Sleeping Bear Kennels
Meet the breeder
I'm Birdie F., the breeder behind Sleeping Bear Kennels located in Kalamazoo, MI. We raise our puppies with intention and care, nurturing confidence, curiosity and social skills. Every decision from selecting parents to early handling and enrichment is guided by ethical breeding. Our goal is to raise puppies ready to become loving, dependable companions in their forever homes.
Q. & A. with Birdie
Why did you start breeding?
I started in the dog world as a trainer and noticed too many dogs were bred for looks, not temperament. I saw the struggles poor breeding caused and knew I wanted to make a difference. Breeding became my way to give puppies the foundation, confidence, and stability they need to thrive in loving homes.What makes your program special?
Our breeding program focuses on temperament first, raising puppies with the foundation to grow into confident, stable companions. Some go on to become service dogs, therapy dogs or emotional support animals. A testament to the care, socialization and intentional breeding behind every puppy.What are the different breed sizes in your program?
Our Poodle puppies are miniature size. Cavapoo puppies are miniature size. Sizes will vary depending on the parent dogs.What are the different breed coat colors in your program?
Our Poodle puppies include apricot, red, and parti. Cavapoo puppies include blenheim, apricot, and red. Colors will vary depending on the parent dogs.Where do your breeding dogs live?
They live in my home and guardian homes.
Matched dogs
These dogs are already reserved or have gone home.
Boy 3
ReservedMale
Girl 2
ReservedFemale
Girl 1
ReservedFemale
Boy 2
ReservedMale
Boy 1
ReservedMale
Girl 1
ReservedFemale
GIrl 2
ReservedFemale
Boy 2
ReservedMale
Boy 1
ReservedMale
Girl 3
ReservedFemale
Boy 3
ReservedMale
Violet
Went homeFemale
Rose
Went homeFemale
April
Went homeFemale
Puddles
Went homeMale
Poppy
Went homeFemale
Daisy
Went homeFemale
River
Went homeMale
S'mores
Went homeMale
Sunny
Went homeFemale
Flame
Went homeMale
Leaf
Went homeFemale
Sabrina
Went homeFemale
Ghost
Went homeMale
Fang
Went homeMale
Wednesday
Went homeFemale
Jack
Went homeMale
Frost
Went homeFemale
Snowflake
Went homeFemale
Icicle
Went homeFemale
Cocoa
Went homeFemale
Flora
Went homeFemale
Lady
Went homeFemale
Minnie
Went homeFemale
Aurora
Went homeFemale
Chip
Went homeMale
Belle
Went homeFemale
Ariel
Went homeFemale
Getting a puppy from Birdie
Birdie has been certified by Good Dog's screening team for responsible and trusted breeding practices. When you're ready to reach out, feel free to ask any questions about the breed, their program, or specific puppies.
Birdie partners with buyers to find the best match as the puppies develop and their personalities take shape. Typically, matches are finalized when the puppies reach about 7 weeks old.
"Our matching process blends formal temperament evaluations, careful observation, and comprehensive family profiles to ensure each puppy is placed in a home that aligns with their natural traits and long term potential.. "
Price
"When you choose a Sleeping Bear Kennels puppy you’re investing in a lifetime of love and companionship. Our price reflects the 24/7 supervision, socialization, and ethical breeding practices. The deposit secures your spot on the waitlist and is nonrefundable. It confirms your commitment and helps us plan and ensure every puppy has a family before being born."
Contract & health guarantee
Birdie may provide a written contract or health guarantee when you purchase a puppy. This helps protect both you and your breeder, ensuring that you both have a clear understanding of the terms of your puppy purchase. If Birdie offers a contract or guarantee, the details will be personalized by them. If you have any questions or want to know more, don't hesitate to reach out to Birdie directly.
