Beans litter
Pete x Vintage
Born 05/16/25
4 puppies: all females
Born 05/16/25
4 puppies: all females
Sire
High PK Pete
"Pete"
DNA: Optimal Selection - clear for all diseases.
PennHip: 90th percentile
Dam
Old Hemp's Simply Timeless BN CD PT BCAT ACT1 ACT1J CGCA CGCU TKN VHMP
"Vintage"
DNA: Optimal Selection - carrier TNS & EAOD, clear for all other diseases. Genetic diversity 38%. COI 10%
OFA: Excellent hips, Normal elbows, shoulders, spine, patella and heart
High PK Pete
"Pete"
DNA: Optimal Selection - clear for all diseases.
PennHip: 90th percentile
Dam
Old Hemp's Simply Timeless BN CD PT BCAT ACT1 ACT1J CGCA CGCU TKN VHMP
"Vintage"
DNA: Optimal Selection - carrier TNS & EAOD, clear for all other diseases. Genetic diversity 38%. COI 10%
OFA: Excellent hips, Normal elbows, shoulders, spine, patella and heart
Couldn't be more excited to announce Vintage's first litter! She has been bred to a fabulous open field dog named Pete, and while both parents are very much working bred dogs with lovely herding pedigrees, they also are very livable and have stellar temperaments and while being high drive, neither is high arousal and they have great heads on their shoulders. This pairing will produce lovely herding prospects, competent sport dogs, and pups that are high drive while still being good to live with and retaining natural off switches.
I've had the pleasure of watching Pete work several times and have always been impressed with his power, control, and natural feel. He is a very biddable dog on and off stock, and although he is young (just two years old) he's already competing in open field trials and scoring very well. He's a polite and friendly Border Collie with a wonderful temperament and sweetness, who loves to be petted as long as you're willing. He has great toy drive even though he's been turned onto stock since an early age - many herding dogs don't particularly care about toys when they've been on stock. Pete has a sound and stable mind, even kind and friendly with the barn cats. He travels easily. I was smitten when watching him work but really fell in love getting to know him outside of sheep time. He's exactly the type of dog I love and strive to produce; versatile, friendly, confident, cool headed, affectionate. Just a well rounded lovely dog! His extremely impressive pedigree is the cherry on top, as I've met plenty of dogs who looked great on paper and didn't hold up for a variety of reasons. Pete is a little on the smaller side for a male Border Collie and weighs in at 40lbs and measures at 20".
Vintage is my bred by keeper from the Marley x Abigail RPG litter. Her sire is a very talented open field herding dog in Germany, who you can see videos of working on YouTube (feel free to ask me for links). Marley is from Shepherd's Own kennel, that are known for producing great herding and agility dogs. Vintage's dam is my own Abigail, who you can read all about on her page. She's the dog who really ignited my passion for the Border Collie breed.
Vintage is a perfect mix of her sire and dam and to me, the epitome of what a Border Collie should be. She is so authentic to the breed and is a very old school, trustworthy, reliable, and stable dog. The picture of stability, even during her adolescence. While so many young dogs struggle with fear periods that can feel quite severe, reactivity and sensitivities to things like sound, motion, other dogs, people, and can be prone to phases behaviorally, Vintage has been so consistent and ideal her whole life. She's a friendly, serious, confident, strong dog, who has ample drive in all areas - food, toys, herding, you name it. She's very low arousal and has a perfect off switch, and while being likely the highest drive dog in my house, she's one of the easiest to live with and be around. You can read more about Vintage on her page.
I am beyond excited for this litter and cannot wait to see how these pups turn out. They're going to be a very special bunch!
I've had the pleasure of watching Pete work several times and have always been impressed with his power, control, and natural feel. He is a very biddable dog on and off stock, and although he is young (just two years old) he's already competing in open field trials and scoring very well. He's a polite and friendly Border Collie with a wonderful temperament and sweetness, who loves to be petted as long as you're willing. He has great toy drive even though he's been turned onto stock since an early age - many herding dogs don't particularly care about toys when they've been on stock. Pete has a sound and stable mind, even kind and friendly with the barn cats. He travels easily. I was smitten when watching him work but really fell in love getting to know him outside of sheep time. He's exactly the type of dog I love and strive to produce; versatile, friendly, confident, cool headed, affectionate. Just a well rounded lovely dog! His extremely impressive pedigree is the cherry on top, as I've met plenty of dogs who looked great on paper and didn't hold up for a variety of reasons. Pete is a little on the smaller side for a male Border Collie and weighs in at 40lbs and measures at 20".
