Our Story: Mainely Standards

Mainely Standards began with a fateful encounter between Brian and Carrie, a meeting that would spark a shared passion for Standard Poodles and a commitment to excellence in breeding.

When Carrie met Brian, an apricot Standard Poodle named Mac was already part of the package. Mac, a fixed male with an unforgettable personality, quickly became the heart of their journey. Carrie, with her dream of entering the world of dog shows, expressed her desire for a companion she could take to competitions.

Brian, ever practical and supportive, suggested she start with a female. Enter Lilith, a spirited and elegant poodle who would lay the foundation for their breeding program. But their vision didn’t stop there. Together, they decided to add a male, Lu C Fur, a bold and charismatic addition with a name as distinctive as his personality.

From the beginning, Brian and Carrie shared an affinity for the striking red Standard Poodle color. They saw an opportunity not just to celebrate its beauty, but to contribute to bettering the breed and the color. With this mission in mind, Mainely Standards was born, a dedicated partnership focused on producing healthy, vibrant, and well-tempered poodles that excel both as beloved family companions and as representatives of the breed.

But our story doesn’t stop there.

Sensational Sasha’s Journey

One of Lilith and Lu C Fur’s puppies, Mainely Standards Sensational Sasha, holds a special place in our hearts. After her health testing and OFA evaluations, we made the difficult decision to remove her from our breeding program. While Sasha was everything we hoped for in temperament and personality, responsible breeding means making difficult decisions when a dog does not meet the standards we have established for our program.

Sasha was spayed and found a loving forever home, where she continues to be a cherished companion. Her story serves as an important reminder that responsible breeding is not about producing the most puppies. It is about making decisions that support the long-term health and future of the breed.

The Tale of Gracie

Then along came Gracie, a white Standard Poodle without papers whom we rescued and cared for. Gracie had her own unique journey, intertwined with that of Carrie’s daughter, Jazmin.

Initially, we found a wonderful home for Gracie, but Jazmin begged us to let Gracie become her dog. After days of thoughtful consideration, we agreed on the condition that Gracie would have a litter to help recoup the costs of her rescue and care, with any remaining funds helping support Jazmin’s college education.

Gracie’s first litter with Lu C Fur was successful, but the experience revealed her growing aggression toward Lilith and strangers. To ensure the safety and harmony of our pack, we decided she would not have another planned litter. However, fate had its own plans. A chance accident occurred when Gracie and Loki were let outside together, resulting in an unexpected litter.

Gracie remains a beloved member of our pack and is still destined to join Jazmin when the timing is right. Until then, she continues to remind us that sometimes the dogs make their own plans, regardless of what we had in mind.

Building for the Future

As Mainely Standards has grown, so has our commitment to improving health, temperament, structure, and the qualities that make Standard Poodles such remarkable companions.

Mazi, an offspring of Lilith and Lu C Fur, represents an important part of the future we have been working toward. Alongside her are the younger dogs who will eventually help shape the next chapter of our program. While breeding plans evolve over time, our standards do not.

Every decision we make is guided by the same principles that started this journey: health, temperament, responsible breeding, and lifelong support for the families who trust us with one of our puppies.

Mainely Standards has grown from one apricot poodle named Mac into a program built around health, temperament, training, and lifelong support. Some dogs have retired, some have moved on to wonderful homes, and others continue to shape the future of our program.

Through every litter, every success, and every challenge, our goal remains the same: to produce confident, healthy Standard Poodles and to support the families who trust us with a place in their lives.

Because at Mainely Standards, our responsibility doesn’t end when a puppy goes home. In many ways, that’s where the story begins.