The Puppy Patch

09/09/2026

Life around here isn’t only about puppies. It’s also about the special relationships our kiddo shares with the dogs who are part of our family. Ripley may have the size advantage, but our kiddo brings plenty of determination to playtime! ❤️

08/27/2026

Someone got herself a shiner today. 😂

We noticed some swelling around her eye and suspect she may have had an unfortunate encounter with a bee or another stinging insect while she was outside.

The best part? She is completely unbothered. No squinting, rubbing, or acting uncomfortable. She’s just carrying on with her day while looking like she got into a tiny bar fight.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on her and watching for any changes. With suspected insect stings, facial swelling is definitely something to pay attention to. Rapidly increasing swelling, hives, vomiting, weakness, or difficulty breathing can indicate a more serious reaction that needs veterinary attention.

For now, though, she seems much more concerned about what everyone else is doing than her new look. 😂

08/18/2026

Socialization doesn’t end when your puppy comes home.

One of the most important things to understand about Rat Terriers is that socialization isn’t something you check off a list during puppyhood and then forget about.

We work hard to give our puppies a positive foundation before they leave us. They’re introduced to different people, everyday household experiences, handling, other dogs, and, of course, our daughter is involved in raising every litter.

But that’s only the beginning.

Rat Terriers are intelligent, alert dogs that tend to form very strong bonds with their families. They also have the terrier instincts and prey drive that come with the breed. Continuing positive socialization throughout their lives helps them stay comfortable and confident around different people, animals, environments, sounds, and situations.

And socialization doesn’t have to mean meeting everyone or playing with every dog. Sometimes it’s simply learning to calmly exist around something new, watching the world from a safe distance, going somewhere unfamiliar, or having a positive experience with a new person.

Without continued positive exposure, even a dog who received a great start as a puppy can become less comfortable with things they haven’t experienced in a long time.

We provide the foundation. Their families continue building on it. ❤️

Raising a well-rounded Rat Terrier is a lifelong partnership, and the work you put into them is absolutely worth it.

08/12/2026

Rat Terrier Fun Fact: Personal space is optional. 😂

Rat Terriers are known for forming incredibly strong bonds with their people, and Percy takes that relationship very seriously.

Being in the same room? Not close enough.
Being on the same couch? Still not close enough.
Apparently, the only acceptable option is full contact with her chin resting directly on your shoulder.

One of the things we love about Rat Terriers is just how devoted they can be to their people. They may be energetic, intelligent little dogs with plenty of personality, but many of them are also incredibly affectionate companions who would happily follow their favorite person everywhere.

Percy just happens to take the “everywhere” part very literally. 😂

08/11/2026

08/08/2026

08/07/2026

If you’ve been following us for a while, you’ve probably met Casper and Lucipur, our two feline supervisors.

While they couldn’t be more different in personality, they both play an important role here.

Lucipur is our quiet observer. From the time our little “beans” are born, he’s often nearby, calmly watching over them. In fact, he even checked in on Ginger while she was in early labor, making sure he knew exactly what was going on.

Casper is the social butterfly. As our puppies grow, he helps introduce them to a friendly, confident cat through safe, supervised interactions. Those positive experiences help build confidence and teach our puppies that cats can be part of everyday family life.

These moments may seem small, but they all add up. We believe lifelong socialization starts from day one, and every positive experience helps prepare our puppies for life in their future homes.

Of course, once Casper clocks out, he’s usually curled up on someone’s shoulder reminding us that personal space is optional. 😂

We’re pretty lucky to have these two as part of the team.

07/31/2026

Today we said goodbye to Mr Luigi, now better known as Rigel. ❤️

As the last puppy from two back-to-back litters, this goodbye felt a little different. The hardest part wasn’t saying goodbye at the airport. It was the drive home, realizing it was the first time in a long time that our car didn’t have a puppy riding with us.

Then we thought about the smiles on his new family’s faces when they finally met him. Seeing how excited they were reminded us exactly why we do this. He is already so loved, and we know he has an incredible life ahead of him.

Now it’s time for our girls to enjoy a well-deserved break while we cherish all the memories from these last two litters.

Have the best life, Mr. Luigi. We can’t wait to watch your adventures in New York. ❤️🐾