Vintage is my bred by keeper from the Marley x Abigail RPG litter. Her sire is a very talented open field herding dog in Germany, who you can see videos of working on YouTube (feel free to ask me for links). Marley is from Shepherd's Own kennel, that are known for producing great herding and agility dogs. Vintage's dam is my own Abigail, who you can read all about on her page. She's the dog who really ignited my passion for the Border Collie breed.
Vintage is a perfect mix of her sire and dam and to me, the epitome of what a Border Collie should be. She is so authentic to the breed and is a very old school, trustworthy, reliable, and stable dog. The picture of stability, even during her adolescence. While so many young dogs struggle with fear periods that can feel quite severe, reactivity and sensitivities to things like sound, motion, other dogs, people, and can be prone to phases behaviorally, Vintage has been so consistent and ideal her whole life. She's a friendly, serious, confident, strong dog, who has ample drive in all areas - food, toys, herding, you name it. She's very low arousal and has a perfect off switch, and while being likely the highest drive dog in my house, she's one of the easiest to live with and be around. You can read more about Vintage on her page.
I am beyond excited for this litter and cannot wait to see how these pups turn out. They're going to be a very special bunch!
Vanilla Bean - female - black and white
Navy Bean - female - black and white
Pinto Bean - female - black and white
Butter Bean - female - black and white
Navy Bean - female - black and white
Pinto Bean - female - black and white
Butter Bean - female - black and white
Scroll to the bottom of the page for Puppy Placements and temperament test results.
Vanilla Bean - newborn - 12.5oz/352g
Navy Bean - newborn - 12.2oz/346g
Pinto Bean - newborn - 11.3oz/321g
Butter Bean - newborn - 13.4oz/380g
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Vanilla Bean - 1 week old - 1lb 9.5oz/725g
Pinto Bean - 1 week old - 1lb 6.0oz/622g
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Navy Bean - 1 week old - 1lb 11.8oz/790g
Butter Bean - 1 week old - 1lb 11.5/780g
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Vanilla Bean - 2 weeks old - 2lbs 9.0oz
Pinto Bean - 2 weeks old - 2lbs 2.8oz
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Navy Bean - 2 weeks old - 2lbs 12.0oz
Butter Bean - 2 weeks old - 2lbs 11.0oz
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Vanilla Bean - 3.5 weeks old - 4lbs 4.3oz
Pinto Bean - 3.5 weeks old - 3lbs 13.8oz
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Navy Bean - 3.5 weeks old - 4lbs 7.0oz
Butter Bean - 3.5 weeks old - 4lbs 4.9oz
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Vanilla Bean - 4 weeks old - 5lbs 6.0oz
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Navy Bean - 4 weeks old - 5lbs 7.8oz
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Pinto Bean - 4 weeks old - 5lbs 2.5oz
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Butter Bean - 4 weeks old - 5lbs 9.7oz
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Beans 5 weeks old
Vanilla Bean - 6 weeks old - 8.6lbs
Attentive, human oriented, playful, silly, brave, confident, food and toy driven 
Pinto Bean - 6 weeks old - 8.2lbs
Outgoing, confident, silly, attentive, bossy, playful, affectionate, food and toy driven |
Navy Bean - 6 weeks old - 8lbs
Focused, sweet, friendly, serious, stylish, loving, confident, food and toy driven
Butter Bean - 6 weeks old - 9lbs
Outgoing, playful, affectionate, brave, confident, silly, tough, food and toy driven |
Vanilla Bean
Pete x Vintage Border Collie Female 7.5 weeks old 11lbs DOB 05/16/25 • Social Attraction – 3. Ran over to greet the tester happily, tail wagging. Confident, outgoing, and sweet without being overbearing. • Following – 2. Followed closely with a soft, happy expression, checking in often and trying to sneak in a few toe kisses. Very people-focused. • Restraint – 3. Squirmed briefly before settling, made eye contact, and tolerated the handling well. Will likely be easy to work with physically but prefers autonomy. • Social Forgiveness – 6. Didn’t return to the tester after release, but not out of concern, she just wanted to get back to exploring. Confident and secure in herself. • Elevation – 3. Calm and relaxed in the air, didn’t mind being held. • Retrieving – 4. Ran to engage with the paper ball, played with it cheerfully, then ran back to the tester without the toy. • Touch Sensitivity – 1. Took the full 10 seconds to respond to pressure. • Sound Sensitivity – 4. Glanced at the noise, then continued on without a second thought. Not bothered by sound, steady and resilient. • Sight Sensitivity – 1-2. Pounced with happy energy and tugged at the moving object with enthusiasm. High toy drive, playful and engaged. • Stability – 2. No startle at the umbrella opening. Walked over, sniffed, and explored it confidently. Curious and environmentally stable. 
