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.

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.

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.

• 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 required

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

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.

We do not require a specific food to be fed, however, we do require it be a premium food such as Royal Canin, Science Diet, etc.

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

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.

• 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
• 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
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For males, the timeframe that they’re gone is much shorter. Females will be generally be with us about a week during the breeding cycle, then again for about 7 weeks when they have puppies. This may happen up to two times a year.

As mentioned above, if you already know that you may be moving within the next few years, then the guardian program may not be the right fit for you.

One thing that separates us from many breeders is that we try our best to treat our guardian dogs as part of the family. This means that they will live in our home while they’re with us. While we do move our litters to our puppy area around 3 weeks to start the weaning process, they are always invited into our home.

To be able to do this, all dogs must have obedience training. At a minimum they should know how to sit, stay, lay-down, “no”, quiet, and leave it. Along with other basic manners (ie no jumping up, proper door etiquette (not bolting out), no counter surfing