Is There a Cost to Become a Guardian?
No, becoming a Guardian Home comes with no upfront costs. We hand select the pick of the litter and you receive a top-quality dog, to remain in our program at no up-front cost.
What About Transportation?
Guardians are responsible for all transportation to and from our home. Our females need to be transported to our home 1-2 weeks during their heat cycle and then return 2 weeks prior to their delivery date and stay until the puppies are 6-8 weeks old and weaned. At this time we are keeping our males in our breeding program on site and not offering guardianship homes for males at this time.
What Expenses Are Guardian Families Responsible For?
Guardians are responsible for "regular" dog care expenses, including food, treats, toys, and other necessities. Additionally, you will also be responsible for normal vet care that is unrelated to breeding. Our guardianship dogs must follow the breeder approved vaccination schedule, flea/tick medications, and heartworm prevention, at guardians’ expense. Grooming expenses are also the responsibility of the guardian and required to be groomed every 2 months.
We value the dedication of our Guardian Families in providing loving homes for our dogs. Your commitment helps us maintain the highest standards of care and breeding while ensuring they are fully loved and cared for.
What are the Guardian Home Responsibilities?
To be considered for a guardian home we require that you live within 30 miles of Sagamore Hills Ohio.
- Potty train and crate train the dog by 9 months of age if they are not already.
- You must have a safe, secure residence, and play area for exercise.
- You must be willing to feed high quality dog food approved by Breeder.
- Provide grooming with a professional at least quarterly as this breed is at risk for matting.
- Teach basic commands such as sit, stay, lay-down, “no”, quiet, and leave it as well as how to walk politely on a leash. Training is through formal class training or qualified experience.
- Be willing and able to socialize the dog with other dogs as well as people.
- You must have a willingness to accept and follow breeder’s recommendations for the dog’s basic health care and veterinarian care, such as vaccine schedules, the use of certain medications, flea and tick prevention, heartworm prevention, and need for profession training etc.
- You must agree to allow Breeder to visit your home on occasion.
- Must have dog microchipped and BREEDER listed as owner.
- Must make Breeder the co-owner with veterinarian.
- Keep the dog as an indoor family pet and never allow them to live outside.
- Provide adequate exercise and mental stimulation.
- Be able to bring the dog to and from the breeder within 24-36 hour 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.
- No intact male dogs (not neutered) should be residing on the premises to increase a risk of an unwanted mating (for females only).
What are the breeder responsibilities?
- Pay for all genetic and health testing.
- Pay for all breeding related expenses including veterinary visits that are breeding related (i.e., progesterone testing, semen collection, ultra sound, etc.)
- Teaching the guardian family how to detect a heat cycle and how to care for a pregnant dog if they do not 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.
Considerations of becoming a Guardian Home.
Time away from your female dog for breeding and whelping.
Our female dogs will be with us during the heat cycle for 1-2 weeks and then again for about 7-9 weeks while they are having their puppies. This can happen up to 2 times a year.
Staying in the area
If you plan on moving in the next few years, then the guardian program may not be the right fit for you. Our females usually stay in the program 4-6 years depending on heat cycles.
Commitment of caring for and training a dog.
Our guardian dogs will be in our home and cared for as a family member. We require our guardian dogs to be house broken, crate trained, basic manners (no jumping, no chewing, door etiquette, etc.) and basic obedience (sit, stay, down, come, quiet, and leave it)