All dogs should have a safe and happy home, and that's what we strive to provide at Our Furry Family. To ensure that our dogs receive the best care possible, we don't use kennels; instead, they live with us in the house. Given this need, we have launched the Guardian Home Program. One of our breeding males or females will need a Guardian Home in order to live out their lives in a loving, permanent environment.
By signing up to be a Guardian Household, you may take one of our pups or young adults into your home (up to 3 litters for females and 6 for males) for as long as they are in our program. All ownership rights to the dog will remain with Our Furry Family. If we ever decide it's necessary, we can end the guardianship program at any moment. We will pay to have him or her spayed or neutered before retirement, so he or she may spend their golden years with you.
A Guardian for one of our females will get either $50 per puppy or $300 per litter upon the adoption of the puppies. While she is staying with us, you are more than welcome to stop by at your convenience to see her and spend some time with the puppies. You will be paid $100 for each healthy litter if you agree to be a Guardian for one of our males.
When you take on the role of Guardian Household, you'll be responsible for covering the typical costs associated with dog ownership, such as food, supplies, and vet visits. All expenditures associated with breeding, such as health checks, progesterone screenings, x-rays, etc., will be covered entirely by us.
It's not everyone's cup of tea to take on the responsibility of becoming a Guardian Home. As a prerequisite, you must be able and willing to abide by the following conditions:
In order to become a Guardian Home for one of our furry friends, please complete the Guardian Home application. We hope to hear from you soon!
What is a Guardian Home?
Our breeding candidates live with local families under a guardian home program while we maintain ownership and rights to the animals. At the time of retirement, the dog will become the property of the guardian family and will remain with them indefinitely.
Becoming a Guardian Home allows you to take one of our pups or young adults into your home at no initial cost and raise them as part of your family.
The Guardian Program allows us to provide our dogs with the best possible life in a family environment where they can thrive with lots of love and care.
HOW MUCH DOES THIS PROGRAM COST?
You won't have to pay anything upfront to take home a high-quality dog that has been carefully chosen by our staff.
HOW ABOUT TRAVEL?
Any way of travel to and from us must be arranged by the guardians. If you have a female pet, you'll need to arrange for transportation to the vet so that she may get an ultrasound.
WHAT COSTS DO GUARDIAN FAMILIES HAVE TO DEAL WITH?
The guardian is responsible for all "normal" canine care, such as feeding, treating, and entertaining the dog. Furthermore, they are responsible for routine veterinary treatment that is unrelated to breeding. The cost of keeping the dog up-to-date on vaccinations, flea and tick treatments, and heartworm preventatives is the responsibility of the dog's guardians. Unless they do it themselves, guardians must also cover the cost of grooming.
HOW DOES ONE MEET THE PREREQUISITES FOR A GUARDIAN HOME?
WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BREEDER?
· Donate a healthy puppy to a caring home for free.
· Paying for health check ups
· Cover costs for anything that occurs throughout the breeding process, from progesterone testing to collecting sperm.
· Care for a pregnant dog, including educating the guardian family on how to recognize a heat cycle if they are unaware.
· As a retirement benefit, we cover the cost of spaying or neutering your pets.
· Pay a monetary amount per litter
· Guarantee the dog's welfare forever.
· Be prepared to take the dog back at any time if the family guarding it is no longer able to keep him/her.
WOULD THE DOG BE CONFUSED BY OR IMPACTED IN ANY WAY BY THE BACKWARD AND FORWARD TRAVEL?
They could be asking, "Where is my family going?" for the first hour or two, but they usually stop worrying about it and start making themselves at home. We go to great lengths to make them feel at home in their temporary residence. That's why we treat our guardian dogs like family and welcome them into our house.
How soon your dog adjusts may depend on a number of factors, including your own actions, so please keep that in mind. If she can learn to unwind, she can reduce her anxiety levels. Dogs may pick up on their owners' feelings and become more anxious if, for example, you cry or seem apprehensive before leaving your dog.
IS THERE A REQUIREMENT FOR A PARTICULAR LEVEL OF GROOMING?
No special cut or groom is necessary, but the dog's coat must be kept in good condition. You should maintain a grooming routine, which entails brushing and combing hair often.
The dog will be groomed and bathed while in our care to ensure its health and hygiene, especially after giving birth.
Dogs from our breeding program serve as representatives of the breed. They should look their best since we want to take photographs of them while they're here with us. We also appreciate it when our foster family sends us recent photos that we can show off.
IF I DON'T WANT MY DOG TO BE BRED, WHAT HAPPENS?
