Today we’d like to introduce you to Colleen White.
Hi Colleen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Back in 2018 our youngest of 4 kids graduated from high school, and like so many stay at home moms, I felt lost. I’m a caregiver by nature, and I had no one left to take care of! I had my “heart dog” Fluffernutter, who was 14, but when my husband brought home a tiny, sickly puppy that someone left on one of his job sights, I was back in business! I nursed Jaxon back to health, and we rescued Bailey to be his playmate. My husband would joke that I traded in our kids for dogs, and he wasn’t exactly wrong! Sadly, we lost both Fluffernutter and Jaxon the following year, both to illness, and added a new puppy, Gracie, to our family. It was then that I realized what I was meant to do with my life; bring the joy and purpose of well bred, healthy dogs to others. I knew what I wanted my program to be, and started educating myself on all things breeding and poodle related! I searched for breeders that shared my vision, but they were so hard to come by!! I finally found one in Nevada and was so impressed that I emailed her to tell her so! It just so happened that she was starting a breeder education and mentorship group, and asked me to be part of it! Here I am, 6 years later, helping her educate other breeders and mentoring them as well, while sharing God’s grace through the heart of a dog!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Even as an ethical and responsible breeder, there will always be struggles! Breeding the right way is EXPENSIVE! Once you find a breeding potential dog (mine are my pets or live as others’ pets,) there’s the cost of genetic and OFA testing. If they don’t pass, they don’t get bred, but are spayed/neutered and live out life as a pet. If their temperament isn’t good for breeding, they get released to live as a pet. If they are in a guardian home, they are fully released to their guardian at no cost, with no financial obligations to me. There’s also the cost of raising the litter. I raise mine on a curriculum, so besides the normal whelping items, I also have all of my curriculum items I’ve purchased. Then there’s food, immunizations, vet care… Of course there’s always the possibility of emergency care as well! I could go on and on!
There’s also the struggle of the “adopt don’t shop” mentality in society. I have a rescue. I am not anti rescue at all, but the fact is, well bred, healthy dogs are still wanted and needed, and that’s ok! It’s ok to adopt if that’s what you want, and it’s ok to purchase a puppy from an ethical, responsible breeder!
One of the biggest struggles I face is missing out on things that I’d like to do when I have puppies to take care of!
As you know, we’re big fans of A Place of Grace Puppies. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I wish more breeders would see the benefit of raising their puppies on a curriculum, empowering them instead of coddling them, and evaluating them at 8 weeks, before they get chosen by their new families. This is the biggest thing that sets my program apart from others! I raise my pups on the Badass Breeder Curriculum, and use that evaluation method as well. I’ve added my own touches along the way and have had amazing feedback from my clients.
There are so many things I love about being a breeder. Getting to know my clients and help match them with the perfect puppy for their family is a gift! I’ve seen the difference a dog can make in a person’s life. I’ve been blessed to be able to donate puppies for service work, and to organizations and families who need them as well.
My puppies all go home with a Florida State Dept of Agriculture health certificate from my vet, their first set of immunizations, their AKC registration paperwork, an implanted microchip, puppy records, a month of free health insurance, food, a blanket that smells like mom and littermates, toys, the Raising the Empowered Puppy book, a 2 year health guarantee and a lifetime of support from me. They get exposure to crate and potty training as well. Most importantly I have in my contract that if, for any reason, at any time, the puppy needs to be rehomed, I will take them back! I don’t care if they’re 6 months or 6 years! I always make sure my clients know that if they get one of my puppies, they’re stuck with me too!! I love pictures and updates!
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Oh I have so many… I’d have to say one of the very best is on Christmas Eve when I was about 10-11. I grew up in upstate New York, so we usually had snow on Christmas, but that particular Christmas Eve there was none! We had gone to midnight mass, which lasted about a good hour and a half, and when we came out it was snowing so hard, you could barely see your hand in front of you! By the time we (dad, mom and 2 older brothers,) got home, there were several inches of snow on the ground! We got out of the car and suddenly my mom threw herself down onto the lawn, church dress, high heels and all, and proceeded to make a snow angel!! Mom’s a pretty “proper” lady, so you can imagine the laughter that ensued! Then snowballs flew and my poor dad slipped on the porch, falling on his butt. That was the cherry on top!! We all laughed til our stomachs hurt! I have the most fun, wonderful family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aplaceofgracepuppies.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofgracepuppies?igsh=ZDdobnB3MG53ampo&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BoBsQVS8D/?mibextid=wwXIfr