Pinto Bean
Pete x Vintage Border Collie Female 7.5 weeks old 10.8lbs DOB 05/16/25 • Social Attraction – 3. Approached the tester with a soft, happy demeanor and settled in calmly for petting. Sweet, social, and good-natured. • Following – 3. Followed along easily with a wagging tail and calm body language. Attentive and people oriented. • Restraint – 3. Slight initial wiggles followed by full relaxation. Comfortable with handling and recovers quickly. • Social Forgiveness – 3. Cuddled in after the test, tail wagging and soft expression. Readily re-engages and stays connected. • Elevation – 3. Calm and accepting while being held. Neutral and steady under human handling. • Retrieving – 3. Picked up the toy, returned with it directly, and laid down to engage near the tester. Cooperative and focused. • Touch Sensitivity – 1. No response to pressure until the 10-second mark. • Sound Sensitivity – 3. Oriented to the sound and calmly walked over to investigate. Thoughtful and not easily startled. • Sight Sensitivity – 2-3. Sat and watched initially, then engaged in play and had fun tugging. Medium/high toy drive, less motion-sensitive than some littermates. • Stability – 1-2. Startled slightly at the umbrella opening but did not retreat, then moved forward with curiosity and confidence. Investigated thoroughly and engaged in play. A thoughtful pup who shows good environmental recovery and a naturally resilient temperament. |
Navy Bean
Pete x Vintage Border Collie Female 7.5 weeks old 10.2lbs DOB 05/16/25 • Social Attraction – 3. Walked up with a wagging tail but took her time, wanting to explore the space before greeting the tester. Confident, curious, and comfortable, but not overly social to strangers. • Following – 3. Followed loosely with occasional check-ins, but clearly preferred to investigate the environment. • Restraint – 5. No resistance at all, fully relaxed in the tester’s lap. Easygoing with physical handling. • Social Forgiveness – 2. Readily forgave and jumped into the tester’s lap before moving on easily. Shows confidence with quick emotional recovery and a balanced sense of connection and independence. • Elevation – 2. Calm at first, then started to wiggle and express discomfort. Accepting but has a limit for being held still, particularly by a stranger. • Retrieving – 2-3. Picked up the toy and kept it to herself briefly before bringing it back. Some independence mixed with cooperation. • Touch Sensitivity – 1. Took a full 10 seconds to respond. • Sound Sensitivity – 3. Paused briefly to process the noise, then confidently ran over to investigate. Curious and thoughtful, not noise sensitive. • Sight Sensitivity – 1. Immediately engaged, tugging and growling with joy. High toy/prey drive and strong visual engagement. • Stability – 1. No hesitation or startle. Hopped right into the umbrella and began trying to play with it. Bold, confident, and environmentally forward. 
Butter Bean
Pete x Vintage Border Collie Female 5 weeks old 11.2lbs DOB 05/16/25 • Social Attraction – 2. Came readily to the tester with tail wagging, stomping feet, and a playful sparkle. Confident, outgoing, and socially motivated. • Following – 2. Followed eagerly with a bouncy, playful gait, sniffing at the tester and trying to interact along the way. • Restraint – 2-3. Wiggled and resisted at first, then settled. Tolerated handling but clearly would’ve preferred to be off having fun. • Social Forgiveness – 6. Ran off immediately to explore the space, no concern or hesitation. Confident and curious, not overly handler-dependent. • Elevation – 4. Expressed some initial resistance, then relaxed. • Retrieving – 1-2. Grabbed the toy with enthusiasm and wanted to keep it for herself. Worked her way back to the tester with loose, playful body language. • Touch Sensitivity – 1. Took the full 10 seconds to respond. • Sound Sensitivity – 4. Looked toward the sound briefly, then carried on exploring without concern. Not easily fazed. • Sight Sensitivity – 1. Immediately engaged and tugged with high intensity. Strong prey drive and quick engagement with motion. • Stability – 1. Tried to get to the umbrella before it even opened. No startle response, then ran right over to interact with it. Environmentally bold, curious, and forward. |
Placements...
Vanilla
This confident, driven little girl has always had a spark and from very early on I knew she would have to go to someone special.
