About Us
We’re Maddy and Kayle Thomas, two sisters from North Carolina who share a lifelong love of dogs and a deep respect for poodles. What began as a personal interest in training and service work slowly turned into a real passion for understanding what makes poodles so exceptional.
Their intelligence, athleticism, and natural confidence drew us in, and once we experienced the breed firsthand, we knew we wanted to be part of preserving and improving it. That idea became Portside Standard Poodles: a small, sister-run program focused on producing poodles that are as well-balanced in temperament as they are in structure.
How It All Started
Our story in the dog world started with two amazing dogs, Rayne and Hazel.
Rayne, Maddy’s now-retired service dog, was where it all began. Working with her showed us how much a dog can change your life. Rayne taught us a great deal about dogs in general. Even though she was a rescue, she had a fantastic temperament. She taught us how much a great temperament can make life with a dog joyful and rewarding.
Our love for dogs really grew through the dogs we’ve had. Hope, our first family dog, loved learning tricks and spending time with us, showing us how rewarding it is to build a strong bond. Later, Hazel, Kayle’s first dog, brought a whole new level of excitement. Her confidence and eagerness allowed us to start competing in sports. Every little success with her was a joy to celebrate, and she taught us just how much fun training and teamwork can be.
Rayne and Hazel. Both were rescues, and while we loved them deeply, we knew they had begun their lives with challenges. Having worked with Rayne and Hazel, we saw how much of a difference a strong start can make.
That’s why we’ve always dreamed of bringing home a puppy who’s set up for success from the very beginning through ethical breeding. Rayne and Hazel laid the foundation for everything we do today, teaching us that raising great dogs requires patience, dedication, and a genuine understanding of each dog as an individual.
Our Poodle Journey
Our connection to poodles began long before Portside.
Maddy first worked hands-on with poodles during her time as a trainer, even raising and training one in-home for a family. Their intelligence, temperament, and eagerness to learn left a lasting impression. Kayle often joined her during those sessions, helping handle and observe the dogs in action. Kayle always had a love for poodles from afar, but working so closely with poodles, it didn’t take long for both of us to realize how special the breed truly was: smart, steady, athletic, and endlessly versatile.
Kayle was on a waiting list for Malibu. We were waiting for her to come home at eight weeks when Maddy decided to bring home Fiji.
When Fiji came home as Maddy’s service dog prospect, our love for poodles only grew bigger. He’s a big, goofy boy who’s impossible not to love. He’s always making you laugh, doing something silly or putting up with his sisters.
Not long after, Malibu finally came home and joined our family as Kayle’s service dog prospect. She also happened to be one of the top show picks from her litter, and when we were told we should give showing a try, we decided to go for it.
From the very first time in the ring with Fiji and Malibu, we were hooked. We fell in love with the community, the challenge, and the chance to celebrate everything that makes the breed so special.
Malibu and Fiji are the heart of how Portside Standard Poodles began, a small, sister-run program built on the goal of raising poodles that are confident, capable, and a joy to live with.
The Heart of Portside
For us, Portside started with a simple goal, to give back to the breed that’s given us so much. Poodles have made such an impact on our lives that it only felt right to do our part in preserving what makes them so special.
We don’t want to be a big program; we want to be an intentional one. Every decision we make comes from a place of respect for the breed and a desire to produce poodles that are sound in mind, steady in temperament, and true to type.
At the end of the day, we breed because we love seeing poodles shine in the ring, at work, and in families who adore them as much as we do