The Good Breeder Spotlight Column: Crystal
For Good Breeder Crystal Klaus, raising pups is a team effort for her entire family to enjoy together!
Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.
Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.
The Good Breeder Spotlight Column is a place to share the stories that matter most...YOURS!
Each month, we’ll be spotlighting a new member of our Good Breeder community. We created this column to amplify your voices, recognize the incredible work and sacrifices you make for the dogs we love, and provide you with a safe space to share your unique breeding stories.
We’re so excited to introduce you to this month’s Good Breeder columnist, Crystal Klaus of Klaus Poodles
Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.
Crystal Klaus, Good Breeder of Cavapoos and Poodles
Join our Good Breeder community
Are you a responsible breeder? We'd love to recognize you. Connect directly with informed buyers, get access to free benefits, and more.
Little did I know when I met my husband that we both shared an affinity for Poodles. I grew up with Standard Poodles, and my husband adored his Cockapoo so much that he included him in his high school senior portrait! We were a match made in Poodle heaven!
My husband and oldest son suffer from allergies, so getting a Poodle or Poodle crossbreed made sense when we started looking for our first family dog. Unfortunately, Poodle breeders were scarce in our area, and our local Poodle rescue prevented us from adopting because of our small children. We ended up finding a Poodle breeder four hours away, which was hard to believe, living in a big city like Houston.
Breeding was the last thing on our minds when we brought home Charlie. Neither of us come from a family of breeders and we had zero experience in this area. However, we fell head over heels in love with Charlie, and he passed his health testing with flying colors. Before I knew it, I was learning as much as I could about breeding by networking with other breeders, and establishing relationships with the two major reproductive veterinarians in Houston. Somehow I was able to convince my husband that we could fit breeding into our busy lifestyle, and with his support, I decided it was time to pursue this dream of mine. In 2021, we welcomed our first litter of puppies! I'm so thankful to be able to do what I love each and every day.
As a puppy buyer myself, I know the pains of searching for a breeder and the feelings of disappointment when breeders are not fully transparent. I wanted to create a program unlike any other out there; one that shattered stereotypes about breeders, and that people can trust for quality. I wanted to ensure our dogs were treated with the utmost respect and honor that they deserve, with lots of love, spoiling, and socialization with our children.
We take immense pride in belonging to the AKC Breeders with Heart Program, which recognizes breeders who are committed to breeding better dogs through education and health testing, and being recognized on Good Dog for the same reasons.
The relationships I've made through breeding are the icing on the cake. I cherish my professional and personal relationships with my breeder pals, and I recently had the pleasure of mentoring my aunt and uncle as they started their breeding program, which was such a rewarding experience. This has also been a wonderful way for me to spend time with my three sons, who love helping me with the puppies.
Nothing brings me more joy than seeing my buyers' faces light up when they see their pup for the first time, and staying in touch with them by receiving photo and video “pupdates.” I'll never get tired of seeing pictures of our dogs with their happy, smiling owners. Each one reminds me why I have the best job in the world. As Confucius once said, "Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life." These connections and experiences make breeding well worth it.
