wisdom to pause, evaluate, and make thoughtful decisions before acting. For a family looking for a dog who is as steady as she is smart, Popcorn offers an exceptional combination of confidence, discernment, and companionship that will serve her well throughout her life.
Picks will be done in order of deposit received/commitment to the litter. As a reminder, the order is as follows.
Emily Hancock
Brian Smith
Kelsey Rodin
Kristen Montgomery
Rebecca DiGirolamo
Kara Nichols
Following puppy selections, I will begin circling back to those who have been “waiting in the wings,” as well as reaching out to additional approved applicants and interested families. Any remaining puppies will then be made available on a first-come, first-served basis.
After receiving this email, I will begin contacting families individually to discuss and confirm selections. For some, this may be as simple as:
“I would like Puppy X, please.”
For others, it may involve a more in-depth phone conversation to discuss temperament, goals, lifestyle, and overall fit.
Please plan to make your final selection and/or have your discussion with me within approximately 36 hours of receiving this information so that we can keep the process moving smoothly for everyone involved.
The master spreadsheet and evaluation document are live and editable on my end. As puppies are selected, I will update the list to reflect their availability status.
I will also be posting updates and puppy selection announcements on the Valaurah Farms Facebook and Instagram pages as families make their choices.
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.
