About Puppy Due Diligence
I started Puppy Due Diligence after going through my own winding, emotional journey of finding the right dog.
​More than ten years ago, when the message “adopt, don’t shop” was everywhere, I spent almost a year checking shelters for a small, low-shedding dog that would work with my allergies. Eventually, unable to find one, I purchased a Shih Tzu–Poodle mix from a small home breeder. He's been a wonderful companion who has joined me on all my milestones and adventures.
​A decade later, when I went to find a second dog, I followed the same path and found another Shih Tzu–Poodle mix from a kind older woman who raised her puppies in her home. While waiting for my puppy to reach eight weeks, I began reading everything I could about preparing for a new dog… and discovered how much the landscape had changed.​
Genetic testing is now widely available. Breed clubs publish clear guidance. And conversations about “backyard breeders” and responsible practices are louder than ever. The goalposts moved while I wasn’t looking, and I suddenly felt overwhelmed—was I making the right choices? Should I have done more research? Would I have chosen differently?​
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Most importantly: why is it so hard for regular people to find clear, trustworthy information?​​​​​
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That question is why Puppy Due Diligence exists.
​Today, I help families navigate what has become a confusing and emotionally loaded process. I use AKC Parent Club resources, health-testing standards, and direct outreach to breeders to simplify the part that can feel impossible: finding out what’s real, what matters, and what’s available within your timeline.​
My goal is not to judge where you’ve been or where you’re going.
My goal is to help you move forward with clarity, confidence, and compassion—so you can welcome the right dog into your home knowing you’ve made an informed, responsible choice.
My Professional Approach
Although Puppy Due Diligence began with my own dog search, my qualifications come from a different part of my life. I’m trained as an engineer and work professionally as an instructional designer in the tech industry. My work centers on researching complex information, evaluating sources, and turning technical material into clear, accessible guidance.
Those same skills are what I now bring to the breeder search process. I’m adept in analyzing details, organizing information, asking the right questions, and synthesizing scattered data into something people can actually use.
When I review Parent Club guidelines, health testing, or breeder communication, I approach it with the same structured, analytical mindset I use in my professional work. My goal is simple: to turn an overwhelming landscape into clear, honest guidance.