Guardian Program
What is a Guardian Home?
A Guardian Home lets breeders continue their work while giving dogs a chance to live their best life with a loving family. The family handles routine care like vet visits, while we cover canine disorder testing and all breeding-related costs. It’s a win-win for everyone—especially the dog!
When we produce exceptional puppies, we aim to place them in loving guardian homes. These puppies are offered at a significantly reduced price, with owners signing a Guardian Agreement instead of a spay/neuter contract. This ensures the puppy becomes a cherished part of the family while remaining part of our breeding program for a specific period of time.
Guardians must live within an hour of Madison, WI, or be committed to traveling here for all reproductive appointments and services.
Husbandry:
A Guardian Home has several important responsibilities when caring for a puppy. These include providing daily care to ensure the dog is well-mannered, healthy, and properly socialized. Guardians must commit to regular veterinary care, including annual checkups and vaccines, to maintain the dog’s health.
Additional Training:
Guardians are required to take the puppy to group puppy classes for the benefit of the puppy and the owner. Also, the dog must earn a Canine Good Citizen certification before 1.5 years of age.
Reproductive Requirements:
Additionally, the Guardian must make the dog available for reproductive testing and attend scheduled health testing appointments at designated veterinary clinics.
Males remain in the program for at least 7 years. The dog will be used for no more than 12 breeding services annually. Females may remain in the program for up to 6 years or 4 litters. Number of litters will be assessed on an individual basis and needs of our breeding program.
Pet Insurance:
Another critical requirement is maintaining pet insurance for the dog through Figo for the entire duration the dog is in the breeding program or until the contractual obligations are fulfilled.
These responsibilities ensure the dog’s well-being and success in the breeding program. More details and responsibilities will be provided to potential Guardians.
As breeders, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive guidance and support throughout the puppy-raising process, tailored to the needs of each Guardian Family. This includes guidance for group classes and sports to engage your puppy and help earn his/her Canine Good Citizen or additional titles as desired.
Canine Disorder Testing:
We handle all health-related testing for the dog, including genetic and phenotypic screenings such as CAER eye exams, OFA evaluations (hips, elbows, cardiac, and patellas), PennHip assessments, and semen analysis (for males). We coordinate testing appointments with the Guardian’s schedule and offer advice on various aspects of dog care, including the breeding process, safe medications, and service timelines.
Breeding Process:
When breeding is required, we ensure clear communication about timing and logistics, taking temporary possession of the dog or arranging for a convenient alternative. Additionally, we would like to visit the Guardian's home at least twice annually to maintain a strong partnership. When females are in our possession, they are treated like family and get the best care.
An added perk, if you live nearby, is that I groom my own dogs and can occasionally extend this service to your puppy. This provides me with the opportunity to spend quality time with the puppies, monitor their growth, and evaluate their structure and development.
Many responsible owners are beginning to maintain intact dogs for a longer period of time, possibly even their whole life. New research has shown us the importance of keeping dogs intact to improve their longevity, reduce the prevalence of diseases and some cancers as well as improve joint health!
Managing an intact dog in your home is similar to having a spayed or neutered dog, with some key differences to consider. After the first year, many intact dogs may no longer be allowed to attend doggy daycare, as most facilities have policies restricting intact dogs. Additionally, while in the breeding program, dogs cannot attend off-leash dog parks to reduce exposure to communicable diseases and prevent accidents from occurring.
If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
Females:
Heat cycles occur approximately every six months and require some extra management. During this time, they produce a bloody discharge, so wearing doggy panties and maintaining cleanliness and grooming are essential to avoid infections. They must be supervised outdoors, kept away from unknown dogs, and never allowed off-leash while in heat. You may notice temporary mood changes, such as increased whining, clinginess, or the desire for solitude. Each dog is a little different and each cycle can vary too--much like human women.
Males:
Behavior in intact males is generally similar to that of neutered dogs. However, they may develop certain undesirable habits if not properly managed during their upbringing. Marking behavior is a common issue that can arise, particularly during puberty. To help prevent this, it’s important to socialize male puppies in other people’s homes early on. If marking becomes an issue, belly bands can be a useful tool when visiting other homes.
Intact males should always be closely monitored around intact females and should avoid off-leash settings with unknown dogs that could be in or nearing heat. In some cases, males may show aggression when a female in heat is present alongside another intact male. With thoughtful management and training, intact males can thrive in your home and fulfill their role in the breeding program successfully.
Becoming a Guardian Home is a thoughtful and collaborative process to ensure the best fit for both the puppy and the family. Building a strong relationship with each Guardian Family is a priority, involving in-depth conversations about your family life and lifestyle. A commitment to training the puppy for their Canine Good Citizen and provide further enrichment and activities for your puppy is a priority.
Since not every litter produces a puppy suitable for breeding, Guardian Families must be flexible and willing to wait for the right puppy produced at the right time. A preference for gender is completely understandable and always taken into consideration. Remember: it's a collaboration and a development into a strong relationship.
The cost of a Guardian Puppy is a $500 deposit when picking up the puppy. If the dog passes all applicable canine disorder testing, and also completes their Canine Good Citizen certification, the deposit will be refunded to you.
If you are interested in becoming a Guardian Family, please email or call me to get started! I'll have you fill out an application and we'll begin talking about the process and future plans for keeping puppies for breeding! If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
Bringing Home a Well-Bred Puppy can be Expensive
But there is another way!
