guardian program
We do not believe that puppies or dogs are best served by being kennel raised. Dogs are social animals that adore their families and want to be with them, involved in their daily lives and participating as loved family members. By placing them in a home environment that will be their forever home from the time they are puppies, or by placing as a young adult, we are doing our best to ensure their happiness and best start in life.
Guardian homes can offer those families who could not afford to purchase a Doodle or Poodle outright, a top quality Doodle or Poodle for free and all you invest is a little time for bringing the dog to us or arranging to have the dog picked up when we need it for testing, breeding or whelping. The guardian home is a fantastic option since the family only pays for normal vet care, food and licensing when a dog is placed them.
We benefit as a breeder because we know our dogs are getting adequate love and attention they deserve and we do not have to care for more dogs than we are
comfortable with or can manage. We know each dog has a forever home from the time they are young and a cherished member of a family until they pass into doggie heaven.
Many guardian homes eventually decide they would like a puppy out of their dog. Normally, most pets would be spayed/neutered and the owners wouldn’t have this option. With the guardian program since your dog will be having pups you will have the opportunity to see the puppies and choose one out of the litter. If you choose to do so, you can foster another guardian “grand puppy” or purchase from the litter.
Guardian homes can offer those families who could not afford to purchase a Doodle or Poodle outright, a top quality Doodle or Poodle for free and all you invest is a little time for bringing the dog to us or arranging to have the dog picked up when we need it for testing, breeding or whelping. The guardian home is a fantastic option since the family only pays for normal vet care, food and licensing when a dog is placed them.
We benefit as a breeder because we know our dogs are getting adequate love and attention they deserve and we do not have to care for more dogs than we are
comfortable with or can manage. We know each dog has a forever home from the time they are young and a cherished member of a family until they pass into doggie heaven.
Many guardian homes eventually decide they would like a puppy out of their dog. Normally, most pets would be spayed/neutered and the owners wouldn’t have this option. With the guardian program since your dog will be having pups you will have the opportunity to see the puppies and choose one out of the litter. If you choose to do so, you can foster another guardian “grand puppy” or purchase from the litter.
guidelines
To avoid food allergies and maintain proper nutrition guidelines, the Guardian family needs to feed food and treats approved by us. You will be provided with the dog food information and where to purchase it.
We ask the family to avoid all chemicals unless necessary, and to not give supplements or medicines unless approved by us. If the dog becomes sick or injured, we need the family to notify us right away so we are involved in all decisions regarding the treatment of the dog. In many cases we can save the family a lot of money if it is a simple issue, and in other situations the treatment may need to be specific if the dog is going to be bred soon, or is pregnant.
We ask the family to practice safe handling of the dog. Safe handling includes the following:
a. Do not leave the dog outside if you are not at home.
b. Do not leave the dog tied up.
c. Dog proof your home from any toxins or poisonous items that can be harmful to canines.
d. Don't let the dog sit in the back of an open pickup.
e. Use a leash in public.
f. Provide basic obedience training so the dog has manners.
g. Do not expose dog to second hand smoke. Studies show long nosed breed dogs are more susceptible to nasal cancer from second hand smoke.
The guardian home is responsible for the transportation of the dog to us. However, there are times we are willing to meet the distance halfway in between the Guardian home and the assigned drop off designation for breeding or having litters, or for the initial health testing.
We ask the family to avoid all chemicals unless necessary, and to not give supplements or medicines unless approved by us. If the dog becomes sick or injured, we need the family to notify us right away so we are involved in all decisions regarding the treatment of the dog. In many cases we can save the family a lot of money if it is a simple issue, and in other situations the treatment may need to be specific if the dog is going to be bred soon, or is pregnant.
We ask the family to practice safe handling of the dog. Safe handling includes the following:
a. Do not leave the dog outside if you are not at home.
b. Do not leave the dog tied up.
c. Dog proof your home from any toxins or poisonous items that can be harmful to canines.
d. Don't let the dog sit in the back of an open pickup.
e. Use a leash in public.
f. Provide basic obedience training so the dog has manners.
g. Do not expose dog to second hand smoke. Studies show long nosed breed dogs are more susceptible to nasal cancer from second hand smoke.
The guardian home is responsible for the transportation of the dog to us. However, there are times we are willing to meet the distance halfway in between the Guardian home and the assigned drop off designation for breeding or having litters, or for the initial health testing.
Common Questions
What age do you start breeding the dog?
We will usually breed females on their second heat, which is typically between 12 – 18 months. We usually do not breed males until they are around 10-12 months old.
How long is our Guardian Pet with you when you breed?
As soon as the family is aware the dog is in heat in a cycle she will be bred, we would like them to be transported to us on or around the 08 – 10 day of the heat cycle. She will remain with us for about one week and then return home. A male dog will be in our home about 3 - 4 days for a mating. There are occasions where we can bring the female to the male on a daily basis for 3 – 4 days for mating.
How long is a female pregnant?
Dogs are pregnant for 63 days give or take 4 days.
How long do you wait between breedings?
We are flexible about when breedings are done. The dogs generally cycle every 6 months. As long as your dog is healthy and up to having a litter we are very flexible as to when the breeding will be done. However, new research has shown it is better for the female’s health to breed them again their next heat cycle. We don’t want to wait more than a year between breedings unless there is a medical reason to do so. She will not be bred before 12 months of age or after 6 six years. Most females average 3 - 4 litters.
What happens when she is ready to have her puppies?
You can bring your girl to us a week before she is due so she can settle in. We will whelp and raise the pups and mom will come back home when the pups are 6 - 8 weeks old.
Can we visit her when she has the puppies?
