About Me
Hello, My Name is Mary Sanford
I am a native New Yorker gal with an East coast accent, a lover of bagels, and an even bigger lover of Goldendoodles. I am a retired college professor/master instructor, ADHD Coach, and former special education teacher. Growing up, dogs were always considered our family members that were loved and cherished, and that's how I raise our Dream Lake Goldendoodle puppies.
I fell in love with Goldendoodles after my brother gifted me with one. I was impressed with their beauty, intelligence, cuddly nature, and eagerness to please. Bonus- nominal shedding!
To me, dogs teach us so many lessons such as gentleness, kindness, acceptance, understanding, and forgiveness. People who adopt a puppy from Dream Lake Goldendoodles are not just getting a healthy adorable puppy; they are getting a new family member for life!
In 2020 I began my breeding business under the name Mary’s Marvelous Doodles and subsequently changed it in 2025 to Dream Lake Doodles to better reflect the special nature of these wonderful puppies. To me, it is a privilege to raise these precious babies and to work with all of the wonderful families who bring a Dream Lake Goldendoodle into their lives.
Our Foundations
Philosophy
Dream Lake Doodles is a very small family breeding business. Formerly known as Mary’s Marvelous Doodles, Dream Lake Doodles prides itself on providing individualized attention to both puppies and their future parents. We want each puppy to be in the best possible family, and for the families to adopt a puppy who is the best possible fit for their lifestyle. We strongly value health, temperament, and physical and emotional well-being. The heart of our breeding philosophy is love. Without love and a solid foundation of being cherished, puppies, like people, can feel unmoored and unsettled. We take our roles as caretakers of these precious babies very seriously. We strive to do what’s best for each individual puppy, with unconditional love being the common denominator.
Early socialization happens from birth as the puppies are raised in the heart of my home. Puppies experience all the sights and sounds of a typical household. I work from home and use Zoom, Google, and Teams as my work platforms. Both the puppies’ mom, Kellen, and their Aunt Gracie, are a huge part of their lives. This unique foundation ensures happy, contented puppies who easily adapt to family life.
The Puppy Upbringing Process
Starting when they are 3 days old, Dream Lake Doodles are given ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation) and ESI (Early Scent Introduction) cognitive curriculums. These curriculums provide essential cognitive stimulation supporting healthy brain development and emotional stability.The result is well-adjusted puppies who easily adapt to their new forever homes.
In addition, our Dream Lake Golden Doodles get daily exposure to common household noises such as vacuum cleaners, the washing machine, timers, and Zoom calls. They also get tons of cuddling with friends and family members. Through the process, puppies gain self-confidence and independence as they learn to adapt in a human environment, important skills to bring to their forever families.
Puppies go home to their forever families with their initial vaccinations, a 2 year health guarantee, and exposure to crate and potty training.
Please bear in mind that both crate training and potty training are skills that puppies learn over several months so ongoing training, tremendous patience, and a consistent routine are essential for the new Goldendoodle owner.
But Goldendoodles are quick students with a strong desire to please their human families!