CURRENT PUPDATES

From our home to yours

Our puppies are raised with structure, affection, and consistency. We work closely with each family to help ensure the right fit — not just for now, but for years to come.

We’re here to answer questions, offer guidance, and remain a resource long after puppies go home.

Time for a little behind-the-scenes honesty from the Pickerel Pups crew — because if there’s one thing we’ve learned this past year, it’s that Fiona has firm opinions.

📣 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.

After two very clear rejections (politely delivered, of course), 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 takes — and oh, we are rooting for it — we expect smaller Standard Poodles around 45–50 lbs, solid-colored coats, and the exceptional temperaments both parents are known for.

🌟 Cosette + Pecco: The Calm Couple

On a much calmer note, elegant Cosette has completed her PennHIP evaluations with beautiful results, and she’ll be paired with our sweet, steady Pecco this spring.

Zero drama between those two… thankfully.

We expect larger, mellow-natured Standard Poodles with striking phantom and parti coloring and wonderful family temperaments.

🐾 Doodle Program Update

We had originally planned a future doodle litter with Betty (Olive × Claude), but after careful review of her OFA results, we made the responsible decision not to move forward with breeding her. While we adore Betty, health and long-term wellbeing always come first.

Looking ahead, we are thoughtfully evaluating Rooney and Jane as potential future parents. Both currently have clear Embark genetic testing and will complete PennHIP evaluations later this year, while we continue focusing on their training, manners, and maturity.

Because we wait until our dogs are at least two years old before breeding, and Rooney and Jane turn one this summer (May 2 and June 5), doodle puppies would not be expected until late summer 2027 at the earliest.

As always, health, temperament, and responsible timing guide every decision we make at Pickerel Pups.

💛 Thank You

We know some of you have been waiting a long time for a Claude × Fiona puppy, and your patience means more than you know. Breeding isn’t always straightforward — sometimes it’s charts and testing and timing… and sometimes it’s simply a diva dog who says, very confidently:

“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