Conversations with Kelsey Rowe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Rowe.

Hi Kelsey, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
It all began with a baby and a puppy. After having our first daughter, my husband and I decided that we believed all children needed to be raised with a dog and therefore knew it was time to add a puppy into our life. We began searching for a dog that would fit our small family perfectly, and we came across the Irish setter breed. After extensive research, we realized that these elegant dogs were what we wanted! They are sweet, family-oriented, and easy to train. The only downside was that they were shedding dogs. We were so torn because they seem to be the perfect dog in all other aspects. But I didn’t want to have to constantly clean dog hair. We finally decided that the shedding was not enough to be a dealbreaker, and we got our first beautiful Irish setter puppy. Because the breed is Irish, I knew I wanted to name her something related. I had difficulty coming up with a name, so I decided to ask my students! I taught high school English and knew my students would be creative! I made it a competition and had all my students write names down on index cards. After going through all the names, I found three students who had all chosen “Clover” and immediately fell in love with it! Our girl Clover grew into a beautiful young dog and was a perfect addition to our family! She was patient with our daughter and very obedient. After much consideration, we decided we wanted to help other families experience the joy of the Irish Setter. Still, we knew that, like us, families often struggled with allergies and the shedding aspect of most dogs. My mom had bred Pomeranians growing up, so I had some dog breeding experience and decided to try it. We decided to breed Clover with a Standard Poodle to produce Irishdoodles which was something no one had yet done. I immediately fell in love. Breeding Clover was not only a beautiful and joyful experience for us, but it turned out to be an excellent experience for my kids as well! Clover was a wonderful mom, and she had puppies that exceeded our expectations! The Irishdoodles are the perfect combination of gorgeous Irish Setters with their friendly and family-centered personalities and the intelligence and elegance of the Standard Poodle!

Because we fell in love with the breed and the breeding process, we decided to reach out to the Doodle community, and in doing so, we found friends and mentors who helped us become responsible, educated breeders! We now have a thriving business that we love! Our kids have grown up with constant exposure to dogs and are learning the responsibility of owning pets. They help us in the training process and with all aspects of breeding and learn patience and determination. In addition, our puppies are raised in a busy home around children. They are exposed to all varieties of sounds and learn how to cope with changes from a very young age! This helps our puppies grow to be confident, patient, and family-focused dogs! Although breeding has its challenges and is not something I would recommend for everyone, it is something that has rooted its way into our hearts and has become A family organization. We now have four young children who share our passion, and together we learn more daily! Dogs have touched our hearts and changed our lives!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been fairly smooth?
We have faced a variety of obstacles! Breeding is a business that is constantly changing and is full of judgment. While I advocate for adopting dogs in need, I also recognize the risk of adopting dogs without knowing their background. It can be dangerous for young kids who are still learning boundaries and a challenge for families with allergies. I have adopted several pit bulls, and I loved every single one. There is also judgment within the pure-bred breeding community for those who breed crossbreeds like doodles. Many people do not believe that mixing breeds is appropriate and that pure-breds should be kept ”pure.”

In addition to the judgment, breeding can be a heartbreaking business. We Health check all of our dogs to ensure that we are breeding puppies that will be healthy and strong, but when dogs come back with health issues that we do not want to breed in our program, it is always difficult. We know that we have to make the best decisions for our dogs, which is what we try to do every day. We try to find the food that is the healthiest, the safest treats, and we try to train our dogs to be confident and know their boundaries. There are 1,000,001 things to know when breeding dogs, and it can be challenging to ensure you are doing everything “right.” Mistakes are a part of life, and learning is how we grow, but when a mistake is made, it can often be hard to deal with the judgment within the breeding community. Our top priority is the Health of our dogs, so we do everything we can to ensure that we are educated and collaborating with others to ensure a responsible and ethical program. Some of the other challenges with breeding are what you expect. My children have to learn about the cycle of life from a very young age, and there are always risks when dealing with birthing puppies. Breeding is not only an emotional commitment but also financially taxing. Most people do not realize the financial and emotional commitment that breeders put into their programs!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We specialize in breeding Irishdoodles that are both healthy and temperament tested. In doing this, we have also expanded and now breed Bernedoodles and miniature Sheepadoodles! Our puppies are exposed to various sounds and changes throughout their early life to grow to be confident and patient dogs. Our focus is on raising dogs that are kid-friendly and family-focused! We try our best to work with the families and to place puppies in homes that will ensure their safety and health. More than anything, I am proud of the quality of puppies that we produce. I am proud of how we integrate puppies into a family lifestyle and how my kids have learned and grown in the process! We have seen from first-hand experience that dogs can help children by easing anxiety, building confidence, and teaching patience. Dogs offer a source of unconditional love with no strings attached – something all children in the world today need! We have also seen that dogs raised around kids often experience the same thing! It is a two-way street with equal benefits. Children help ease anxiety, build confidence, and teach patience to dogs!

What do you think about happiness?
I find joy in seeing my children grow and learn with the dogs in our home and seeing our puppies thrive within their adoptive families! It always brings me joy to hear positive feedback and reviews from those who have adopted our beautiful puppies!

Pricing:

• The dog market has definitely increased in recent years… Specifically during the Covid pandemic
• Although the price of Doodles may seem high to Sam, the quality of dog and training from a young age plays a huge role in the price
• Like everything else, the pricing often changes depending on the market
• The cost often reflects the time and work that goes into raising puppies
• You get what you pay for

Contact Info:

• Website: Frontrowedoodles.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/frontrowedoodles?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=