Vanilla is the kind of puppy who gives “main character energy.” She’s bold, resilient, and playful. The type to walk into a new space and make it her own. But she’s also deep in her connections. She’s people oriented in the best way: not needy, but fiercely loyal once she’s decided you’re hers. I could always find her gazing up at me. She reminds me so much of her grandma Abigail in her handler connection and her loyal nature.
It’s that quality, among others, that made her the perfect match for Jewell.
Jewell is a young, passionate trainer based in Texas. She works full time in a boarding kennel and under a local dog trainer, and plans to dedicate her life to dog training and, eventually, starting a farm. She’s been drawn to Border Collies for a long time — and not just the “good parts” but the gritty, sensitive, awkward parts too. The kind of dog that think for themselves, that are built to work, and want to do it all alongside their human. And while this will be Jewell’s first Border Collie, she’s no stranger to the breed and to working dogs and I was consistently impressed by the things she said during our interview process.
Jewell described her ideal puppy as confident, a little pushy, toy driven, stable, and with enough independence to tell her when something isn’t working. A partner, not a robot. Someone who will challenge her a little and then meet her right in the middle.
Vanilla is a balanced pup with strong food and toy drive, recovers quickly in new environments, and leads with curiosity and spark. She’s independent enough to explore and cheeky enough to push the rules at times, but never loses that instinct to check in and connect. The match between her and Jewell felt incredibly natural, and I can’t wait to see all they build together!
Vanilla’s new name is Pinch, a perfect herdy name.
Congratulations Jewell and welcome to the Old Hemp family. Pinch is one lucky pup, and I know she’s going to have a life full of meaning, growth, and partnership with you.
This confident, driven little girl has always had a spark and from very early on I knew she would have to go to someone special.
Vanilla is the kind of puppy who gives “main character energy.” She’s bold, resilient, and playful. The type to walk into a new space and make it her own. But she’s also deep in her connections. She’s people oriented in the best way: not needy, but fiercely loyal once she’s decided you’re hers. I could always find her gazing up at me. She reminds me so much of her grandma Abigail in her handler connection and her loyal nature.
It’s that quality, among others, that made her the perfect match for Jewell.
Jewell is a young, passionate trainer based in Texas. She works full time in a boarding kennel and under a local dog trainer, and plans to dedicate her life to dog training and, eventually, starting a farm. She’s been drawn to Border Collies for a long time — and not just the “good parts” but the gritty, sensitive, awkward parts too. The kind of dog that think for themselves, that are built to work, and want to do it all alongside their human. And while this will be Jewell’s first Border Collie, she’s no stranger to the breed and to working dogs and I was consistently impressed by the things she said during our interview process.
Jewell described her ideal puppy as confident, a little pushy, toy driven, stable, and with enough independence to tell her when something isn’t working. A partner, not a robot. Someone who will challenge her a little and then meet her right in the middle.
Vanilla is a balanced pup with strong food and toy drive, recovers quickly in new environments, and leads with curiosity and spark. She’s independent enough to explore and cheeky enough to push the rules at times, but never loses that instinct to check in and connect. The match between her and Jewell felt incredibly natural, and I can’t wait to see all they build together!
Vanilla’s new name is Pinch, a perfect herdy name.
Congratulations Jewell and welcome to the Old Hemp family. Pinch is one lucky pup, and I know she’s going to have a life full of meaning, growth, and partnership with you.
Navy
Navy has been one of those puppies who reveals more and more of herself the longer you watch. She’s confident and curious, but not the kind of pup to throw herself into everything all at once. Instead, she tends to pause, take it all in, and then move forward with quiet confidence. That thoughtful nature, paired with her emotional steadiness and strong food and toy drive, made her a really special one to match and I’m thrilled with who she’s going to share her life with in sunny California.
Lyuba has been involved in agility for a decade, attended USDAA nationals, titled dogs to MACHs, ADCH, PDCH, and her application stood out for so many reasons. She has a deep understanding of dogs, prioritizes soundness and structure, and is looking for a balanced partner to return to agility with. But more than that, she’s thoughtful, intentional, and really grounded in what she wants, not just from a sport dog but from a lifelong teammate.
Navy is a perfect fit. She’s emotionally soft without being fragile, has enough independence to self regulate and work out ahead, and a natural steadiness that’s rare to see at this age. During her temperament test, she was one of the boldest pups in terms of environmental confidence (she literally jumped into the umbrella), but throughout raising she showed a calm thoughtfulness which is a trait I know Lyuba will appreciate both in training and in daily life. Navy also is a very cuddly and affectionate girl who loves to snuggle her face into your neck and get hugs.