What's included
From Good Dog
- Lifetime support from Good Dog’s Care Team
- 10% lifetime discount on Figo pet insurance
- Puppy Training Program & private community
Enrichment & socialization
- Various sounds
- Car rides
- Surface & tactile stimulation
- Socialized with children
- Socialized in new places
- Scent introduction
- Daily handling
- Socialized with other dogs
- Introduced to people of different ages and appearances
- Socialized with other animals
Puppy health practices
- Vet check
- First round of shots and deworming
- Vet records
- Microchip
Extras
- Initial potty training
- Puppy starter kit
- Toys
- Food & treats
- Blanket with mom & littermates’ scent
Location & pick-up
You can drive or fly to pick up your puppy from Birdie.
Breeder's location
Meet in Kalamazoo, MI
4229 miles away
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Other pick-up locations
Meet at Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport
4151 miles away
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Meet in Detroit, MI
4134 miles away
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More about Birdie
Birdie has been a member of Good Dog for over 5 years
Birdie was screened for responsible practices and has been a member since 2020.
Birdie is a trusted Good Dog breeder
Sleeping Bear Kennels meets or exceeds our community standards in these areas:
- Responsible breeding practices
- Health of breeding dogs and puppies
- Puppy environment and enrichment
- Buyer education and policies
Litter and program updates
Birdie F.
Litter update on 21 Mar •Maggie and her six puppies are all healthy and gaining weight right off the bat.
Kal-El and Maggie's litter
Birdie F.
Litter update on 21 Mar •Khaleesi’s litter arrived a few days early! What a surprise - she went from running around playing at 1:30pm, first puppy at 2:50pm, and all 5 puppies before 4:15pm! Usually first stage of labor is 12-24 hours and active labor is 1 puppy every 30-90 minutes.
Soda Pop and Khaleesi's litter
Birdie F.
Litter update on 19 Feb •6 weeks old and so polite!
Theo and Macy's litter
Birdie F.
Litter update on 06 Feb •Puppies are getting ready to start their fifth week! I can't believe it. This Past Week Puppies are mobile and on the go! They are discovering new surfaces everyday, and doing the "backward scoot" still as they learn their feet.They were introduced to "puppy mush" which is canned food mixed with water. They are starting to get teeth, and soon we will introduce warm soaked kibble.
Theo and Macy's litter
Birdie F.
Litter update on 20 Jan •Macy welcomed 4 puppies on January 03rd. We couldn’t be more pleased!
Theo and Macy's litter
Birdie F.
Litter update on 25 Jan 2025 •Family visits were this weekend and Comet (our dark red boy), Calypso (our green eyed guy), Apollo (our sweetheart), and Astro (our tiny baby!) are all still looking for their families!
Milo and Macy's litter
Birdie F.
Litter update on 17 Jan 2025 •Almost 5 weeks old! Time flies when you are this cute and snuggly!
Milo and Macy's litter
Parent dogs
All breeds
Poodle
Cavapoo
Maggie, mom
Poodle
About Maggie
Maggie the Miniature Poodle is our little “Mountain Goat” with a heart full of adventure! Her fearless spirit led to a broken leg at just six months old, but after a long recovery, she’s become the baby of our family—and we couldn’t adore her more. Maggie has the sweetest, cuddliest personality and shares a special bond with our daughters, even snuggling up to sleep with them at night. Her best buddy is our 75-pound Labrador, Mabel, proving that her playful and loving nature knows no bounds.
Excellent health testing
Patellar Luxation, Full Embark Panel, +5 more.
Khaleesi, mom
Cavapoo
About Khaleesi
Khaleesi is the daughter of our foundation dog, Scarlet and Sir Tobias. She represents the heart of our breeding program and carries forward the exceptional temperament we are known for. We are so excited for her to continue building the next generation of wonderful companions in our program.
Good health testing
Cardiac Evaluation (registered with OFA), Eye Certification (CAER, registered with OFA).
Macy, mom
Poodle
About Macy
Macy is a female Poodle. Carefully selected as a great representative of her breed, Birdie decided to make her part of their program. Birdie has passed Good Dog’s screening process, which involved a review of their breeding practices, environment, and the mental and physical health of their dogs.
Good health testing
Full Embark Panel, OFA Auscultation and Echocardiogram, +2 more.
