What is a Guardian Home?

The guardian program allows us to grow our program and continue to better our breeds, without sacrificing any of our dogs happiness and need for love and attention. While we want to keep all of our dogs with us, we understand that they will be happier with more one on one attention than we can give them.

As a guardian home, you are the permanent home for one of our breeding dogs while they are in our program. Once they are retired (and spayed/neutered at our expense), full ownership transfers to the guardian family and they get to keep the dog forever.

Becoming a Guardian Home gives you the opportunity to have one of our puppies or young adults as a family pet while he or she remains in our program at no upfront cost to you!

By offering the guardian program, we are able to ensure that our dogs get to live the best possible lives in a loving, caring home where they receive as much one on one attention as possible.

DOES IT COST TO BECOME A GUARDIAN?

For A Fee Of Only $200 you will receive a top quality dog that has been hand selected by us to remain in our program at a low upfront cost!

WHAT ABOUT TRANSPORTATION?

Guardians are responsible for all transportation to and from us. If you have a female, then you will also be responsible for taking her to the vet for an ultrasound if you are not able to bring her for us to take her.

 

WHAT EXPENSES ARE GUARDIAN FAMILIES RESPONSIBLE FOR?

Guardians are responsible for all “regular” dog care including providing food, treats, toys, etc. They are also responsible for normal vet care that is not breeding related. The dog must be kept UTD on all shots, flea and tick meds, and heartworm meds at guardians expense. Guardians are also required to pay for grooming unless they opt to do it themselves.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A GUARDIAN HOME?

• Teach basic commands such as sit, stay, lay-down, “no”, quiet, and leave it as well as how to walk politely on a leash

• Must be willing and able to train using positive reinforcement only

• Potty train and crate train the dog by 9 months of age if they are not already

• Keep the dog as an indoor family pet and never allow them to live outside

• Keep the dog off of the ground where other dogs frequent (dog parks, pet stores, etc) and away from unknown dogs until the dog is fully vaccinated (around 16 weeks)

• Be willing and able to socialize the dog with other dogs as well as people

• Provide adequate exercise and mental stimulation

• Be able to bring the dog to and from the breeder within 24-36hr notice

• Must be able to communicate, cooperate, and coordinate with the breeder effectively

• Contact the breeder in the event of any serious illness or accident 

• You may not be a guardian home for a different breeder (with the same breeds) while participating in our program

• Fenced in yard is preferred, but not required

  WHAT IS THE BREEDER RESPONSIBLE FOR?

  • Provide guardian family with a healthy dog at no cost

  • Pay for health testing

  • Pay for all breeding related expenses (ie progesterone testing, semen collection, etc)

  • Teaching the guardian family how to detect a heat cycle and how to care for a pregnant dog if they don’t already know

  • Pay for the spay/neuter upon retirement

  • Pay a monetary sum per litter

  • Provide lifetime support for the dog

  • Always be willing to take the dog back if the guardian family can no longer care for them

DOES IT CONFUSE OR NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE DOG GOING BACK AND FORTH?

Initially, they may be slightly confused wondering, “Where’s my family going?”, but typically within 1-2 hours they are settled in. We try extremely hard to make sure that they are as comfortable as possible at their “home away from home” by giving them a lot of extra attention. It is also why we keep our guardian dogs in our home with us, as part of the family! We even allow them to sleep in bed with us if they choose to!

Please take into consideration that you may also play a role in how quickly your dog adjusts. The more relaxed she is, the less stressed out she will be. Humans can project emotions on their dogs, so, if you are crying or acting nervous when leaving your dog, then she will most likely be more stressed.

ARE THERE SPECIFIC GROOMING REQUIREMENTS?

We do not require you to keep a specific groom or cut, but we do require that the dog’s coat is well maintained and does not get matted. This includes regular brushing and grooming.

While the dog is with us, we reserve the right to groom and bathe the dog to ensure cleanliness, especially after whelping.

Our dogs are ambassadors for our breeding program. They should be well maintained as we will likely be taking pictures of them while they’re with us. We also love to receive updated pictures from our guardian families that we can share.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DECIDE I DON’T WANT MY DOG BRED?

Becoming a guardian home for one of our dogs is a huge commitment and a decision that should not be made lightly. Please keep in mind that we are retain full legal ownership of the dog until they are retired from our program and guardians have a legal obligation to follow the contract. Our dogs are very high quality and have been hand selected to benefit and improve our program further.

Becoming a guardian home is not for everyone! Please consider this commitment carefully.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I MOVE BEFORE MY DOG IS RETIRED?

Again, becoming a guardian home for us is a big responsibility and commitment. I understand that life can be unpredictable and things may change, but please keep in mind that in almost all cases you will not be able to buy him or her out of our program. We have invested a lot into our dogs to ensure that we are bettering our program and we have also most likely already started making plans for them in our program. This means that you will be required to return him or her.

If you know that you will be moving before the contract is up please do not apply for a puppy. In some cases, we may have a young adult that is looking for a guardian family that may be an option if they’ll be in our program for a shorter period of time.

DO WE HAVE TO FEED A SPECIFIC FOOD OR TREATS?

We do not require a specific food to be fed, however, we do require it be rated at least 3.5 stars on Dog Food Advisor. It is also required that they are not fed a grain free food.

I do prefer that our dogs stay on TLC, Purina Pro Plan, or Acana dog food.

For treats, we do not have any specific requirements, but they should be high quality. For example, no “Ol Roy” or rawhide treats.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY DOG ISN’T SUITABLE FOR BREEDING?

If your dog is deemed unsuitable for breeding by either us or one of our veterinarians, then the dog will be retired from our program. You will not be required to pay any fees, but you will be required to pay for spay/neuter at your expense. After that, full ownership will transfer over to you.

BENEFITS TO BEING A GUARDIAN HOME

• You are getting a top quality dog at no up front cost

• The dog will be health tested at the breeder’s expense

• Families are allowed to visit their female and her puppies

• Monetary compensation for each litter

• The breeder pays for spay or neuter

• Guardians with females get to name the puppies in her litters

• Once retired and spayed/neutered, full rights and ownership are transferred to you

• Knowing your canine companion is blessing families all over the country

• We consider all of our puppy/dog owners family, but when you become a guardian you are truly part of our team