Founder · Houston, TX
Hey,
I’m Ara.
I don’t do anything halfway. Not parenting, not business, and definitely not breeding.
Mom of four, Glamma of two, low-key coffee addict, and the person who answers your text when you have questions about a puppy.
I built Divine Pups because I wanted work that mattered. Fourteen years later, it still does.
Ara Hughey
Founder, certified evaluator & trainer
Certification 01
Tier 2 BAB Breeder
Badass Breeder certified: health, temperament and structure testing on every parent dog.
Certification 02
Puppy Evaluator
Formal temperament evaluations at 49 days, documented and shared with you before picks.
Certification 03
Dog Trainer
Structured curriculum from day one, not a checklist bolted on at eight weeks.
How I got here
I didn’t grow up
dreaming of this
No little girl circles Shih Tzu breeder on her career day worksheet. Mine said K-9 officer. Life took a different route, and then I took it back.
01
The safe version
Corporate America. Business suits, long meetings, far too many emails. Stable. Successful, on paper.
It just never once made me excited to wake up.
02
The jump
I wanted more than a paycheck. I wanted passion, and something that actually mattered.
So I jumped. No safety net, one very long list.
03
Divine Pups
A heart-led, family-run Shih Tzu program built on three things: education, evaluation, and connection.
The dream job I was told didn’t exist.
The part that matters
We don’t do puppy picks until after temperament testing.
Because I’m not here to sell puppies. I’m here to match them.
Off the record
A few more things
about me
✓Coffee is a non-negotiable. Don’t talk to me before it, during it, or without it.
✓My favorite color is bright pink. If it doesn’t scream, it’s not my shade.
✓Mom of four, Glamma of two. I hold both titles down like royalty.
✓Divine Pups is one of several dog businesses I own. Yes, I do the most.
✓When I’m not with the pups, I’m with my mom, my built-in BFF and partner in crime.
✓I should honestly own stock in Target. If I’m not home, that’s where I am.
✓I talk fast in Spanish and English, and yes, I expect you to keep up.
✓Snacks are a love language. Puppy breath is top-tier therapy.
✓My brain runs on faith, family and big ideas, and I’m just getting started.
So what is Divine Pups about
More than
beautiful dogs
We’re raising confident, loving, emotionally sound companions who are ready to thrive the day they walk into your house.
Future service dog, therapy companion, or deeply spoiled lap dog, the goal is the same. Every advantage, from the start.
That happens through curriculum, hands-on development, and real human connection. Not cute photos and a folder of vet records.
We don’t just raise dogs. We raise better beginnings, for them and for you.
My oath as an empowered
BAB Breeder
Ten commitments I made in writing. Hold me to every one of them.
01
Plan litters
Have a goal, focus and mission. Never overpopulate. Only meet demand with supply.
02
Parent standards
Breed only health, temperament and structure-tested parents, paired to accentuate each other. Never overbreed.
03
Parent care
Honor and respect my dams and sires at all times: safe, enriching quarters, high-quality vet care and food.
04
Puppy curriculum
A structured curriculum so puppies learn the world is safe, people are kind, and dogs are friendly.
05
Puppy development
Shape pups around critical learning periods, building confidence, nerve strength and startle recovery. Empower, never enable.
06
Puppy evaluations
Evaluate after 49 days and share every record and video. Only then does a family choose the pup that suits them both.
07
Lifetime responsibility
Take 100% responsibility for every puppy I produce, for its whole life, with a minimum one-year contract.
08
Client community
Educate my clients, new and old, and build an active community. Stay open to feedback, good and bad.
09
Love
Love my dogs, my puppies and my clients, and change the stigma. Be badass or stop breeding.
10
My mission
Stay true to why I breed. Heal hearts and save lives through the power of a dog. Together, we are better.
Now you know me
Let’s find the puppy that fits your life
The application is free and takes a few minutes. No deposit, no commitment. Just the start of a real conversation.