You and your family are welcome to visit. No other visitors are allowed due to the risk of bringing in a lethal virus (Parvo) to the pup. The mom usually is VERY focused on her babies the first two weeks after she has her pups. Usually by the time puppies are two weeks old the mom is ready for little breaks from the puppies and enjoys seeing her family much more than earlier in the process. She is settled into being a mom and things are much happier for all involved during the visit. We ask that you try to decrease the odds of bringing in a fatal virus by not handling any other pets; visiting dog parks, fair grounds, dog shows, pet stores, animal shelters, or veterinary clinics before your scheduled visit. We will ask you to sanitize the bottoms of your shoes and wash your hands before handing pups. All children must be supervised by their parents and have a quiet voice so as not to startle the Mother and her puppies.
Does this negatively affect the dog emotionally to go from the guardian home to the breeder's home?
No. There is an initial "Where is my family going?" when he/she comes to us, but in every situation the dog is settled and comfortable and doing very well within an hour or two. Remember they will already “know” us because they were born and raised here. We try very hard to give them so much attention and love so that it is a pleasant and enjoyable experience for them. This is also important as everything the mother feels causes things to happen inside her body that can affect the babies. The less stress and the more relaxed she is, the better it is for babies. So, it is very important that the guardian home not make the transition difficult for the dog. If they act upset or nervous or sad about leaving her, she will feel that even more greatly and we need to make sure that doesn't happen. Bringing her and hanging out with her for an hour or so and just pretending like it's any other visit you'd make is very important. If we can have the family sneak out so the dog isn't even aware they've left, that is usually best too. She rarely acknowledges for more than a couple of minutes that anything has happened.
What happens during pregnancy and what do I have to do differently with the dog?
Pregnancy is actually very easy. The dog may act a little more tired, or not eat normally for a few weeks. The last couple weeks of pregnancy she is usually becoming hungrier and sleeps more as time progresses. Otherwise, normal activity is typical and it is important to continue with walking the dog right up to the end. This helps during delivery. Being in shape is always best. Normal play and romping and running during the first half of pregnancy are great. After that, we limit activity to walks on a leash and no ball chasing type of activities. We suggest adding ¼ cup of yogurt or cottage cheese every other day and a raw egg twice a week during the last 2 weeks of pregnancy to give extra nutrition. No chemicals may be given during pregnancy. We suggest no vaccinations, worming and heartworm when possible during this time. If there is an illness or injury we ask to be involved in determining how she is treated.
What happens if the puppy gets sick or injured while in the guardian home's care?
While the dog is in your care and home, any illness or injury that happens is your financial responsibility, just as it would be if you had a non guardian pet. We need to be involved in knowing what is going on and determining medications, but the family is responsible for those expenses. We have your dog’s best interest at heart so it is good to have us to consult with. If you are negligent and your dog is lost or dies when in your care we will ask for you to be responsible for our financial loss. If your dog is injured or dies and can no longer participate in the program and you were being responsible we will not hold you liable for the loss.
What expenses do we pay for and what things does the breeder pay for?
The guardian home pays for any normal care items for the dog. Food, dishes, leashes, beds, normal vaccinations, de-worming, toys, etc. We pay for all expenses related to health testing for breeding purposes, all breeding expenses and litter expenses.
How many litters do you usually breed before retiring the dog?
We contract for up to 4 litters for females. For males, we contract to have access to breeding rights until their 6th birthday unless negotiated otherwise. Sometimes we don’t breed at all. So the number of litters depends on each individual case. We consider a litter to be of 5 or more pups so if a mom has only one pup we don’t count it as a litter. A female averages 4 litters in our program. If the female thoroughly continues to enjoy motherhood, she may have a 5th litter.
Who pays for the spay/neuter surgery?
We do. For the females, this is usually about 2 months after her last litter of puppies is weaned. For male dogs, they will be neutered on or before their sixth birthday.
What happens if the dog doesn't pass a health test like you want them to for becoming a breeding dog?
Our standards are very high. We adhere to the quality requirements of the OFA as well as suggested genetic breed panel testing for each specific breed performed by reputable genetic companies as well as our own quality ideas. Remember, that breeding quality and pet quality are two different things. Just because a dog may not be the best breeding candidate doesn't mean she/he isn’t the perfect pet. Your dog can pass all the tests and we still may decide to remove it from the program. We aren’t bashful about removing dogs from our program. If we release your dog from the breeding program, we will spay/neuter your dog. You will still have gotten a quality dog for only the normal costs of having a pet.
What if I have a male guardian dog?
Male guardian dogs are usually used for breeding around 10-12 months. We ask that you make your dog available for breeding and arrange transportation. Most of our guardian boys aren’t used for breeding very often.
What happens if we join the guardian home for a quality breeding dog but don’t intend to honor the breeding contract?
We make a great commitment emotionally and financially to our owners and guardian dogs. We ask that you only enter into our guardian program if you are willing to make the same level of commitment to your dog and to us. Unfortunately, we will be forced to put a penalty for those who break our contact as we find some want the discounted dog but have no intentions of honoring the contract. We want to work with you and for this to be a win/win situation for all involved. We work hard to select the best of the best of our dogs for our guardian homes. We have a financial penalty to discourage those that would want to get a discounted dog and break the contract by using the dog for their own breeding program. If you are willing to make an honest commitment to us and our breeding program we will be very flexible and will do all we can to make this program work for you and your dog. We don't want to be controlling or intrusive into a family’s life. We consider our dogs and owners like extended family and enjoy the extra interaction we have with them in the guardian program. We are very fair and reasonable and want to work with you to make this a great experience for all involved. We hope that you will consider becoming one of our Guardian families.
Comments. Questions. Concerns.