
Meet Zena
CavaDoodle
Expected Adult Weight: 22–25 Pounds
At Hidden Valley Doodles, every breeding is planned with one goal in mind: creating exceptional Comfort Companions.
Health, temperament, intelligence, trainability, low shedding, and the perfect family size all matter. Every pairing is carefully planned months—sometimes years—in advance to produce dogs families can truly count on.
Zena is the daughter of Nelly, our Mini Saint Berdoodle, and Charlie, our Cavapoo. While we originally referred to the litter as our Saint Cava Doodles, DNA testing revealed that Zena inherited approximately 80% Poodle and 20% Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, making her genetically a CavaDoodle.
When I watched this litter grow, one puppy kept catching my eye.
That puppy was Zena.
Today she weighs about 20 pounds and is expected to mature between 22 and 25 pounds—an ideal size for both adventures and cuddling on the couch.
Personality
If happiness had four legs, it would be Zena.
She believes everyone is her best friend and greets people with a wagging tail, happy smile, and usually a hug. If you stop long enough, she'll roll onto her back and patiently wait for what she believes every visitor should provide...
A belly rub.
She has loved belly rubs since she was a tiny puppy, and thankfully, she never outgrew it.
Zena almost always has a toy in her mouth, and if it squeaks, you'll hear the fastest series of squeaks imaginable. Her joy is contagious.
Life with Zena
Zena is active, athletic, and loves having a job to do. She enjoys long walks, learns quickly, and loves spending time with her people.
She also has one funny little habit.
Her guardian family laughs because she'll gently grab her much larger Goldendoodle brother by the ear and lead him wherever she wants to go. He happily follows along, proving that confidence has nothing to do with size.
She's affectionate without being needy, playful without being overwhelming, and has the kind of easygoing temperament we strive to produce at Hidden Valley Doodles.
Looking Ahead
Zena represents everything we hope for in our breeding program: health, intelligence, affection, trainability, and a joyful personality.
We're excited to watch her future unfold and look forward to seeing these wonderful qualities passed on to future generations of Hidden Valley Doodles.
Like all of our breeding dogs, Zena's most important job isn't producing puppies—it's being a beloved member of her guardian family. She is dearly loved by the Pyfferoen family, where she spends every day bringing smiles, laughter, and unconditional love.

This little girl will snuggle in and steal your heart. She comes from my original line. Scooby is her mom, Gem is her grandmother, Ruby was her great-grandmother and Jewel was her great -great grandmother. She is 30 pounds and has the softest coat ever. I could snuggle with her all day. She is a good listener and smart and stylish. To this day, I have never had to say, "Secret, be quiet"! This trait I cherish and I am so pleased this is passed down.
Meet Brandy – The Heart Behind Our Puppies
Brandy is no ordinary Labrador mix—she's the true testament to what makes our doodles so special. With her sweet, fun-loving nature and a heart full of loyalty, Brandy brings warmth and joy wherever she goes. Her wide genetic diversity, combined with full health and temperament testing, makes her an ideal foundation for raising well-rounded, healthy puppies.
But Brandy is more than just her genetics—she’s a devoted mama with a gentle spirit and an intuitive sense of care. Whether she’s playing in the leaves, lounging in the shade, or working alongside me to nurture her puppies, she radiates calm, kindness, and joy.
To give you a glimpse into what we do and how we raise our puppies, I created this animated video inspired by Brandy’s journey. It reflects the love, training, and teamwork that go into preparing each puppy for a lifetime of companionship.
Brandy's legacy lives on in every one of her pups—bringing happiness, heart, and a whole lot of tail wags to families everywhere.

