Summerfield, North Carolina, United States
Call or text! 336-317-4672
Guardian Puppy Info
Guardian Family Program FAQ
There are always a lot of questions that people have about the guardian program. The collection of questions and answers below are our best attempt to address all the most frequently asked questions. Hopefully the information doesn’t overwhelm you. It’s actually a pretty simple program.
FEEDING YOUR GUARDIAN DOG
We’re advocates of feeding a high quality dog food. The dog food we ask you to feed are easily found. we prefer Purina Pro Plan puppy and adult, but are okay with something comparable.
GUARDIAN DOG SOCIALIZATION
You also MUST socialize your guardian dog with other dogs, people, kids and strangers. They MUST be potty trained and have some basic obedience skills.
We worry more about proper and early socialization than if they will jump through hoops or play dead. We just need them to be comfortable and well-behaved in a home around a family and be able to obey basic commands, not have anxiety issues when in a crate or around new people.
Guardian Dogs MUST be comfortable being away from their owners without it causing them high stress. Most of the dogs we breed and hold back as future guardian dogs can be really great at all of these things AS LONG AS THEY’RE WELL SOCIALIZED from puppyhood into adulthood.
WHAT ABOUT VET BILLS, DO YOU PAY THOSE?
We pay for all Veterinarian bills that are related to pregnancy, reproduction, whelping and all necessary genetic testing. We do not pay for Well Pet Visits, Preventive Medications or for Immunization. If the dog becomes sick or injured, we need the guardian family to notify us right away, we must be involved in all decisions regarding the health and veterinary treatment of the guardian dog/puppy.
GENETIC TESTING AND APPOINTMENTS
All the necessary genetic testing will be completed on the guardian dog before the dog is ever even considered for breeding.
We pay for all genetic testing appointments. We do ask that the guardian family provide transportation to and from these vet appointments or set up with us with plenty of notice for scheduling a time for us to pick up the dog.
Usually, only one appointment is needed and we use Lake Brandt Animal Hospital– to test for hips, elbows, heart and eyes. You are however welcome to use any vet of your choosing for your regular veterinarian care.
We will try to work with our guardians in regards to the appointment times and we will give you at least a weeks notice to prepare. *Sometimes we can not attend these appointments ourselves and in those cases we will pay the veterinarian bill over the phone.
We will also ask you to do one mouth swab genetic test from home. The testing kit will be mailed to you and then you will be responsible for swabbing your dogs checks and sending the sample back in the mail. This test is the genetic blood panel test and will tells us if the dog carries for any diseases and also the coat and colors they carry. It is very easy. If you need us to stop by to help with this, you can let us know and schedule a time.
DOG HANDLING AND LIVING ARRANGEMENTS:
We ask that our guardian families practice safe dog handling. For example do not leave the dog outside if they are not at home. Don’t let the dog sit in the back of an open pickup. Use a leash in public. Do NOT tie or chain your dog to a tree or post in the backyard. Provide basic obedience training so the dog has manners. Our dogs are very family oriented and thrive in a family environment. They love their people. These are all things that should be done to protect any dog but are especially important to us. All our guardian dogs must be potty trained and crate trained.
WHAT AGE DO YOU START BREEDING GUARDIAN DOGS?
Depends, we breed on the second heat in most cases. Usually this happens around 1 1/2 years old however if their first heat happens at 15-18 months then we will breed them on their first heat as long as they have completed all their genetic testing and are emotionally mature and in good physical shape. Our guardian dogs health is always our number one priority when making breeding decisions. All breeding decisions are ours to make. While we always take our guardians opinions into account, the final decision is ours.
HOW DOES MATING WORK AND HOW LONG IS SHE WITH YOU WHEN YOU BREED HER?
We ask that you notify us the minute you notice your guardian dog is in heat. We will teach you how to identify a heat cycle if you don’t already know. Timing is VERY IMPORTANT when breeding dogs so you MUST NOTIFY US RIGHT AWAY when you notice the first sign of menstrual blood.
Once the guardian notifies us their female is in heat then we ask our guardians wait to bring their girl to us around the 7-8th day of their heat cycle and she will be here with us for about a week. Sometimes we may need to travel with the guardian girl to the stud for the actual breeding.
We will breed our breeding pair every other day until we’ve completed a successful mating or “tie” 3 separate times. We allow our dogs to follow their instincts and we do not force breeding (that doesn’t work out to accomplish a pregnancy anyway.)
Girls know when their ready to accept a male and will only do so when the timing is right. We are just here to hold them so no one gets hurt and also to make sure the breeding environment is as calm as possible.
ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION
My #1 goal is always to accomplish a natural mating but in some rare cases.. it’s just not possible so we will use artificial insemination also known as ‘AI’.