She’s joining Lyuba’s household alongside her senior rescue dog Sammy and cat Oscar, and I think she’ll mesh beautifully. Lyuba isn’t looking for a dog to light the world on fire, she’s looking for the right dog for her life, her goals, and her home, aligning perfectly with what is important to me.
Her new name is Molly, which I think suits her sweet self very well!
Congratulations Lyuba, I’m so glad this pup gets to grow up with you and happy to welcome you to the OH family.
Navy has been one of those puppies who reveals more and more of herself the longer you watch. She’s confident and curious, but not the kind of pup to throw herself into everything all at once. Instead, she tends to pause, take it all in, and then move forward with quiet confidence. That thoughtful nature, paired with her emotional steadiness and strong food and toy drive, made her a really special one to match and I’m thrilled with who she’s going to share her life with in sunny California.
Lyuba has been involved in agility for a decade, attended USDAA nationals, titled dogs to MACHs, ADCH, PDCH, and her application stood out for so many reasons. She has a deep understanding of dogs, prioritizes soundness and structure, and is looking for a balanced partner to return to agility with. But more than that, she’s thoughtful, intentional, and really grounded in what she wants, not just from a sport dog but from a lifelong teammate.
Navy is a perfect fit. She’s emotionally soft without being fragile, has enough independence to self regulate and work out ahead, and a natural steadiness that’s rare to see at this age. During her temperament test, she was one of the boldest pups in terms of environmental confidence (she literally jumped into the umbrella), but throughout raising she showed a calm thoughtfulness which is a trait I know Lyuba will appreciate both in training and in daily life. Navy also is a very cuddly and affectionate girl who loves to snuggle her face into your neck and get hugs.
She’s joining Lyuba’s household alongside her senior rescue dog Sammy and cat Oscar, and I think she’ll mesh beautifully. Lyuba isn’t looking for a dog to light the world on fire, she’s looking for the right dog for her life, her goals, and her home, aligning perfectly with what is important to me.
Her new name is Molly, which I think suits her sweet self very well!
Congratulations Lyuba, I’m so glad this pup gets to grow up with you and happy to welcome you to the OH family.
Butter
This little firecracker is officially beginning her new life with Ava, a skilled young trainer with a heart full of passion, a knack for understanding her dogs, and a deep readiness to start fresh after the heartbreaking loss of her previous Border Collie, Meelo.
Butter was one of the easiest matches in the litter to make. From the start, she’s been a bold, playful, people loving pup with just the right mix of drive, confidence, and emotional resilience. She’s the kind of puppy who marches up to new things without hesitation, makes you laugh out loud with her antics, and then climbs into your lap for a cuddle like she’s always belonged there. Outgoing, curious, resilient, silly, affectionate, and ready for a job. Butter’s just got that “spark.”
Ava works professionally in dog training and has big plans for this girl. Sports are definitely in the cards: agility, scent work, dock diving, maybe even herding, and of course tricks and lots of hiking — and possibly service work down the road. Her goals for her next dog were clear; confident, emotionally stable, food and toy motivated, able to settle, and a little bit pushy in all the right ways. Butter checks every one of those boxes and then some!
What really made this match feel special to me, though, is Ava’s heart. She’s been so open and thoughtful about what she’s looking for not just in terms of goals, but in building a meaningful long term partnership. Meelo was her heart dog, taken far too soon, and she’s stepping into this next chapter with a beautiful mix of intention and openness. Butter may be bold and spicy, but I think she’s also going to be a balm. The kind of dog who brings laughter, purpose, and healing in equal measure.
Butter’s new name is Spring, perfect for a puppy born in the springtime and who has springs for legs!
I’m so excited to see everything these two accomplish together. Congratulations, Ava and thank you for trusting me with this next piece of your journey. Welcome to the OH family!
This little firecracker is officially beginning her new life with Ava, a skilled young trainer with a heart full of passion, a knack for understanding her dogs, and a deep readiness to start fresh after the heartbreaking loss of her previous Border Collie, Meelo.
Butter was one of the easiest matches in the litter to make. From the start, she’s been a bold, playful, people loving pup with just the right mix of drive, confidence, and emotional resilience. She’s the kind of puppy who marches up to new things without hesitation, makes you laugh out loud with her antics, and then climbs into your lap for a cuddle like she’s always belonged there. Outgoing, curious, resilient, silly, affectionate, and ready for a job. Butter’s just got that “spark.”
