Every family has a story. Ours just happens to have a lot of paws, floppy ears, golden fur, and a few Cheers references along the way.
The Golden Who Started It All
In loving memory of Norm
Before there was Woody and Kelly, there was Norm.
Norm was our original Golden Retriever and a very special part of our family. When we lost him at 10½ years old, our hearts were broken. Anyone who has loved a dog knows that they aren't just pets. They're part of your everyday life, your routines, your memories, and your family.
Our home felt a little emptier without him.
My husband was ready for another Golden Retriever. I had a different idea: I wanted a smaller dog!
That's when we discovered Miniature Golden Retrievers. They seemed like the perfect compromise—a smaller companion with the loving, happy spirit we'd always adored in Goldens.
And that's how Woody joined our family.
Then Came Kelly
We never imagined we'd end up with two Mini Goldens. But when our daughter took Woody to college, we discovered just how much we missed having him around the house.
So, naturally, we welcomed Kelly into our family.
And just like that, our little Golden family grew.
Woody and Kelly aren't simply the parents of our puppies. They're our beloved family dogs, with their own personalities, quirks, favorite spots, and very important places in our hearts.
Now they're getting ready for a new adventure of their own: becoming parents!
Apparently, We Have a Type
If you've noticed the names Woody and Kelly, you might have guessed that we're fans of the TV show Cheers.
You'd be right!
And apparently, once we started naming our dogs after Cheers characters, we couldn't stop.
Meet Sam and Carli, our lovable Basset Hounds. Carli is short for Carla Tortelli, because of course it is!
Sam came first. Our son had wanted a Basset since he was little, but the timing was never right. Once he graduated college, nothing was holding him back. He found Sam online and drove three hours to pick him up. It was love at first sight.
Everybody loved Sam. Even Norm! Sam brought some life back into our sweet old boy. Having a puppy around brought out the youngster in him.
When our son and Sam moved out to be closer to his work, we took it hard. We missed having that slobbery, floppy-eared guy around the house. That's when my husband surprised us with Carli.
Bassets are hard to find around here, so Carli made the trip all the way from East Tennessee to be part of our family.
Between our Goldens and our Bassets, our family has its own little cast of characters. We couldn't have planned it better if we'd tried.
Two Little Dog Families, One Big Heart
Today, we're excited to share two very special parts of our family:
Woody & Kelly's Little Goldens — our beloved Miniature Golden Retriever family.
Sam & Carli's Little Hounds — our sweet, floppy-eared Basset Hound family.
We live in Texas, and when we first started looking for Miniature Goldens, we were surprised by how difficult they were to find close to home. Our own search took us farther than we'd expected, and it made us appreciate just how special it is to find the right dog for your family.
Now, as we begin this new chapter, we're excited to share our dogs and their puppies with other families.
Our puppies will grow up surrounded by everyday family life, gentle attention, and plenty of love. We'll do our best to give each little one an individual start and help them transition to a family of their own.
We're looking forward to sharing the journey—the sleepy newborn days, the first wobbly steps, the silly personalities, and all the little milestones that make raising puppies so special.
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
If there's one thing Cheers got right, it's the feeling of belonging.
That's what we hope every family feels when they find us. And it's what we hope every puppy experiences as they grow up and head off to a home where they're loved just as much as they've been loved here.
Because every puppy deserves more than a name on a list.
They deserve a name, a family, and a whole lot of love.
Welcome to our family. We're so glad you're here!
Woody & Kelly's Little Goldens
Sam & Carli's Little Hounds
Where every puppy has a name, a family, and a whole lot of love.
Where every puppy has a name
Our Regulars
Woody
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Miniature Golden Retriever (3rd generation, half Golden / half Cocker Spaniel)
Woody is a third-generation Golden Retriever and Cocker Spaniel mix, and he’s got the best of both breeds wrapped up in one lovable guy! He’s our youngest daughter’s sidekick and even went off to college with her, where the two now share an apartment in Aggieland. ❤️ With Woody away at college, we missed having a golden in the house — and that’s how Kelly joined our family! Woody may be living the college life, but he’ll always be one of the originals who helped grow our little golden family.
Personality
Full of energy and always ready for the next adventure, this pup loves to keep things exciting! Naturally alert and protective, they're quick to let you know when someone is around, making them a great little watchdog. But once the excitement settles down, they're all about the cuddles! Expect plenty of affection, cozy snuggles, and a furry best friend who loves being close to their people. ❤️🐾
Favorite things
Always up for a good walk, a game of fetch, or some quality time with the family, this pup loves staying active and being part of the fun! And when football season rolls around, you can bet they'll be right there cheering on the Aggies. Gig ’em!
