(Guardian Home details are below the brief video of our daughter playing with some of our other guardian puppies):
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What is a "Guardian Home"?
In order to provide the best loving care for each of our dogs, we utilize a concept called "Guardian Homes." We know we can't have more than one or two dogs in our home without sliding toward an "institutional" scenario - and we care too much about our dogs to allow that to happen.
In an nutshell... we provide a dog to you that becomes your family's dog. As a Guardian Home Family ("GHF") you become the family for a female puppy/dog who is also a part of our goldendoodle puppy breeding program. The dog joins your family, and then periodically (roughly annually) she comes to our home to be bred for bearing puppies (about a 2 to 3 day visit). About 9 weeks later when the pups are to be born, the dog comes to our home to have her pups (about a 5 week visit).
Breeding begins when a dog is about 2 year old. Most of our dogs are breed 3-4 times, or about one litter/yr, from ages 2-6.
When the dog is retired from breeding, she becomes the sole property of the Guardian Home Family.
Our geographic preference is a 25-mile radius from zip code 48895. (But we are somewhat flexible)
A SAMPLE contract, with approximate terms, is included below for your information. This SAMPLE does not necessarily reflect the final details, but is included for informational purposes for those researching GHF options.
SAMPLE Contract
Guardian Home Family
More important than any of the specific details listed below is the understanding that both parties, Guardian Home Family (GHF) and Breeder, need to be committed to the well being and health of the dog. In addition, both parties agree if a situation arises that is not specifically outlined below, every effort will be made to exercise timely and effective communication and to seek a workable solution. Usually things work together very smoothly, but on occasion a bump may arrives that requires working out.
Breeder Responsibilities:
- Provide GHF with a healthy pet, free of any known health problems.
- Compensate GHF the amount of $300, for each delivered pregnancy. To be provided no later than 8 weeks after whelping.
- Assign sole ownership to the GHF at anytime the dog is retired from breeding. [Breeding life not to exceed 5 litters total]. At that time, GHF will receive all applicable ownership records for the dog.
GHF Responsibilities:
- Provide a safe dog-friendly home.
- Ensure that the dog is provided “exercise” for a reasonable period on most days, and that the dog is not routinely crated for excessive amounts of time.
- Agree to use high quality dog food to maintain optimal health of the dog.
- Agree to provide routine, annual veterinary care, as recommended by the veterinarian: heartworm, vaccinations, anti-flea medication, and deworming.
- Agree to maintain proper licensing as required by the county.
- Agree to NOT shelter a non-neutered male dog on the premises.
- Agree to NOT sell or re-home the dog while in the GHF program.
- Agree to contact Breeder in the event of anything atypical in the health of the dog (e.g. worms in stool, early labor, excessive itching, accident, extreme lethargy).
- Agree to notify Breeder at first sign of dog’s heat cycle, marked by dark brown or bloody discharge from the vulva.
- Agree to exercise extra precaution to prevent encounters with other non-family dogs during the dog’s heat cycle.
What to expect for breeding and delivery periods.
When the dog is determined to be in heat, the Breeder will plan a visit for the purposes of breeding, during which the dog will be housed and cared for by the Breeder. Breeding will occur on the premises of the Breeder or of the Breeder’s Stud Service. Breeding is completed typically in 7 days. (Breeding must be conducted in the middle of the heat cycle, when the female dog is receptive to the male for breeding. If the breeding visit starts prior to the receptive phase, then breeding may take several extra days, while waiting for the receptive phase to begin.) After breeding, the dog will return to the GHF. Gestation for puppies is 9 weeks.
The Breeder will plan a dog visit for the purposes of whelping, to begin several days prior to the expected delivery date. The dog will remain at the Breeder’s with her pups until the pups are approximately 5 weeks of age, and have been weaned. Then the dog will return to the GHF.
General:
- In the case of a serious/life threatening accident or illness which requires heroic medical intervention to treat the dog, the course of medical action to be taken will be determined by the Breeder. If the Breeder does not wish to pursue medical intervention, the GHF will be given the option to purse medical intervention with the assumption of all related medical expenses.
- In the event of the death of the dog, this contract is null and void.
- If the death occurs as a result of GHF negligence, the GHF is responsible for all vet bills connected with the incident.
- In the event of the dog’s death, the Breeder is not required to compensate the GHF for presumed future litters.
- In the event that the GHF owner moves prior to retiring the dog from breeding, it is the decision of the Breeder whether or not to honor this contract, and whether to require return of the dog to the Breeder, or financial payment to Breeder if new home is outside Breeder's geographic radius for breeding.