Meet Maggie
Maggie is one of the shining stars of our guardian program and is lovingly raised in the home of the Jungles family. She represents some of the most cherished and foundational lines here at Hidden Valley Doodles, carrying forward a legacy of temperament, structure, and heart.
Her lineage is something we are especially proud of. Maggie is the daughter of our beloved Milo, with a maternal line tracing back through Blueberry, Roxy, and our treasured Junebug — generations of dogs known for their intuitive nature, sound minds, and deep connection to people.
Maggie is an F1B Mini Labradoodle, holding steady at approximately 18 pounds, which makes her the perfect size for the direction our program is intentionally moving toward. Her stunning coloring combined with a coat that leans more straight to wavy makes her not only beautiful, but also wonderfully manageable for families seeking lower-maintenance grooming.
Personality-wise, Maggie is truly something special. She is fun, confident, and unflappable — the kind of dog who is always ready for the next adventure and brings joy wherever she goes. She has a lively, playful side that loves to engage, but just as naturally settles into a calm, cuddly, and deeply sensitive companion.
Maggie has an incredible ability to read the room. She mirrors the energy around her, stepping up when excitement is needed and softening when comfort is called for. This intuitive balance is a trait she clearly inherited from both her mother and her father, and it’s one we value immensely in our comfort-companion focused program.
Maggie embodies everything we strive for at Hidden Valley Doodles — beauty with purpose, structure with softness, and a heart that connects deeply with the people she loves.
Meet Nellie — Calm, Loyal, and Full of Love
📍 Guardian home with the Geisness family
👩👧 Daughter of Violet 💜 and Buster 🤎
⚖️ 30 pounds of cuddly goodness
Nellie is the kind of dog who makes life feel softer. She's incredibly affectionate, deeply loyal, and the queen of calm. While she’ll get a short case of the zoomies here and there (about five minutes of pure joy), the rest of the day she’s content to nap in a cozy spot, especially if it’s near someone she loves.
She lives with her guardian family where she’s adored by both the kids and the other pup in the house. She loves belly rubs, riding in the car, playing gently with the kids, and curling up on the air conditioning vent. Sensitive and sweet, she’s a dog who feels everything — even her vaccinations bring out the tears!
Nellie has had two incredible litters so far, and we’re proud to say her puppies have inherited her peaceful, gentle spirit. When paired with our stud Milo — known for his fun-loving heart and soulful connection — the result is nothing short of magic. These puppies are the perfect blend of loving temperament, joyful personality, and lifelong companionship.
We feel so lucky to have Nellie in our program and even luckier to share a piece of her heart through her puppies.
This is Stella, a Labradoodle from Brandy and Milo, and she embodies the true spirit of our Guardian program. As she grows, she'll become a mother herself, spreading joy and love. I've had the profound privilege of having her by my side for a few weeks while her family was away in Washington. Her personality is a beacon of hope, reflecting the very best of Brandy and Milo. Witnessing firsthand the remarkable result of careful breeding for temperament has been a heartwarming experience. Stella is the epitome of all that I had envisioned when pairing Brandy with Milo. At the end of this inspiring video, you'll catch a glimpse of Stella, her mom Brandy, her dad Milo, and her brother Lewis. I feel grateful and blessed to have shared this time with her, and I'm even more hopeful for the bright future of Hidden Valley doodles with her as part of our program.

I named her Chai after my favorite tea — she’s sweet, soothing, and has all the right colors. Just like a cup of chai, she’s the perfect blend of everything warm and comforting, with that soft cinnamon-and-cream look and a gentle, calming way about her that makes you feel right at home. ☕💛🐾

This beautiful girl is full of potential with her unique colors, intelligent nature, and loving personality.
Cali is one of those dogs who can make friends anywhere she goes—whether it’s a person, a fellow dog, or even the occasional campsite neighbor. She’s a true people-dog, happiest when she can sneak onto a lap, soak up some pets, and flash her sweet, soulful eyes. At 24 pounds, she’s the perfect size for snuggles, and she’s wonderful with kids.
Don’t let her calm and cuddly side fool you—Cali is an athlete through and through. When she visits here, she’s a true defensive driver on the playfield. At full speed, she can leap clean over Brandy with minimal effort, or dart under her just as quickly—always choosing whichever looks more fun in the moment. Fetch is one of her great loves, and she would happily chase every squirrel, bird, and bunny in sight if given the chance.
She’s well-behaved on a leash, enjoys long walks, loves camping adventures, and rides in the car like a pro. She’s clever too, figuring out treat puzzles in no time. And yes—she has a mischievous streak… if she feels she’s not getting enough attention, you might just see her trot by with one of your shoes.
Her favorite snacks? Peanut butter, eggs, cheese, Pupperoni, and the “bonus” bites the kids drop at mealtime. She also adores her Greenies for a little dental spa time.
Whether she’s curled up for a cuddle or sprinting like an Olympic athlete, Cali brings love, laughter, and fun to every moment.

Meet Coconut – “Coco” 🌸
We’re thrilled to introduce Coconut, affectionately known as Coco, as the newest addition to our breeding program! Coco is a beautiful F1 B miniature Labradoodle with a lineage we know and love.
She comes from an incredible line of dogs, including:
Mother: Blue
Grandmother: Roxy
Great-Grandmother: June Bug
Father: Milo
Though she’s still a puppy and growing into her full personality, Coco is already showing us just how special she is. She’s fun-loving, sensitive, eager to learn, and always has a happy, wagging tail ready to greet everyone she meets.
We’re so excited to watch Coco grow and look forward to the wonderful qualities she will bring to our program and future generations.

