About Sunset Paw Babies in Sullivan, Illinois
We're Anthony Yoder, a family-run breeder in Sullivan, IL. Every puppy is raised with daily care and family involvement.
Our story
Sunset Paw Babies is a family-operated dog breeding program located in Sullivan, Illinois. Since 2019, our family has focused on raising Golden Retriever, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and Miniature Goldendoodle puppies with attentive care, early socialization, thoughtful placement, and ongoing support for the families who welcome them home
What began as a family passion has grown into a meaningful responsibility. Every puppy is raised as part of our daily life, allowing us to provide individual attention and prepare them for the routines, sounds, and interactions they may experience in their future homes.
Why we do this
Our breeding program is guided by a commitment to health, welfare, transparency, responsible placement, and lifelong support.
We believe responsible breeding includes more than providing basic care. It requires thoughtful decisions about parent dogs, health information, puppy development, socialization, living conditions, and the suitability of each prospective home.
"There is nothing quite like the steady companionship of a good dog by your side."
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Meet the Family Behind Sunset Paw Babies
We are Anthony and Sarah Yoder, the family behind Sunset Paw Babies. Our home in Sullivan, Illinois, is shared with our children, our dogs, and the puppies we have the privilege of raising.
For us, breeding dogs is not simply about producing puppies. It is about caring for parent dogs responsibly, supporting puppies through their earliest stages of development, and helping families make thoughtful decisions about bringing a new companion into their lives.
Our children are involved in age-appropriate interactions with the puppies, helping them become familiar with family life, gentle handling, household activity, and everyday routines.
When we are not caring for our dogs, we enjoy spending time together outdoors, camping, golfing, hunting, and appreciating the simple moments of family life.
Golden Retriever, Cavalier & Miniature Goldendoodle Puppies Raised in Illinois
Sunset Paw Babies raises Golden Retriever, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and Miniature Goldendoodle puppies in Sullivan, Illinois.
Each breed offers different qualities, sizes, activity levels, grooming needs, and health considerations. We encourage families to learn about each breed before deciding which puppy may best fit their lifestyle.
Golden Retriever Puppies
Golden Retrievers are often friendly, active, intelligent, and people-oriented. They tend to thrive in homes prepared to provide regular exercise, training, grooming, and family interaction.
Our Golden Retriever puppies are raised with daily care, early socialization, and foundational routines intended to support their transition into family homes.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppies
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are small companion dogs often known for being affectionate, gentle, and closely connected to their families.
Our Cavalier puppies receive attentive care, regular handling, early socialization, and exposure to normal household routines.
Miniature Goldendoodle Puppies
Miniature Goldendoodles are companion dogs that may combine qualities of the Golden Retriever and Miniature Poodle. Their adult size, coat, grooming needs, and temperament can vary, so families should consider the characteristics of each puppy and its parents.
Our Miniature Goldendoodle puppies receive daily care, regular handling, early socialization, and exposure to normal household routines as they prepare to join their new families.
Carefully Selected Parent Dogs
Our parent dogs are selected with attention to health, temperament, structure, and suitability for family life.
Applicable health and genetic testing is completed as part of our breeding program. Families are encouraged to ask about the testing and health information associated with a specific litter.
Health-Focused Puppy Care
Each puppy receives age-appropriate care throughout its early development.
This may include:
Routine health observation
Age-appropriate veterinary care
Vaccinations and deworming as appropriate
Microchipping
Clean and carefully managed living conditions
Health records for the new family
Specific care and documentation may vary according to the puppy’s age and scheduled go-home date.
Early Development and Socialization
From an early age, puppies receive gentle handling and carefully managed exposure to everyday experiences.
Our early-development program may include:
Early Neurological Stimulation
Early scent introduction
Household sounds and routines
Interaction with adults and children
Age-appropriate toys and surfaces
Early crate familiarity
Potty-training foundations
Basic leash exposure when developmentally appropriate
These experiences are introduced gradually with the goal of supporting confidence and adaptability.
Family-Raised Environment
Our puppies are raised in a dedicated home environment where they experience normal family routines and receive consistent daily care.
This allows us to observe developing personalities and help families understand the temperament and needs of individual puppies.
Thoughtful Family Placement
We want each puppy to join a home prepared for its needs.
Families are encouraged to share information about:
Household routines
Activity level
Children or other pets
Previous dog experience
Breed preferences
Training expectations
Preferred timeline
This information helps us guide families through availability and the selection process
Ongoing Breeder Support
Our support does not end when a puppy leaves our home.
We remain available to answer questions and provide guidance as families navigate the transition, early routines, training, socialization, and puppy development.
Foundational Puppy Training Options
For families interested in additional preparation before pickup, Sunset Paw Babies may offer puppy-training options designed to provide a stronger foundation before the puppy goes home.
Training may include age-appropriate work with:
Crate familiarity
Potty-training routines
Handling
Basic manners
Household structure
Leash introduction
Calm transitions
Training does not mean a young puppy will arrive fully trained. Continued patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement will still be necessary in the new home.
Contact us to ask about current training options, availability, pricing, and what is included.
Learn More About Our Puppies
Explore our available Golden Retriever, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and Miniature Goldendoodle puppies, read experiences shared by previous puppy families, or contact us for guidance about availability and choosing the right companion for your home.
We do the hard work — so they're ready
Every litter follows the same structured path before going home.
Whelped in a clean, climate-controlled whelping area and monitored closely.
Daily handling and developmentally appropriate exposure — sounds, surfaces, people — building a confident, calm adult.
Weaning is complete, and puppies are starting to learn to go potty outside.
Well-adjusted, confident, and vet-cleared — ready to give unconditional love and steadfast comfort.
A family-run program in Sullivan, IL
Located near Sullivan, IL, Sunset Paw Babies raises puppies in a caring, structured environment. Daily care, socialization, and real-life experiences help give each puppy a confident start.
We proudly serve families near Decatur, Champaign, Chicago, Springfield IL, Peoria, Indianapolis, Nashville, Louisville, Milwaukee, Lexington KY, Cincinnati. Because our program is intentionally small, visits and placements are scheduled in advance through our waitlist.
Health first — always
Every breed we raise comes with its own known health considerations, and we take them seriously. We are intentional about our dam and sire pairings, and both parents complete health screening before any litter is planned.
Frequently asked questions
Every home needs a companion
See who's available now, or join the waitlist for an upcoming litter. We love getting to know prospective families — phone and FaceTime introductions welcome.