Adopting one of our pets is a life-changing choice that requires serious consideration. Be aware that until the dog is retired from our program, we maintain full legal ownership of the dog and the guardian has a legal duty to uphold the terms of the contract. Each of our canines is of the highest caliber and was specifically chosen for our program.
Not everyone is cut out to be a guardian home. Please give serious thought to this pledge.
IN THE PROGRAM, MAY I PURCHASE MY DOG?
As was previously indicated, the canines in our program have all been carefully chosen, making them, in some situations, unique and potentially irreplaceable. Dogs from our program cannot be "purchased." Yet, once they are no longer needed for our program, they will belong to you in perpetuity. Take the time to ensure that you can fulfill this promise.
IF I HAVE TO MOVE BEFORE MY DOG RETIRES, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO HIM?
So, taking up the role of guardian house for us is a significant commitment and duty. Life is unpredictable and circumstances may change, but please bear in mind that you cannot purchase your dogs way out of our program in most circumstances. We have put a lot of money into our dogs to make sure we are improving our program, and we have probably already begun to make plans for them in the program. Thus, you must give him or her back to us immediately.
Please don't apply for a puppy if you plan on relocating before the agreement's term is over. If a young adult is only going to be participating in our program for a limited time, we may be able to place them with a guardian family.
IS THERE A REQUIREMENT FOR ANY PARTICULAR FOOD OR TREAT?
While we don't specify a diet, we do insist that it receives at least 3.5 ratings on Dog Food Advisor. They also can't be given any grain-free diet options.
My personal preference is to continue feeding our dogs TLC, Purina Pro Plan, or Acana.
We don't have any strict rules on treats, other than that they should be of a good standard. Neither "Ol Roy" nor rawhide goodies are allowed.
IF MY DOG IS UNSUITABLE FOR BREEDING, WHAT HAPPENS?
Your dog will be removed from our program if we or one of our vets determine that it is not appropriate for breeding. You won't have to pay any fees, but you will have to cover the cost of spaying or neutering on your own. Following that, complete ownership will pass to you.
ADVANTAGES OF SERVING AS A GUARDIAN HOME
THE GUARDIAN PROGRAM: QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
Are you going to be okay with leaving your dog during the breeding and whelping phase?
The time period during which males are absent is substantially shorter. Most females will stay with us for a week or so during their breeding cycle and then return for another 7 weeks or so after they deliver their puppies. It's possible that this may happen twice a year.
SO, DO YOU PLAN ON STAYING IN THE AREA?
As was previously noted, the guardian program isn't necessarily ideal if you plan on moving within the next several years.
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO DEDICATE YOURSELF TO TRAINING YOUR DOG?
One way in which we differ from other breeders is in the way we handle our guardian dogs. They will be staying with us, which means they will have full use of our house. Even though we start weaning our litters out of the house at about 3 weeks old, they are always welcome here.
All dogs need to go through obedience training to do this. They should be able to sit, stay, lie down, say "no," be quiet, and leave it. Not only that, but they should not leap up, rush through doors, or steal food from the counter either.
They also need to be crate-trained and house-trained.
F.A.Q.S. ON FEMALES IN THE GUARDIAN PROGRAM
Questions concerning providing a safe haven for a female in our breeding program are addressed below.
WHEN SHE IS IN HEAT WHAT HAPPENS?
No matter how old she is, as her guardian, you must tell us right away if she goes in heat. We won't mate her until she's at least 12 months old, but knowing when her next heat cycle will be is helpful.
To account for the possibility that her cycle is more advanced than anticipated, I like to have her in for her first progesterone test on day 3 after being alerted, but this can vary.
It's crucial that you keep a tight check on her whenever she goes outside during her cycle, especially if she comes into contact with any unneutered males. Two to three weeks is a reasonable estimate for this time frame.
HOW LONG WILL SHE CONTINUE TO BE IN HEAT?
The answer to this question is very conditional on the availability of both breeders and guardians. Furthermore, the location of the guardian. Depending on how rapidly her levels are increasing, we do between two and four progesterone tests.
She doesn't have to stay with us during her heat cycle, but she certainly may if you're not too far away and can transport her to and from us on short notice.
She will have to stay with us if you live too far away, or if your schedule doesn't allow her to visit you (usually 5-7 days).
AT WHAT AGE WILL WE BEGIN BREEDING?
Typically, we breed our females when they are between 12 and 15 months old, during their second heat cycle. Our policy is to never breed a female that is younger than 12 months. The dog's age and development are also taken into account, and it's possible that we'll want to wait until the following cycle.
HOW LONG DOES DOG PREGNANCY LAST?
Usually, a dog's pregnancy lasts 63 days, but it can last as long as 67.