🐾 First in Line for Fun & Love – Meet Mila
Mila is the last puppy born to Cricket and Milo, affectionately named after her dad. From the start, she’s been a spunky, curious, and well-mannered little lady. She was also the very first of her litter to march through the doggie door and explore the great outdoors — and she’s been “first” at just about everything ever since! First out the door, first into the car, first out, first in the water (and last to leave it), first to eat, and first to come running for treats. Mila has decided she is never going to be last again.
Playful and kind, Mila can be found romping around with her cat friend Frankie one minute and snuggling up with her guardian mom Lisa the next. She adores everyone she meets and believes the whole world was made just for her. Never aggressive, Mila is full of kisses, hugs, and happy energy. Like her mom Cricket, she loves playing fetch and chase, and she’s been excellent about sticking to her toys instead of shoes or household items.
Smart as she is sweet, Mila quickly learned basic commands like Sit, Come, Up, Down, and No. She has her dad’s long legs, her mom’s gentle heart, and a touch of clownish charm — often carrying off laundry from the floor to “help” remind her family to use the hamper (underwear included!).
Myla is truly a special dog — smart, compassionate, funny, kind, and endlessly loving.
.png/:/cr=t:5.56%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:88.89%25/rs=w:388,h:517.3333333333334,cg:true)
Meet Willow – Our Gentle, Joyful Treasure
Willow is a beautiful Australian Mountain Doodle—a unique blend of Australian Shepherd, Bernese Mountain Dog, Golden Retriever, and Poodle. I purchased her from a trusted breeder, fulfilling a long-time dream of adding a dog like her to our program. At under 30 pounds, she’s the perfect mix of size, temperament, and versatility—a true win, win, win!
Every breed in Willow’s background brings something special to Hidden Valley Doodles. From the Bernese Mountain Dog, she’s inherited her gentle, kind nature and that soft, thoughtful way she approaches you—reading your heart before quietly settling at your side. From the Golden Retriever, she has the warm, eager-to-please spirit that makes you feel like her favorite person in the world. Her Poodle side shines through in her intelligence—this girl learns fast—and from the Australian Shepherd, you’ll see her playful spark and joyful bursts of energy.
Willow truly is the whole package: sweet, smart, and spirited in just the right amounts. She’s everything I hoped for and more, and she was well worth the wait.
I named her Willow after my favorite tree here on the farm—and after the beautiful willow trees from my grandparents’ farm, which hold some of my fondest childhood memories. I know this Willow will create just as many cherished moments here, and I’m so excited for the love and joy she’ll bring to our families.

Meet our beautiful small standard Bernedoodle girl, Honey Bear!
This girl is a pure, golden delight, and we named her Honey Bear because that's precisely what she is—a fluffy, light-colored cuddle bug with a heart as sweet as her name. At under 40 pounds she is perfect medium-sized. Honey Bear’s beautiful coat is just part of her charm. She embodies the classic Bernedoodle desire to love and be loved. Honey Bear isn't shy; she greets us by bouncing around like a happy kangaroo, then demands a hug by wrapping those paws around you as if she never wants to let go. She possesses the ideal gentle nature and affectionate disposition we value, promising to pass on her famously soft and loving character to her future litters. 🐻💛🐾"

