Funny Farm Poodles & Doodles

Joseph M.

Verified owner · Aug. 2025

I wanted to say a few nice things about Tanya and Funny Farm Poodles and Doodles, and the pup I got from them. How much space do I get? I have friends in Boise who have a Moyen Poodle and know the breed. I trust them enough that I was willing to drive from Denver to fetch the pup they picked for me, especially after viewing the dog's profile seeing his profile and photos. Ordinarily I might have chosen a rescue, but just having lost my lady friend of three decades to COVID and having had surgery for a subdermal hematoma, I wanted to be the one who was rescued this time! And I have really come to appreciate what a good breeder does for the fee. Ian, whom I have renamed Spanky, is not just a healthy, attractive dog. His personality and behavior are remarkable. He hasn't had a single accident, doesn't chew other than the occasional cardboard box I was going to toss anyway, and has the sweetest personality. Just during the half hour drive from Funny Farm to my friends' home, he and I bonded, and he started to whine when I left the apartment. He was a dream during the twelve hour drive to Denver, no sickness, no accidents. He perched right behind the console in my Blazer and rested his chin on it. He has adapted perfectly to his new home. I let him sleep on the bed; sometimes he will hop off and I'll help him back up later (it’s a tall bed). We live in apartment complex with a large number of dogs--before I got him I was afraid I might be violating my lease by not having one--and they enjoy interacting. They love tussling, but I almost never hear a yelp, and Spanky loves playing with them. He is very comfortable and friendly with humans as well. On July Fourth there were a lot of fireworks in the neighborhood, but he didn't react to them until they were right outside the window, and he barked at them to make them go away. He seldom barks unless someone comes close to the front of the apartment, when his protective impulses kick in. Other than one time when he snagged some salami off a charcuterie board on a kitchen counter (who could blame him), he has been very good about people food. I have learned that he will sniff at mine without stealing it, and he never begs. The name "Funny Farm" is no accident; Spanky can be very entertaining and seems to have a sense of humor. He is very trusting, and has even let me hold him while swinging on a playground swing. His profile says he needs some encouragement trying new things, like stairs, elevators, etc. but he is very proud of himself when he learns them. He can be a bit too proud--when he became comfortable with the automated sliding glass door in the complex, he came through it too fast and rammed his nose into it! Now he's back to being a bit cautious... He loves to be brushed, petted, held, and is very comfortable with touch. Perfect pet for a retired massage therapist. And while he's very affectionate, he doesn't overdue it on the licking--not that that would be so bad, since these dogs are not smelly. His bowel and bladder control are remarkable. He never asks to go out, he just does his business when we do go out. He is an amazing walker. His little legs propel him quite purposefully and quickly when we are on a path, with the cutest bouncy puppy gait, and I am gradually getting him to stay back with me. We even have made the four mile circle of the nearby park, although I wouldn't do that on a daily basis. He is amazingly polite. He never follows me into the bathroom, and whenever I walk by him in the kitchen he jumps up to get out of my way. I know trainers say one should restrict oneself to a few simple commands, but I talk to him all the time as if he were a human. He seems to have a highly developed ethical and moral sense. Yeah, I know he's a dog, but if he does something I don't want, like starting to chew something, the gentlest of admonishments, repeated a few times, seems to dissuade him. No need to yell "bad dog!" Stubborn is not in his vocabulary. None of these characteristics came about by accident. Yes, poodles are a remarkably intelligent breed, but Funny Farm is obviously quite choosy in the pairs they choose to breed, and during those first six months of his life, while I was going through hell, Spanky was obviously in a loving, healthy, structured environment. Tanya Papp is clearly an intelligent woman with a heart the size of a cantaloupe, who loves her pups and takes them very seriously. The results she produces are evidence of that. Her pup’s personality is clearly derived from her own. She is very meticulous, with great attention to detail. She sent us home with a bucket of quality food, which I have continued to purchase, and a swag bag with urine pads (never needed them) poop bags, a half a dozen toys that Spanky already loved, a blanky sealed in a plastic bag to preserve the smell of the litter, a really nice fanny pack with treats in it, a quality leash and collar I have continued to use, a metal water dish with a rubber base, all the requisite paperwork, and copious instructions, things I would never have thought of. Nothing was cheap or a throwaway, all good quality stuff. I didn’t need to buy anything before taking him home. She is a very nice person (to people too!) and very pleasant to deal with. She has been quite willing to entertain questions, and likes to get photos and hear about her pups. I would recommend Tanya Papp and Funny Farm Poodles and Doodles unreservedly. I am completely thrilled with the dog I got from them, and he came along at a time when I really needed a little furry friend. He was well worth the fee and the drive. I would also like to put in a good word for Gooddog, who clearly screen both breeders and buyers thoroughly, and provide a means to make a well-informed choice of puppy, with an extensive profile and photos, and a means to make a substantial purchase with a total stranger in complete confidence. My friends were able to make an informed recommendation based on the website, and I fell in love with Spanky based on that information alone. Thank you to everybody involved.

I can't say enough about Tanya's dogs! I've experienced the heartbreak of having a dog suffer with terrible hips, so a responsible breeder who does all the appropriate testing to help ensure I get to enjoy a long healthy life with my dogs is crucial to me. I also look for someone who's dogs have great temperaments that they'll pass onto their puppies. I absolutely fell in love with all of Tanya's dogs, they have great temperaments and personalities, and I was really impressed with how good her intact males were with the puppies, and how all her females get along (which is not always the case with females). I couldn't be happier with my guy! You can really tell the work Tanya puts into the puppies! Harley (now Indy) sits nicely for treats, takes even the most high value treats so gently, and has been rock solid with house training, is calm in his crate, settles nicely even after playing hard, is super calm and just chills for car rides (he goes everywhere with me). Everyone who meets him can't believe what a mellow, well behaved puppy he is! I've told absolutely all of my family, friends and coworkers to look at Funny Farm Poodles & Doodles if they're ready to bring a dog into their lives!