Connersville, Indiana
Meet Dessie
Who is Dessie?
Dessie, owner of Dessie’s Doodles, is a mother, author, and experienced dog trainer with a lifelong passion for animals. Her love for dogs began in childhood, where she spent over a decade training and competing in obedience and conformation through 4-H. As she grew older, Dessie continued working hands-on with dogs, helping families build strong foundations and reach their training goals.
Over time, her passion expanded beyond training into a dedication to thoughtful breeding. Dessie developed a deep appreciation for correct structure, sound movement, and functional conformation, believing that a dog should not only be beautiful, but built to live an active, healthy life. This commitment to both form and function became a cornerstone of her program and ultimately led her to create Dessie’s Doodles in 2017.
Our "Why"
Dessie’s Doodles was created by Destiny “Dessie” Judd out of a desire to raise dogs with purpose, intention, and heart. With severe allergies and asthma in her own family, Dessie recognized the need for thoughtfully bred companions that could thrive in allergy-conscious homes while still possessing stable temperaments and strong structure.
Beyond allergy-friendly coats, Dessie felt called to dedicate herself to improving overall structure and functionality within doodle breeding. She envisioned dogs that were not only loving family companions, but also soundly built, confident, and capable of thriving as active, well-rounded dogs. What began with just two exceptional puppies has since grown into a flourishing, purpose-driven program rooted in health, temperament, and integrity.
Our "How"
With over 15 years of experience in dog training, certifications in puppy temperament evaluation, and a hands-on, family-centered approach, Dessie pours her heart into every aspect of her program. All puppies are raised in-home, not in a kennel environment, and are intentionally exposed to everyday life with children, other dogs, and household activity.
Her puppies receive early neurological stimulation, structured socialization, and foundational training experiences to help them grow into confident, well-adjusted companions. She thoughtfully pairs her dogs with an emphasis on temperament, health testing, structure, and functional conformation, ensuring each puppy is set up for a lifetime of success as both a family companion and an active member of the home.
We Go The Extra Mile
Lending a Paw
Paws For Reading
Our dogs love people and we love our dogs. We go beyond just health testing and breeding our dogs.. our dogs are trained and most are therapy dog or they are therapy dogs in training.
They love to show affection and be a part of the action in the community. We feel that it is so important to be active participants in improving our local co
Our dogs love people and we love our dogs. We go beyond just health testing and breeding our dogs.. our dogs are trained and most are therapy dog or they are therapy dogs in training.
They love to show affection and be a part of the action in the community. We feel that it is so important to be active participants in improving our local communities. It is because of this we volunteer our time, along with our dogs, to do different types of therapy programs.
Paws For Reading
Paws For Reading
Paws for reading is a program that allows children to schedule a time at two of our local libraries, and practice their reading skills. They get to read to the dogs, who are non judgemental and avid listeners, and this gives them the opportunity to read aloud without being nervous like they might be if they had to read to another person.
Therapy Dog Visits
Elementary School Visits
Our dogs are regular visitors at several of the nursing facilities in Connersville and the surrounding areas. The dogs love to visit with the residents, and bring a smile to their faces.
Elementary School Visits
Elementary School Visits
Some of our dogs have the pleasure of going to school! They visit one of our local elementary schools and spend the day with students giving them comfort, allowing them to read to them, and giving students a healthy incentive to complete their work!
Invite us for a visit!
Dessie’s Doodles offers therapy dog reading visits and educational outreach programs!
Our visits are available for schools, speech therapy programs, libraries, nursing homes, 4-H groups, and community events. Programs may include a read-aloud of Dandy Won’t Dance, a children’s story centered on confidence, perseverance, and learning at your own pace, paired with the calming presence of a certified therapy dog.
Speech Therapy & Reading Confidence
We enjoy partnering with speech-language pathologists to support children practicing reading aloud, fluency, articulation, and confidence. Therapy dogs provide a non-judgmental, pressure-free audience, helping reduce anxiety and encourage participation, especially for hesitant or struggling readers.
Educational & Community Programs
In addition to reading visits, we offer educational chats on therapy dogs, responsible dog ownership, animal behavior, and the human-animal bond for both children and adults.
Safety & Credentials
Dessie is Safe Parish certified and happy to provide background checks or required clearances upon request. Our therapy dogs are carefully selected and trained for temperament, patience, and reliability.
After a brief pause while our family grew, we are excited to once again serve our community through meaningful, purpose-driven visits.
Interested in scheduling a visit?
Please contact us through our website or social media platforms.
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