What is a Guardian Home?
Guardian homes are a great opportunity for the right family.. Being a Guardian home can be an excellent way to have a top quality dog/puppy for a family pet, without the upfront expense. If you have been following us for a while, you know our family shares this website. I have a grown son and a grown daughter that also breed puppies and we all help each other.
We believe every dog deserves a loving forever home. Our guardian homes help us continue to breed these amazing dogs, while we retain breeding rights. The guardian provides the care, attention and lifetime love our dogs deserve. We ask that you consider the pros and cons of this commitment as a guardian home carefully. As there are drawbacks, but many rewards also. Guardians need to make sure they have the time to train, socialize and give companionship to a young puppy. Canine Good citizenship is recommended for puppies to complete, which is a series of puppy classes to attain this.
Free State pedigrees has already done genetic testing on these puppies before considering their placement in a guardian home. Every once in a while, we also have older puppies that may need some extra work, with extra added incentives.
All veterinary expenses incurred would be the responsibility of the guardian home. Free State Pedigrees is happy to do the yearly shots, except for rabies. By law, a licensed veterinarian must give that vaccination.
Puppy insurance is required to be carried on the puppy. Healthy paws Insurance, with our link, gives you a 10% lifetime discount on premiums. A 90/10 plan is recommended. Any reproductive type veterinary expenses Free State pedigrees will provide.
Momma dogs are bred on their second heat, generally at 1.5 years of age or up. Some dogs do not even go into heat until they are close to 2 years old. If that is the case, then they can be bred on their first heat. We evaluate each dog, to make sure they are ready to become Mothers.
Females are brought here to breed when they are in heat. The they return to your home until about a week prior to their due date. They will stay here to have their puppies and then through weaning. They will return to you by the time the puppies are 8 weeks old. Once the female has the agreed upon litters, typically no more than 4, then the guardianship contract will end and the female is then retired to her forever family.
To help offset the expenses of maintaining a pet, along with the puppy insurance, we give a per litter bonus. The bonus is contingent upon following our guidelines, keeping in communication with us along with puppy training, proof of maintaining puppy insurance, proper grooming etc. We don't mind if you self groom or go to a groomer as long as the dog is kept clean and mat free.
Male dogs/puppies can also be placed in a guardian home. Males are used when needed to breed with females at different times. Males can either be brought here 3-4 times during the females cycle or left here for the week while the female is in heat. Proper training of male dogs is a must, so they learn that marking in the house is not acceptable behavior. Worse case scenario they must wear a belly band.
Males can be a part of our program for up to 7 years depending on their quality. You will not be allowed to use our male with any other females with him.
How to qualify to be a guardian home:
In order to ensure the safety and health of the guardian home dog, there are certain requirements to qualify for our guardian home program.
You Must:
Own your own home or live in an apartment that allows pets
Have a fully fenced yard or always have dog on a leash with a harness
Ensure that the puppy is well socialized.
Attend puppy classes and work toward Canine Good Citizenship
Provide veterinarian care, when needed
Keep current Healthy Paws puppy insurance
Provide regular grooming
Provide good quality dog food
Live within 1 hour of 66048 and or be willing to bring dog to us when needed within a 24 hour notice.
Must not own any other intact dogs, unless of the same sex
Provide a safe and secure environment
Remain within 1 hour of 66048
Prefer a home with a stay at home parent or only part-time. Retirees welcome
A guardianship is a partnership between a family and a breeder to provide the best home for the puppy. There is a lot of trust that must be given and earned that goes both ways. The breeder, ultimately, wants what is best for the dog as does the family and by working together they can achieve this goal. Many of our puppies go into service work, so there are certain characteristics we look for in our parent dogs.
Link to contract is below
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18YHfoxK2m_y6xPn9N2H_2UupfJ32hFiWHn-lrf-MelE/edit?usp=sharing
Old English Sheepdog Male puppy coming soon! Contact for information.
Mentorship Program
In addition to our guardian home program, we will from time to time, offer to mentor a person interested in becoming a small hobby breeder. There are several ways to do this. One is to become a guardian home and instead of having your female dog come here to have puppies, you will learn to whelp and raise the puppies under my guidance. Depending on which puppies and how we set up the new agreement, will determine how the expenses and proceeds from the litter are distributed. It is a great way to learn and get started in your own program.
How to be mentored, when purchasing your breeding dogs somewhere else? Their is a fee for this. Ask for details.
How to be mentored, when purchasing your breeding dogs somewhere else? Their is a fee for this. Ask for details.