Puppies, Snowbanks, and a Happy Accident: How I Met a Remarkable Breeder

The first time I heard of a “Sprocker” was at the Braestone Farm Christmas Market just last year. I had decided—very last minute—that I needed a little holiday season retail therapy, so I called up my friend Marcie. She. Was. In!

Now, I should say up front that I gave Marcie zero instructions about this outing. I didn’t mention the two parking lots. I didn’t mention the snow. I definitely didn’t mention that most of the market was outside. In very. Very. Cold. Deep. Snow.

So, she showed up in a lovely pair of stylish boots—perfect for indoor holiday shopping, not for tromping through snowbanks. But, being the trooper she is, she trudged through it—one frozen toe at a time.

We finally made our way into one of the indoor vendor buildings, where we stumbled upon a scene far better than any festive candle: puppies. A whole litter. Being socialized right there in the middle of the market by Michele Duivenvoorden, who was also selling her amazing tea blends. Multi-tasking level: expert.

I’m not sure how we left without one. Possibly the fact that we both already had three dogs played a small role. But not before I took an embarrassing number of photos of Marcie cuddling puppies. She also started talking me up to Michele, the breeder behind Sprockers Canada, because that’s what good friends do.

Michele and I chatted, exchanged info, and—like many lovely market encounters—didn’t follow up. But as it turns out, that was just part one of the story.

It’s taken me a while to write this—I’ve had this story sitting half-finished in my brain since December. But as it turns out, the ending hadn’t happened yet. Sometimes you don’t realize the full meaning of something until the dots connect later on.

Fast forward a few months, and I meet this incredible little pup named Lexy in one of my group classes. Smart, focused, adorable, great temperament—I was impressed from week one. Turns out? She’s a Sprockers Canada pup. One of those puppies.

As I'm writing, my husband is glancing over at my screen, silently asking, “Is she re-writing the Bible?” Possibly. But stay with me.

Why This Matters

My mission at Kinder K9 is simple: use my skills and experience to prevent situations that lead to the unnecessary re-homing of dogs. That includes training support, yes—but it also means championing ethical breeders who are doing it right from the start.

While I’ll always support rescue and adoption, I also stand behind breeders who raise dogs with care, knowledge, and accountability. A “sound” dog, in my opinion, isn’t just physically healthy—it’s emotionally resilient. Most families I work with aren’t running marathons with their dogs. They want a companion who’s happy with two decent walks, some playtime, and a whole lot of couch cuddles.

Michele gets that. She’s one of the good ones. She knows her dogs, she loves them deeply, and she’s raising puppies who are ready to be great family companions—not just pretty faces. Do they still need help to become confident and well-adjusted? Heck ya.

A confident, balanced dog doesn’t happen by accident. When you start with the right building blocks, everything else is just easier.

If you want to learn more about Michele, her puppies and her Gypsy horses you can find her at www.sprockersandspaniels.com and www.kickinbackfields.com.

Stay tuned for an upcoming story about a phenomenal Rescue experience by one of my clients and Red Flags for Rescues.....they aren't all doing the "right" thing.

Red Flags to Watch Out For with Breeders:

• ❌ Reluctance to let you visit in person or meet the parents

• ❌ No health testing or vague responses about vet care

• ❌ Breeder insists on meeting in a parking lot or won't share their location

• ❌ Puppies raised in isolation, without family contact

• ❌ No questions asked about your lifestyle or experience

• ❌ Pressure to buy immediately or discouraging other options

• ❌ No contract, or one that includes excessive breeding rights or hidden fees