📣 Pickerel Pups Update: Fiona Says “Absolutely Not.”

 

​

🐩 Fiona + Claude: A Love Story… That Isn’t.

Many of you have been eagerly waiting for a puppy from our beautiful pair, Claude and Fiona. Claude, of course, is convinced he is the most eligible bachelor in Minnesota. Tail up. Chest out. Ready for romance.

Fiona, however?

Absolutely not.
Not interested.
Not impressed.
Not today, not last heat, not the heat before that.

She has rejected Claude twice now — politely, but unmistakably — and frankly, Claude’s confidence has never fully recovered.

So! In the spirit of teamwork and modern solutions, we’ll be moving forward with Artificial Insemination at Fiona’s next heat. She is healthy, he is ready, and we’re optimistic that science will succeed where romance has failed.

When this pairing finally takes (and ohhhh we are rooting for it), we expect smaller Standard Poodles around 50 lbs with gorgeous solid coats and the exceptional temperaments both parents are known for.

​

🌟 Cosette + Pecco: The Calm Couple

On a much calmer note, our elegant Cosette will complete her PennHIP evaluations this winter, and she’ll be paired with sweet, steady Pecco this coming spring.

Zero drama between those two — thank goodness. 

***UPDATE- Coco's hips look fantastic!  Bring on the their BIG date! 

​

🐾 Goldendoodle Fans: Betty Has Entered the Chat

For those inquiring about Goldendoodles:
Our lovely Betty (daughter of Olive and Claude) has been living her best life in a guardian home and is now back with us for her OFA testing. Once her results come in, we’ll have more updates to share.

​

💛 Thank You

We know some of you have been waiting a long time for a Claude x Fiona puppy, and we appreciate your patience more than you know. Breeding isn’t always straightforward — sometimes it’s charts and testing and timing… and sometimes it’s just a diva dog who says, confidently and without hesitation, “No thank you.”

Stay tuned. The moment Fiona gives us the green light (or science steps in), you’ll be the first to know.

​

Warmly,
Kate & Craig 🐾
Pickerel Pups

​

​

​​​​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The inside scoop on Fiona and Claude

Fiona is our smaller, sassy solid "Blue" standard, which looks more like a gun metal gray. She's fiercely loyal to Kate and is extremely human-focused, always wanting to be where her people are. Her smaller stature brings an elegant refinement to her puppies.

Claude is our sweet and affectionate apricot boy. He is our leader of the pack, always with a careful watch over his ladies, a wonderful guard dog. Together we will not only expect perfectly uniformed ideal AKC stature, but also a loyal and loving natured dog.

Claude has proven himself as an exceptional stud three times over, and we can't wait to see the beautiful puppies he and Fiona will produce together!

Why we're so excited about this pairing:

• Claude's ideal square build (perfect AKC standard) complements Fiona perfectly

• Their size difference is just right (Claude: 53 lbs, Fiona: 43 lbs)

• Together they'll produce gorgeous smaller standard poodles in an array of colors from light to deep apricots, silver, grey, blue, and black with solid coats

• Claude's puppies have consistently inherited his sweet temperament (he still thinks he's a lap dog despite his size!)

• Claude's higher prey drive combined with Fiona's people-oriented personality means these pups could excel as both retrievers AND loving family companions

Why We Love Standard Poodles

Many folks know Poodles as the elegant, curly-coated dogs in dog shows, but there's so much more to this incredible breed! Standard Poodles are actually highly versatile, intelligent working dogs with a fascinating history as water retrievers. Their famous haircut (the "continental clip") was originally designed to protect vital organs while allowing them to move freely in water.

What makes Standard Poodles special:

• Hypoallergenic coat that sheds minimally

• Exceptionally intelligent (ranked as one of the smartest dog breeds!)

• Athletic and energetic, yet dignified and calm indoors

• Wonderful family companions who bond deeply with their people

Feel free to reach out with any questions about our upcoming Standard Poodle litter. We'll keep you posted as we await pregnancy confirmation!

Our waitlist is filling fast for this special litter, and we may hold back one pup for our breeding program. If you're interested in getting on our list for one of these exceptional Standard Poodle puppies, please contact us soon!

​

Warmly,

—Kate & Craig
Pickerel Pups

​

​