PREGNANCY: WHAT TO EXPECT
The majority of pregnancies go off without a hitch.
Some adjustments need to be expected at first. There's a chance she'll appear more exhausted than usual and have less appetite. To ensure she is getting adequate nourishment, it may be important to incorporate a more palatable diet, like chicken or a high-quality canned food. The first few weeks of pregnancy can be rough for some females, especially young ones. The first half is a good time to keep up with her regular routine of exercise and activities.
No strenuous activity should be permitted during the second half, however, she should be encouraged to obtain more light exercise, such as going for walks. A rise in her appetite is warranted, and a rise in her food consumption is crucial. You can keep experimenting with different ingredients to feed her picky palate. On the other hand, she shouldn't be given any calcium-rich meals such as yogurt or cottage cheese.
Nothing should be given to your pregnant dog, including immunizations, drugs not authorized by us, heartworm medications, flea and tick treatments, etc. A flea and tick collar from the Seresto brand could help.
WHEN SHE HAS A LITTER, HOW LONG DOES SHE STAY?
Our moms have to come back between five and seven days before they are due to have their pups. She'll have time to get used to being back at home with us, and we'll have a better sense of when labor could begin if we start keeping an eye on her temperature then.
The pups will need to stay with us for around six weeks after they are born, and this time frame is contingent upon how well the weaning process goes. Although the puppies will stay for a full eight weeks, we do have many dogs who are fantastic at socializing with the puppies so that their mothers may go back to their families.
WHEN SHE HAS PUPPIES, MAY WE COME AND SEE HER?
Following the initial 5-7 days, loved ones are welcome to visit as often as once a week. Nevertheless, we may suggest that you restrict visits to once per fortnight if we see that she is becoming overwhelmed or confused.
We are often unavailable because we are too busy taking care of our babies and older dogs. Visits must be scheduled in advance to ensure our availability.
PRIOR TO RETIRING, HOW MANY LITTERS WOULD THEY HAVE?
According to the terms of our agreement, each of our females can have up to two to three litters. Nonetheless, we do check out every single female and make our decisions on what we find. If they have trouble giving birth, experience problems, aren't excellent mothers (showing little to no interest in pups), or our veterinarian advises that they not have any future litters, they will be retired from the program.
Our dogs' well-being comes before anything else, even when it comes to rearing offspring.
WILL I RECEIVE PAYMENT OF ANY KIND?
We know how difficult it is to leave your dog behind for an extended period of time. Once each litter is placed in a new home, we do pay a little fee as a way of saying "thank you" for your help.
Our compensation structure is expanding and new levels will be implemented in February 2023.
$100 - 1 puppy (singleton)
$300 - 2-4 puppies in the litter
$500 - 5 or more puppies in the litter
COMMON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT MALE MEMBERS OF OUR GUARDIAN PROGRAM
AT WHAT AGE DO MALES START TO BREED?
From seven months forward and beyond, males are sexually active. With the help of our vet, we plan to examine each male separately. This usually entails us bringing them in so we may collect their sperm.
HOW OFTEN DO MALES BREED?
Given the complexity of the subject and the fact that we do provide a stud service to third-party breeders, the answer varies widely. Males might be needed as little as once per year or as much as several times per year. Which is also another reason why we like having our males nearby. We prefer they spend as little time away from their families as possible.
WHEN WILL HE LEAVE YOUR COMPANY?
While mating naturally, males will often stay with us for five to seven days so that they can "honeymoon" once every other day. This is only necessary if the male partner lives a significant distance away.
Males are asked to maintain a 45-minute minimum proximity to our location. In that manner, he can visit every other day, at least twice if breeding naturally or only once if we are artificially inseminating.
There is no need for the guardian to deliver the semen to us if he or she already has access to a reproductive vet in the area from where the semen is being transferred to another breeder.
WHEN MALES ENROLL IN THE GUARDIAN PROGRAM, HOW LONG DO THEY STAY?
Our organization keeps males for as long as six years after they leave their foster care. Yet, we reserve the right to put some males into early retirement depending on our judgment or the advice of our reproductive veterinarians.
ONE OF MY FRIENDS HAS A FRENCHIE; WHAT IF WE ALLOW THEM TO HAVE PUPPIES?
The rights to future breeding’s are reserved for us. This implies he can't "accidentally" mate with any female that isn't on the approved list. Males should stay far away from any females who are menstruating unless it is specifically permitted.
DO WE GET PAID FOR THIS IN ANY WAY?
Yes! For every litter of healthy offspring, a male pet is responsible for, the owner will receive $100.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.