Named after Woody Boyd, the sweet-natured farm boy from Hanover, Indiana who came to Boston and ended up behind the bar at Cheers.
Kelly
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Miniature Golden Retriever (bloodline: Golden Retriever & Cavalier King Charles Spaniel mix)
We brought Kelly into our family because we missed having a Golden Retriever in the house, and she quickly filled that spot in our hearts. This sweet girl brings so much love to our family, and now she’s getting ready for her newest adventure — becoming a mama! We can’t wait to see her share all that love with her very own little golden crew.
Personality
Kelly is our resident mother hen. She’s cuddly and loving — no matter how many times our grandbaby pulls on her ears, she just gives her a kiss in return — but she’s also a great guard dog who’s quick to let us know when something isn’t right. Sweet as can be, with a strong don’t-mess-with-my-family attitude!
Favorite things
Kelly is the ultimate snuggler and a true lap dog at heart, happiest whenever she is curled up close to her favorite humans. She absolutely loves TV time, treating every movie night as the perfect excuse to sink into the cushions and enjoy some downtime. When the day comes to a close and it's time for bed, Kelly wastes no time finding her absolute favorite spot in the world—wiggling her way right in between Mom and Dad. Her enthusiasm for comfort is only matched by her love for food; she goes completely wild for peanut butter doggie ice cream, though she happily considers pretty much any kind of treat a five-star delicacy.
Named after Kelly Gaines — and just like on the show, Kelly is Woody's leading lady.
Sam
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Basset Hound
Sam’s story started with a lifelong wish. Our son had always dreamed of having a Basset Hound, and in 2024, that dream came true when Sam joined our family. The two quickly became best friends, and Sam has been a special part of our family ever since. When our son moved out on his own, we just couldn’t imagine life without a Basset Hound around, so Carli joined the family! What started as our son’s dream turned into a love for these sweet, goofy, big-eared pups that we’re excited to share with other families.
Personality
Sam is a sweet, gentle lover who prefers affection over any kind of conflict, but his calm demeanor is packed with some highly entertaining habits. Most notably, he is a dedicated television connoisseur who has happily watched the entire series of Cheers from start to finish. When he isn't tuning into his favorite sitcom, Sam is an expert negotiator for snacks: the moment food appears, he will eagerly offer you his paw as a polite, irresistible trade for a treat.
Favorite things
Sam is a lover, not a fighter! His favorite things include giving paw for a treat, soaking up praise, and making everyone he meets fall in love with him. Sweet, gentle, and full of affection, Sam has a way of making everyone feel like his favorite person. He’s the kind of dog who never meets a stranger and somehow manages to steal everyone’s heart!
He also loves snacks, belly rubs, and watching TV — he has watched the whole series of Cheers.
Named after Sam Malone, the owner of Cheers and former Red Sox relief pitcher. We're pretty sure he'd approve of the ears.
Carli
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Basset Hound
When our son moved out on his own with his best buddy, Sam, we just couldn’t imagine life without a floppy-eared Basset Hound around — so Carli joined our family! Named after Carla Tortelli from Cheers, this girl has a name with a little sass and a whole lot of personality. Now she’s getting ready for her newest adventure: becoming a mama! We can’t wait to see what this sweet girl brings to her little hound crew.
Personality
Carli may not be running any fast-paced laps around the yard, but this classic Basset Hound knows exactly how to stroll straight into your heart. As a sweet-natured family dog, she redefines the concept of a guard dog—if an intruder ever walked through the door, Carli is far more likely to offer them a warm, enthusiastic lick than a warning bark. Her most hilarious habit, however, is her absolute devotion to sunbathing. She will lay stretched out in the blazing Texas sun for so long that her family genuinely starts debating whether they need to slather her in sunscreen.
Favorite things
Carli is a hound who truly appreciates the finer, more relaxing things in life, starting with her absolute love for snuggling up close and soaking in endless praise from her human family. While she is always motivated by a good treat, her true passion lies in high-flying adventure—specifically, going for rides in the Jeep. There is nothing she loves more than cruising around with the top down, letting her iconic, velvety Basset Hound ears flap wildly in the wind as she takes in all the sights and scents of the open road.
Carli is short for Carla Tortelli — the quick-witted waitress who was famously a mom of many. Seems fitting.
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