In our final episode of the series, we hear from Dana Filatova of Kismet Labradoodles in Ashville, NC, as she recounts the essential, sometimes challenging, lessons learned from her very first litter. Dana's debut litter was unexpectedly large—a "bonus-sized" group of eleven puppies! She takes us behind the scenes, sharing the unexpected obstacles and triumphs that came with managing such a big group. Most importantly, Dana reveals how the experience of raising those first eleven puppies forced her to redefine her ideal puppy buyer, shifting her focus and strategy to ensure the perfect fit for every single puppy. This interview is a powerful reminder that sometimes the biggest lessons come not from research, but from the actual process of breeding.

Today we welcome Andrea Gardner of Desert Sky Poodles in Utah, who brings a truly unique perspective to the world of dog breeding, shaped by her background in agricultural education. Andrea explains how the principles of genetic selection and program management she learned in Ag Ed apply directly to her Poodle program, leading to a thoughtful, data-driven approach. She views her role as not just a breeder, but as a teacher, emphasizing the crucial importance of thoroughly educating buyers so that every Desert Sky puppy can achieve its full potential. Join us to learn how embracing an educational philosophy can revolutionize your breeding selection, buyer relationships, and overall view of your program.

We sit down with Megan Smith of Acadia Goldendoodles in Maine, who proves that responsible breeding can—and should—be a joy. After 17 years in the game, Megan has cracked the code on sustainability and enjoyment. She takes us on a tour of her spectacular facility, which we've affectionately dubbed a "summer camp for dogs," designed for maximum enrichment, wellbeing, and ease in managing around 20 breeding dogs at a time. Megan also explains her decision to focus exclusively on F1 and F1b generations of Goldendoodles, detailing the specific reasons and goals behind that choice. Through it all, she emphasizes the critical role of continuous education and improvement in maintaining an ethical program over nearly two decades. Whether you're a new breeder or a veteran, you'll gain creative insights into how Megan maintains her passion and makes breeding a rewarding, long-term career.

Leilani Nichols of Northwest Cairn Terriers in Oregon joins us to share her unique approach to breeding and placement. In a world where every puppy looks cute, Leilani uses her marketing to target buyers who are truly ready for the specific challenges of a clever, feisty Cairn Terrier, ensuring a perfect long-term match. She also offers fascinating, hard-won insights into the difference between dogs bred solely for show ring success versus those bred specifically for temperament and personality. Leilani's commitment to matching the right personality to the right home proves that honesty and strategic communication are the keys to building a sustainable and ethical breeding program.

Meet Sarah Whitman of Bonnie Brae Collies, who just sold her first litter of puppies. Sarah's experience working in accredited zoos with rhinos and elephants fundamentally shaped her approach to breeding. She shares how her deep dive into population genetics led her to Collies and a registry with an open book that allows for intentional diversity planning, moving beyond closed gene pools. This episode is a must-listen for anyone feeling constrained by legal restrictions on dog breeding, as Sarah is creatively working with state and local laws to shape and structure her program. She discusses the practical constraints and opportunities presented by her Colorado location, discussing how she's building a responsible, sustainable program that is still completely compliant with local laws.

In this 12 Days of Breeders interview, we welcome Andrea Jones of Maple Hill Doodles in Ohio. A 25-year veteran breeder of Goldendoodles, Cavapoos, and Cavadoodles, Andrea has built her program on advanced, and sometimes unconventional, health protocols. Andrea shares her techniques for holistic management, detailing the logistics of maintaining a non-vaccination protocol for her entire program, underpinned by a raw, species-appropriate diet. Critically, Andrea reveals how she's raised the bar for buyers to solidify her own credibility, demanding a higher standard of commitment from her clientele. This episode is essential listening for any breeder looking to bring more holistic rearing into their program, covering not only her dog management techniques, but also her non-negotiable business rules: maintaining a mandatory financial escrow for emergencies, ensuring all contracts are attorney-reviewed and ironclad, and utilizing rigorous structural health clearances (OFA Hips/Elbows) that go beyond standard genetic testing.

In this 12 Days of Breeders interview, we welcome Bill Wyatt of DubDub Danes in Bentonville, Arkansas. After a career in high-level sales, Bill applies his deep customer service acumen to breeding, expertly guiding buyers so they feel supported, not sold to. Bill shares his lifelong love for Great Danes and gives an honest look at the immense logistics of managing a breeding business for giant dogs, covering everything from the astronomical feed (and poop) to a size-appropriate socialization protocol. You'll learn how he uses professional business standards to structure the entire customer journey and why his experience with Great Danes has made him passionate about temperament in breeding selection. This episode is a great listen for any breeder navigating a niche market or looking to transform their customer relationships.

Today, we dive into the highly specialized world of German Shepherd service dogs with Cynthia Kelly of Regis Regal German Shepherds. Cynthia shares the unique, rigorous process she has developed for raising, training, and placing her dogs, many of whom work with children with autism. She takes intentional breeding and socialization to the next level, enabling her to provide service dogs who have amazing ways of helping people, from providing a sense of safety and security, to preventing elopement of children, to providing life-saving intervention for people with epilepsy and diabetes. Learn about her foundational standards for long-term genetic clearance (focusing on at least eight to ten generations of clear bloodlines) and her unique philosophy on what it takes to create and train a successful service dog. Cynthia proves that with the right lineage and the highest level of foundational work, the potential for these magnificent dogs to serve humans is truly limitless.

For Day 4 of 12 Days of Breeders, we welcome Kari Roach of Choice Paws in Utah. Kari's journey is highly strategic: a former pre-med student, after starting out as a guardian home, she ended up buying an established breeding business program. This rare and successful move allowed her to immediately apply her health science discipline, bringing a rigorous, systems-based approach to her Cavapoo program. You'll learn how Kari made the journey from guardian home to purchasing a breeding business, how she meticulously documents health testing and structure, implements a deep, structured curriculum including ENS and scent work to optimize puppy confidence, and details of her social media strategy to showcase integrity, justify premium pricing, and attract educated buyers. You'll also hear the heart she brings to her dogs, buyers, and guardian families. If you are ready to stop treating breeding as a hobby and start running a high-caliber program driven by both meticulous standards and genuine passion, this episode is mandatory listening.

For Day 3 of 12 Days of Breeders, we dive into the world of Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs) with Natalie Thurman of Apex Anatolians in Frenchtown, Montana. Natalie's dogs aren't just pets—they are 24/7 protectors tasked with guarding livestock from predators like bears and mountain lions. She is also currently the President of the Anatolian Shepherd Dog Club of America (ASDCA).

In this powerful episode, Natalie shares the essential difference between breeding for a companion pet and maintaining the innate, independent working temperament required for a true LGD. She provides an expert's look inside the national breed club, discussing the challenges of preserving the breed's functional standard against the pressures of dog show conformation.

This interview offers a unique insight into tough ethical questions breeders encounter when they go viral. You will learn the importance of finding a breeder-mentor who emphasizes the whole dog (temperament, health, and working ability) and why blunt, complete honesty with every potential buyer is the only way to ensure successful placement in such a demanding working breed. If you are committed to upholding the function and integrity of a heritage breed, this episode is mandatory listening.