Meet Leo
After what felt like a thousand hours of research, I found Leo.
And believe me when I say—I was picky.
Choosing a stud for my program has never been simply about finding a beautiful dog and making puppies. Genetics matter. Health matters. Temperament matters. And perhaps most importantly to me, heart matters.
Leo also had some incredibly big shoes to fill.
Before him came Buster, a dog I clicked with from the very beginning. Buster and I made an amazing team, and he went on to sire some of the beautiful females whose lines remain an important part of my program today. When it came time for Buster to retire, I truly wondered if I would ever find another stud quite like him.
Then came Milo.
Oh, dear Milo. The boy with the hugs. He was never shy about giving them, and nobody was ever left out. He had the kindest soul and, when it came to the ladies, he was quite the little Romeo.
So when it was time to choose my third stud, I knew exactly what I wanted—and that made finding him even harder.
I wanted excellent genetics and health. I wanted beautiful coloring. But I also wanted that gentle, kind soul I had been fortunate enough to find twice before.
Then I saw Leo.
I hadn't even met him yet. I was looking at photographs from another breeder, but there was something in his face that I couldn't shake. He looked like an old soul in a young body.
So I took a chance.
Leo came home as an adorable, sweet little boy, and as he grew and found his place within our pack, I realized that little feeling I'd had when I first saw his picture had been right.
Today, Leo is our 20-pound peacekeeper.
If somebody in the pack gets a little too wound up, Leo investigates immediately. He doesn't charge in or become aggressive. Instead, he plants himself right in the middle of the commotion and starts licking faces. Apparently, Leo believes most disagreements can be settled with kisses—and surprisingly, he's usually right. He distracts everyone just long enough for them to forget what they were fussing about, gives a happy wag of his tail, and walks away as though he's thinking, Job well done. I'm a good boy.
He's especially wonderful with puppies and new dogs coming into our home. He seems to understand when someone needs reassurance, when a youngster needs a little guidance, and when it's time for him to quietly step in. He's gentle, patient and fair, but he does expect everyone to mind their manners.
Then there's Leo's mischievous side.
One of his favorite activities is grabbing the branches from our low-hanging trees. Unfortunately for Leo, at only 20 pounds, there's one small problem: he has already destroyed most of the branches he can reach.
Not to be defeated, Leo developed a solution.
Somehow—and I still haven't figured out how he talks them into this—he convinces one of our bigger girls to stand underneath the tree. Leo climbs onto her back and uses her as his own personal step stool so he can reach the higher branches.
And they cooperate!
I have yet to successfully catch this operation on video. The second Mom appears with the camera, everybody stops what they're doing and looks innocent.
Leo is also a professional lap finder.
If you're sitting still, congratulations: you have been selected.
Leo doesn't discriminate. If there's an available lap, he'll climb aboard, settle in and claim his throne. Whether you're sitting for five minutes or an entire afternoon makes absolutely no difference to him.
If you politely tell him it's time to get down, he'll lean a little harder against you, rest his head on your chest and give a soft groan that sounds suspiciously like, Five more minutes, please.
Ask again and he'll happily get up—but he'll make it perfectly clear that this was your idea, not his.
Leo has successfully completed his health testing and has proven himself in temperament beyond anything I could have hoped for. He has grown into a kind, intelligent, gentle and wonderfully quirky little dog who fits beautifully into our family and our breeding program.
And apparently Milo passed along one final requirement for the position:
The ladies absolutely adore him.
I spent so much time wondering how I could possibly find another dog worthy of following Buster and Milo.
Then along came Leo.
Sometimes I look at him and think, How did I ever get this lucky three times?
He may have had some very big shoes to fill, but Leo didn't need to become another Buster or another Milo.
He simply became Leo.
And that turned out to be exactly what I was looking for.