Ava works professionally in dog training and has big plans for this girl. Sports are definitely in the cards: agility, scent work, dock diving, maybe even herding, and of course tricks and lots of hiking — and possibly service work down the road. Her goals for her next dog were clear; confident, emotionally stable, food and toy motivated, able to settle, and a little bit pushy in all the right ways. Butter checks every one of those boxes and then some!
What really made this match feel special to me, though, is Ava’s heart. She’s been so open and thoughtful about what she’s looking for not just in terms of goals, but in building a meaningful long term partnership. Meelo was her heart dog, taken far too soon, and she’s stepping into this next chapter with a beautiful mix of intention and openness. Butter may be bold and spicy, but I think she’s also going to be a balm. The kind of dog who brings laughter, purpose, and healing in equal measure.
Butter’s new name is Spring, perfect for a puppy born in the springtime and who has springs for legs!
I’m so excited to see everything these two accomplish together. Congratulations, Ava and thank you for trusting me with this next piece of your journey. Welcome to the OH family!
Pinto’s placement is a unique and special one.
Old Hemp Border Collies x Oliver Dog Training
Every once in a while, a dog walks into life not just with purpose but with timing, meaning, and an invisible thread that ties it all together.
This placement is different from the others. Pinto won’t be heading off to a new home just yet. She’ll be staying here with us, entering full time service dog training for a job that quite literally may one day save a life.
Her future person, Cristina, came to us not as a puppy applicant but as a dog training lead. A human searching for a lifeline after the disappointment of a washed out self trained SD prospect and the growing danger of life threatening anaphylaxis. Despite every precaution, she has already survived multiple severe reactions and her EpiPens are starting to fail, while the reactions are becoming more severe. Her life depends on finding the right dog, trained the right way, for the right job.
From the start Cristina’s approach was grounded, thoughtful, and full of heart. She wasn’t looking to attach to a specific puppy. She trusted the process. She trusted us. She didn’t ask for promises and she simply put her faith in our ability to not only find but also train this dog.
And then came Pinto.
Brave, curious, affectionate. Pinto has always had this spark of “I’ve got it” energy, a boldness paired with balance, and an ability to connect while still holding her own. She’s been a standout since her early days and her temperament test only confirmed what we already felt: emotionally resilient, environmentally sound, thoughtful in her actions, and deeply engaged with people. She’s the kind of dog who meets the world with confidence and care, exactly the combination we look for in a service dog prospect.
Of course, nothing in this journey is guaranteed. Training a medical alert dog takes years, and not every puppy will go the distance. But right now, we are stepping into that process with Pinto as Cristina’s candidate.
Here’s to Pinto, who is keeping her name, and who may have been born to do something extraordinary.
Welcome to the job, baby Bean and welcome to the family, Cristina!
Old Hemp Border Collies x Oliver Dog Training
Every once in a while, a dog walks into life not just with purpose but with timing, meaning, and an invisible thread that ties it all together.
This placement is different from the others. Pinto won’t be heading off to a new home just yet. She’ll be staying here with us, entering full time service dog training for a job that quite literally may one day save a life.
Her future person, Cristina, came to us not as a puppy applicant but as a dog training lead. A human searching for a lifeline after the disappointment of a washed out self trained SD prospect and the growing danger of life threatening anaphylaxis. Despite every precaution, she has already survived multiple severe reactions and her EpiPens are starting to fail, while the reactions are becoming more severe. Her life depends on finding the right dog, trained the right way, for the right job.
From the start Cristina’s approach was grounded, thoughtful, and full of heart. She wasn’t looking to attach to a specific puppy. She trusted the process. She trusted us. She didn’t ask for promises and she simply put her faith in our ability to not only find but also train this dog.
And then came Pinto.
Brave, curious, affectionate. Pinto has always had this spark of “I’ve got it” energy, a boldness paired with balance, and an ability to connect while still holding her own. She’s been a standout since her early days and her temperament test only confirmed what we already felt: emotionally resilient, environmentally sound, thoughtful in her actions, and deeply engaged with people. She’s the kind of dog who meets the world with confidence and care, exactly the combination we look for in a service dog prospect.
Of course, nothing in this journey is guaranteed. Training a medical alert dog takes years, and not every puppy will go the distance. But right now, we are stepping into that process with Pinto as Cristina’s candidate.
Here’s to Pinto, who is keeping her name, and who may have been born to do something extraordinary.
Welcome to the job, baby Bean and welcome to the family, Cristina!