FRANKLIN LIVING MARCH/APRIL 2018— Few can resist the charms of a sweet, cuddly puppy, but while some dog-lovers are content to bond with one or maybe two canine companions, one Russellville family opted to take their doggie devotion to the next level.

It was a Disney franchise that first prompted Brett and Natalie Bendall to purchase a Golden Retriever puppy for their sons. “Braden and Blake were young, and they fell in love with the Buddies movies,” Natalie explained. “It just blossomed from there.”

Triton came into the family first. A year later the family brought home another Golden puppy, Gracie, but when she got run over by a car, they immediately opened their hearts to a second Golden girl, Chloe.

That, Natalie said, was when inspiration struck. “We just thought, ‘Hey. We have two Goldens. They are CKC registered. Why don’t we have a litter of puppies, just to have our own Buddies?’” In May 2012, the first litter was born – and the Bendalls fell in puppy love. They decided to continue to breed, beginning a repeating cycle of puppies coming into their lives.

Four litters of puppies were born from Chloe and Triton. When Triton died, Chloe refused to mate with another male dog, so the Bendalls decided to invite more Goldens into their lives. They added Chewbacca and Leia to their family, to continue breeding. The Star Wars namesake pooches are both double-registered, AKC and CKC; therefore, so are their puppies. “Chewbacca is the great-grandson of Duke, the baked beans dog,” Natalie said. They have had two litters so far.

Their third female dog, Heidi, who they rehomed from a friend, has also birthed one litter.

Even though the Bendalls have ultimately sold every puppy from every litter, they always get close to the puppies in the seven or eight weeks from birth until they are all sold. Natalie said they all eventually wind up with names, and Braden often chooses a favorite – and then finds it hard to part with the chosen puppy. “We all end up with a favorite,” Natalie admitted.

When it comes to finding homes for the puppies, Natalie said she is pretty picky. She makes efforts to background check potential buyers and ensure all puppies are going to good homes. They have had buyers come from as far away as Kentucky to choose a Golden puppy to take home for their very own.

Although double-registered Golden puppies will bring a pretty penny, the money isn’t the motivator. “You can’t do it just for the money because it’s a whole lot of work,” Natalie said. On the business side, she handles promotion and communication with potential buyers. Brett is hands on with daily puppy care. Braden feeds them each night – and occasionally covers puppy accident clean-up in the house. Their older son Blake was also heavily involved until he went away to school at Auburn University.

The puppies are born in a whelping box, and at 3 or 4 weeks old, they move into a pen in the back yard. Of course, when the family is home, the puppies will often be found in the house or being played with in the driveway and patio.

Puppy-raising challenges range from wrangling multiple puppies to and from the vet for vaccinations; clipping dozens of tiny puppy nails; and, not to put too fine a point on it, dealing with a seemingly endless stream of puppy poop.

When a litter of puppies comes into the world, the Bendalls have gotten used to drawing a little attention from family and friends. “Someone is here looking at puppies almost every night,” Natalie said. She urges potential puppy purchasers to come meet the puppies in person because they all have different personalities. “We have puppies that are wild, energetic and chewy,” she said. Others are lazy or cuddly.

Even with the hard work and challenges, the joy of having puppies underfoot makes it all worth it. Braden likes having friends and family over to play with the puppies, and he also likes earning his share of “puppy money.” With his portion of the earnings from puppy sales, he is saving up for a new golf club.

“I just enjoy having them for a short time period,” Brett said. “They are the most fun, to me, between 4-7 weeks. I enjoy them in the fun stage, and then somebody else gets them.”

“We have loved it,” Natalie agreed. “You have to enjoy coming home and playing with puppies, and that’s what we love.”