Meet Tux
I had absolutely no intention of having two studs in my program.
Let me start there.
Occasionally, I will use a stud from another local breeder whom I know and trust. Sometimes bringing in different genetics or a particular trait can beautifully complement one of my girls, and I've never believed that every pairing has to come from dogs living under my own roof.
So, as far as I was concerned, Leo was my boy.
I did not need another stud.
Then I met Tux.
I've known Tux's breeder for a very long time—actually, since she was a little girl. I used to babysit her! Years later, when I was a mobile dog groomer, I would travel to her farm and groom her dogs. I've watched her breeding program develop, I know her dogs, and I know many of the lines behind them.
One day I went to her house to help photograph a litter of puppies.
That's it.
I was going to take pictures.
I was NOT going puppy shopping.
The problem was, I'd already met this particular litter several times. And every time I visited, there was one little puppy who kept catching my attention.
He looked like he was wearing a tiny tuxedo.
And this puppy could work a camera.
I swear Tux may have been a supermodel in another life. While photographing the puppies, he'd puff out his little chest, cock his head ever so slightly to one side and stare straight into the camera as if to say,
I've got this. You just keep taking pictures.
I probably have a thousand photographs of him.
His coloring made him stand apart from his siblings, too. You wouldn't necessarily look at Tux and immediately see the Goldendoodle that's part of his DNA.
He was different.
And somehow, he seemed to know it.
Throughout that day, I kept catching him watching me.
Not necessarily asking for anything. Just watching. Following me with his eyes and paying attention to everything I was doing.
And that's when the argument inside my head started.
Wouldn't it be nice if you came home with me?
Followed immediately by:
What in the world am I going to do with TWO stud dogs?
My relationship with my boys has always been incredibly important to me. My studs aren't simply breeding dogs. They're my partners and my teammates. We have to understand one another. We have to trust one another. I bond very closely with them, and above everything else, I have to know that I'm doing right by them.
So my biggest question wasn't whether I had room for another dog.
It was:
Do I have enough ME for two?
I thought about it all day.
Actually, if I'm being truthful, I fantasized about bringing that puppy home all day.
Finally, I gave in.
"Okay. This one's coming home with me. How much?"
We negotiated.
And apparently I went to a puppy photo shoot and bought myself a puppy.
Tux became my little impulse buy.
Turns out, it was one of the best impulses I've ever had.
Tux slipped into our family and our pack as though there had always been a place waiting for him. And yes—I had enough room in my home, my program and, most importantly, my heart for two boys.
Today, Tux is about 15 pounds of pure personality.
He's our good-time boy.
You'll often see him running around looking like he has an enormous smile on his face, thoroughly enjoying whatever adventure he's created for himself.
And then there's the hair.
If you remember the actor Chris Farley, you'll understand why Tux occasionally gets called Farley around here.
It's that larger-than-life, slightly wild, completely lovable energy. Tux will come running, stop suddenly, his fluffy hair will practically settle around him, and then he'll look at me with that expression.
There he is.
Farley.
Chris Farley was known for having this huge, funny personality paired with a tender side, and that's exactly what makes the nickname fit my little guy. Tux certainly isn't a giant—he's only about 15 pounds—but somehow his personality takes up considerably more room than the rest of him.
He's funny. He's playful. He's extra.
But underneath all of that is an incredibly sweet, tender and observant little dog.
Because he's one of the smaller members of our pack, Tux has become very good at finding his own way to Mom.
If I'm sitting on the couch surrounded by dogs, he'll quietly wiggle his way through everyone, climb onto the back of the couch and perch himself right beside my head.
His expression says it all:
Look what I found. A spot nobody else thought of.
And he's so proud of himself.
He doesn't need to monopolize my attention. He doesn't need everyone else to move.
He just wants a little place of his own beside me.
Tux has also learned another trick that requires an alarming amount of trust in Mom.
I clap my hands a couple of times, open my arms...
BOOM.
Tux jumps.
Straight into my arms.
He has complete confidence that I'm going to catch him.
Have I missed the catch once or twice?
Possibly.
Thankfully, Tux is forgiving. 😂
He still jumps.
That trust between us means more to me than he will ever know.
He's also one smart little cookie.Tux genuinely wants to be a good boy and tries so hard to figure out what I'm asking of him. It took him only two days to learn how to ring the bell when he needed to go outside. He walks beautifully on a leash as though someone explained the rules to him before he arrived, and he's always ready for a car ride and another adventure.Well...He's ready for approximately 15 minutes of adventure.Then he curls up and goes to sleep.And don't bother putting him in the back with the other dogs.Tux has declared himself a front-seat dog.You can put him in the back. You can tell him that's where he's supposed to ride. You can even surround him with his best buddies.Somehow, eventually, that little black-and-white head will appear beside me.Shotgun has been claimed.One of my favorite things has been watching the friendship between Tux and Leo develop. Those two boys have become the best of buddies, and watching them together reassured me of something I worried about tremendously before bringing Tux home:There really was room for two.I fell in love with his soft, fluffy coat that catches every little breeze, his shiny black-and-white tuxedo coloring, his intelligence, his tender heart and that wonderfully oversized personality that makes me laugh almost every single day.I went to take puppy pictures that afternoon.I came home with Tux.Sometimes the dogs we carefully search for find their way into our lives.And sometimes...one simply keeps staring at you until you finally realize he's already chosen you.
CHOOSING YOUR COMPANION
Choosing a dog from a shelter can be a great way to find a lifelong friend. But for many families, not knowing the dog's genetics, health history or socialization background is a risk they are not comfortable taking.
It's often impossible to pinpoint a dog's breed - and mixing certain breeds, such as a high-prey drive breed and a guardian breed, can have dangerous consequences.
Dogs from reputable breeders rarely wind up in shelters because we microchip all our animals and/or stipulate in our contracts that we will take dogs back if necessary.
For families that choose the breeder route, it's extremely important to select the right breeder. Look for a breeder with good reviews and experience. Take the time to get to know the breeder's reputation - contact people who have a dog from them and get their unvarnished opinion.
Whichever route you choose - adopting a shelter dog or choosing a puppy from a breeder - do your homework. Adding a four-legged friend to your home should never be a random act. Be thoughtful about the breed you want and why - and then decide where to find your special companion.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.