Breeder
Yes, adopting is ideal. I've adopted, too…read more Sometimes, however, getting a dog from a breeder is the best option, like for those of us with hardcore allergies, or for other reasons may want a non-shedding dog. In those cases, finding a good breeder who not a puppy mill is essential.
I did much research prior to deciding what breeder to select. I read about warning signs and looked at reviews, history with state regulators, and the breeders' own transparency. One breeder refused to let anyone on their property; puppy pickups happened at local truck stops.
Jason at Kingdom Dogs answered all my questions. When I finally decided to visit them, I still wasn't sure about getting a puppy. They happened to have a few unclaimed yet, and we fell in love with a floofy little cockapoo. He is now more than a year old, and a whopping 35 pounds (he was supposed to max out at 30), but has the sweetest disposition and is smart, too. Oliver brings us joy every day.
I give Kingdom Dogs 4 stars instead of 5 because, at the time we got Oliver, they were still docking cockapoo tails in the tradition of Cocker Spaniels. While his little nub is cute, I'd prefer tails be left natural. I think they stopped that practice in 2020, but I'm not sure. They also have slowed down the breeding so they have a waiting list now, ensuring that there are rarely puppies available who have to wait to be sold. This is better for everyone.
Kingdom Dogs is located on farmland in Carthage, Missouri. It's a family business. A few months ago, I met another cockapoo owner at the groomers. He had a dog with him from Kingdom Dogs, too. He said that was his second, and he was thinking about getting a third, because of their sweet disposition. If I got a third dog, I would have to get on Yelp for referrals for divorce attorneys, realtors, and moving companies!
