Busting the Myth - Love at First sight

A common question I get and has surfaced again recently from excited new families waiting on these upcoming pups - how does the matching process work? Do we get to let the pup fall in love with us.. do we get to choose? Will you help and guide us? Is love at first sight a real concept or simply a myth?

Let me dive in to some thoughts on this for you all and explain why puppy matching is so important.

Choosing the Right Puppy for Your Family: It’s More Than Just Love at First Sight

There’s a moment almost every family experiences when meeting a litter for the first time. Eyes light up no matter what the age,  hands reach out and hearts expand.

A puppy wiggles over, tail wagging, eyes bright and eager to crawl into your lap. Let me tell you this, they ALL will crawl right into your lap, they are Goldens and adore all people.  Children gasp. Hearts melt. Someone announces, “OH MY HEART! That's it, this is the one,  I've fallen in love! this one chose us!”

And sometimes—yes—that moment aligns beautifully with the right match.. but because I have not pre-selected the pups that I do not feel are good matches for a particular family.

That instant connection is only part of the story.

Choosing the right puppy for your family is about more than love at first sight.

It’s about understanding temperament, energy, sensitivity, and how a pup will grow into your home—not just today, but years from now. How they will do with children,  other dogs,  living situations and lifestyle patterns. 

You don’t have to figure that out alone. It is my job,  privilege and great honor to lead you and guide you along this path in not only finding the pup that makes your heart skip a beat but to find you the right pup that fits your family and lifestyle dynamic the best.

The Myth of 'The Puppy Who Chooses You'

I raise all my pups to be confident and sure of themselves as they leave my care but there are different levels of what is nature vs. What I've nurtured. Personality vs. What I've taught.

Confident, outgoing puppies on a higher level are often the first to approach new people. They’re curious, bold, and eager to engage. These traits can look like affection—but they’re actually personality markers.

That doesn’t make them 'better' puppies.

It really means they may grow into dogs who may need:

More structure

Clear boundaries

Consistent guidance

An experienced hand

For some families, that’s a wonderful fit. For others—especially homes with young children, first-time dog owners, or calmer energy—this may not be the perfect fit.

On the flip side, the puppy who hangs back quietly is often overlooked. Yet these thoughtful observers frequently grow into deeply attuned, steady companions—especially well-suited for families seeking calm, emotional connection, and balance.

With these pups it is my job to assess whether these pups are going to be calm quiet companions by nature or are going to need a bit more guidance to pull them out of their shells. 

The pups that are well balanced and are playing in a pen, happy go lucky,  not choosing you or not running away often make the perfect companions. It's these pups that I gravitate towards the most. When I mention these pups to families, they reply with "oh I don't think I remember playing with that pup"

None of these pups are right or wrong or better or worse. They are goldens, they are all going to be phenomenal.

But, the difference lies in match. Long term success for all parties involved means close attention needs to take place in the pups I choose for you to have the option to fall in love with. 

Temperament is the foundation of a good match.

Temperament isn’t about labeling pups as “easy” or “difficult.” It’s about understanding how each one naturally responds to the world and if it's in their nature or I can nurture it to shine brighter.

Early temperament—how a puppy responds to stress, environmental dynamics, and connection with people—is a stronger predictor of adult behavior than size, color, or who crawls into a lap first.

Some puppies:

Are more sensitive to noise, commotion and energy.

Thrive in predictable routines

Bond deeply with their people

A calm, balanced puppy often grows into

A dog who settles easily in the home

A steady presence around children

A companion who reads emotional cues well

Others:

Are adventurous and bold

Recover quickly from stimulation

Need a bit more physical and mental outlets

A more active puppy may grow into-

A wonderful working partner

An energetic adventure buddy

A dog who thrives on structure and purpose

When temperament aligns with a family’s lifestyle, magic happens—not because the puppy is perfect, but because the environment supports who they already are.

This matters even more in family homes, where there are other dogs, children’s emotions, schedules, and energy levels fluctuate daily. The right puppy helps regulate that environment rather than add strain to it.

Matching Puppies to families, not ideals, comes with its own rhythm.

Busy mornings and quiet evenings

School schedules and sports practices

Work-from-home days or longer hours away

Every puppy has their own unique nervous system, sensitivity, and way of engaging with the world.

That’s why matching puppies based solely on appearance, order of selection or ‘love at first sight’ often misses the bigger picture.

Don’t worry, you don’t need to become puppy experts overnight. I know my pups on an individual level, not just by name or looks but by nature. In ways that only time, care, and presence allow.

I understand their developmental needs, and can see patterns that aren’t obvious in a single visit.

Puppies Grow—Energy and Needs Change

The pups you play with and hold on selection day will grow into your forever companion whom will your home for the next decade or more.

So.. we work together to find synchronicity. To have hearts beat a bit faster, have souls connect and have your family unit bring in the right pup, not just the 1^st pup that crawls into your lap. This pup may not have been the one they initially imagined from a photo on day 7 or the pup in the cute photo up on the slide on day 35—but quickly becomes the one they can’t imagine life without. Endless hours of observing, testing, evaluating, and considering everything that has been exchanged, on selection day you will indeed have the right pups in the pen to play with. Pups romp and play, you ponder, your heart leads, my guidance assists and a forever match is made.

Love paired with understanding, temperament awareness, and thoughtful matching is what creates lifelong harmony.

When the right match is made, families don’t just gain a puppy. They gain confidence. They gain ease. They gain a companion who belongs—not just in their home, but in their rhythm, their energy, and their everyday life.

And that’s always my goal.

Let me jump over to updating you on new news here.

Both Isla and Leia have now been confirmed on both of their pregnancies. Ultrasound shows lots of fuzzy little beans starting to develop. Still incredibly early to determine how many but we won’t know exact count anyway until they arrive earth side. Mamas are doing fabulous, happy, healthy and loving life. Isla has that side fur flip started that is the very first thing that is noticeable in a growing tummy. Most of their growth happens in the final 2-3 wks. So, by next week I may have a belly bump photo to share at least on Isla. Leia is 10 days behind Isla so that belly bump announcement will be the week after next.

Isla/Tonka HAY pups are due Feb. 27^th -  Timothy, Orchard, Alfalfa, Clover, Rye, Barley, Bermuda, Fescue, Prairie & Meadow

Leia/Tonka BERRY pups are due March 9th – Strawberry, Blueberry, Saskatoon, Goji, Gooseberry, Salmonberry, Raspberry, Blackberry & Huckleberry

We all are enjoying the warmer weather recently but as I write this the rain comes down once again in sheets and limits our outdoor playtime which of course the dogs all despise and mope over. We bask in the windows of the dry weather, endless snuggles, hours of ball time, zoomies had by Tonka showing off his stride, and the girls posing in their full beautiful glory for all. SO looking forward to Spring! Drier weather for drier puppies, longer days, new life and new matches to be made ahead.