Scarlet, mom
Cavapoo
About Scarlet
Scarlet is a female Cavapoo over 6 years old. Carefully selected as a great representative of her breed, Birdie decided to make her part of their program. Birdie has passed Good Dog’s screening process, which involved a review of their breeding practices, environment, and the mental and physical health of their dogs.
Excellent health testing
Patellar Luxation, Full Embark Panel, +3 more.
Parent health testing
Cavapoo
Miniature Poodle
Excellent level
Sleeping Bear Kennels reports to performing the health tests below on their breeding dogs. Ask your breeder about the tests performed on the parents of your litter. Learn more about health testing for Cavapoos.
Hip Dysplasia (Preliminary)
Hip testing reduces the chance of passing down hip dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause hip pain and the eventual loss of the function of the hip joint.
Eye Certification (CAER, registered with OFA)
Eye testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide range of hereditary eye illnesses including retinal dysplasia, lens luxation, and glaucoma, which can cause impared vision or blindness.
Cardiac Evaluation (registered with OFA)
Heart testing reduces the chance of passing down congenital heart disease, which can cause a range of symptoms ranging from trouble exercising to heart failure.
Patellar Luxation
Knee testing reduces the chance of passing down Patellar Luxation, which results in the kneecap becoming displaced or dislocated and can cause mild to severe joint pain.
PRA, Rod-Cone Degeneration (PRA-prcd), Animal Genetics Panel
Genetic testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide variety of hereditary diseases of differing prevalence and severity such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (an eye disease) and Von Willebrand's Disease (a blood disease).
Verified owner stories
Hear what other owners say about working with Birdie to bring home their puppies.
Kelly E.
Verified owner · Feb. 2026
Birdie was so responsive and kept us in the loop about the puppies. She takes great care of them and helps prepare you to bring your new puppy home. (Lots of tips, advice, items that are helpful). She provides family visits where you get to play with ALL the puppies which was so fun. Her matching technique was something that we were unfamiliar with, but it proved to be perfect. We matched with Riddle from the July 2025 litter. We have named him Bear. He has been the best family dog. So sweet, quick to learn and wants to please. Even after you bring your puppy home, Birdie is there to support with any questions and is proactive in checking in and giving any litter updates. All his vet visits post pickup and through now (7 months) have gone well and he is a healthy, happy, friendly dog. We definitely recommend Sleeping Bear Kennels. If we decide to get Bear a sibling one day we will go back to Sleeping Bear Kennels to add to the family.
SCSamantha C.
Verified owner · Feb. 2026
It took me months to research a breeder that I felt was ethical and treated the mom dogs and puppies to a high standard. Once I found SBK I knew they were the one. She is incredibly knowledgeable and is the reason why our baby is so healthy, well rounded and has advanced temperament for his age. He’s 7 months old on the 25th. Socialization for the puppies were so important to her and it showed almost immediately once we got home. He isn’t afraid of anything. She helped me through puppyhood I couldn’t have done it without her guidance. I was a first time dog mom. She went above and beyond to make us feel supported. Louis is incredibly smart and adaptable. Thanks to birdies early socialization and our continued socialization with her check list provided. Louis is now breezing through adolescence like a gentleman. He is a very relaxed, in-tune emotionally intelligent dog. When SBK says they breed for health and temperament she means it. He will eventually be a service dog. Our trainers are in awe with at 7 months he is so emotionally advanced. He’s non reactive, he rarely ever barks. No resource guarding issues. He has a kind heart. He is incredibly well rounded, travels everywhere with us with ease. He loves children people and other dogs. His babysitters say he is charismatic and charming. I would literally never get a puppy from anywhere else. Birdie has been so kind to us throughout the process. There is literally not another breeder out there that could be a better fit for someone who truly cares about the mom dogs and puppies and health of the dogs. I appreciate how seriously she takes the process with making sure each dog has a home and that she’s placing each family with the right fit dog. Louis is my soulmate and the center of our family. Thanks to birdie matching us with him. Trust the process you will be so happy.