We may need to use AI for example if we have a female dog who is not accepting of the male and a natural tie or if she’s too tall for the stud to reach here successfully, or if the stud is to large or not performing well, etc. In these rare cases we will be taking the female and the male to the vet for a very simple and quick procedure called a “side by side AI”. She will not be sedated for this procedure and it is not a painful for either dog.
HOW LONG IS A DOG PREGNANT?
Dogs are pregnant for 63 days. Once our Guardian Dogs have been bred, they go back home with their guardian families and remain with them during their entire pregnancy. We will ask that she be brought back to us about a 1-2 weeks before her due date so she can get situated and comfortable before she whelps her puppies.
HOW LONG IS SHE WITH YOU WHEN SHE HAS THE LITTER?
Guardian Moms stay here with us for 2 months. Just long enough for her to whelp her puppies, wean them and then the last 2 weeks is a very important time where the Mama dog will teach her puppies socialization skills. She teaches them how to be dogs basically.
So, even if the puppies are weaned and could be separated from their Mom and still survive – we do believe that the last 2 weeks is very important and ask that our guardians be patient and understanding that she will be with us until the puppies go home at 8 wks. We also never force weaning. We allow our Moms to decide when mother nature tells her it’s time to wean. Whether that be earlier or later than “usual”.
CAN WE VISIT HER WHEN SHE HAS THE PUPPIES?
Yes, you may come for 1 scheduled visits during her stay, usually towards the end of her stay. More visits actually delay the process of her settling into motherhood and make them much sadder then needed. Our guardians get lots of love and absolutely enjoy being new mommies. It’s usually the owners who have a harder time with the separation then the dogs actually do. They really are too busy enjoying being a new Mom to get sad!
So, visits can actually be more disruptive then therapeutic and being left behind over and over is never fun. Moms would struggle with wanting to follow their family out the door and not wanting to leave their babies behind.
We don’t want our guardian families to feel left out of the loop while their guardian dog is here with us though so we try to keep them involved by sending them pictures and weekly updates and also by posting weekly and sometimes daily pictures, videos and updates on our Facebook Page.
DOES THIS NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE DOG EMOTIONALLY TO GO FROM THE GUARDIAN HOME TO THE BREEDER’S HOME?
The human race is such a kind, compassionate species that we tend to look at our canine companions as little humans, when in reality, they are canines and have a very different thought process. This is what differentiates mankind from other species in pack societies.
There is an initial “Where is my family going?” when the guardians bring their female to us for whelping, but in every situation the dog is settled and comfortable and doing very well within an hour or two. Some may take a little longer if its their first time here or if they’ve never been away from their family before (which we don’t recommend). That is also why we ask that they come at least 1-2 weeks before whelping, to settle in and get used to us and our home.
Dogs live in the here and now. We also try very hard to help them feel comfortable and at home we want their stay with us to be a pleasant and enjoyable experience.
The less stress and the more relaxed she is, the better it is for her babies and for us as well.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING PREGNANCY AND WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO DIFFERENTLY WITH THE DOG?
Pregnancy is actually very easy. The dog may act a little more tired, or not eat normally for a few weeks. The last couple weeks of pregnancy she is usually becoming more hungry and sleeps more as time progresses. Otherwise, normal activity is typical and it is important to continue with walking the dog right up to the end. This helps during delivery. Being in shape is always best. Normal play and romping and running is fine.
WHELPING A LITTER, DO THEY NEED TO GO TO THE VET FOR THIS?
Australian Labradoodles usually need very little human support and intervention to successfully whelp their litter of puppies. We put them in a big whelping box in our room with blankets and towels and we stay right next to them to make sure each puppy is delivered safely and is placed on their Mom to nurse. We never leave them alone to whelp and are very diligent with our whelping and nursing Moms. If we see something that is not normal then yes, we would absolutely take them to the Vet right away.
Animal instincts are amazing however and there is usually not a whole lot we as humans need to do for our dogs to successfully whelp and care for their puppies.
It is beautiful to watch a dog who has never had a litter automatically know exactly what to do.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE PUPPY GETS SICK OR INJURED WHILE IN THE GUARDIAN HOME’S CARE?
While the dog is in guardian’s care and home, any illness or injury that happens is their financial responsibility and visa versa if we have the dog and anything happens here then it’s our financial responsibility.
WHAT EXPENSES DO THE GUARDIANS PAY FOR AND WHAT THINGS DOES THE BREEDER PAY FOR?
The guardian home pays for any normal care items. Food, dishes, leashes, beds, normal vaccinations or worming’s, flea meds, heart worm meds, toys, grooming needs etc. If the dog needs meds due to worms, illness, infection or anything unrelated to pregnancy, it is the guardian’s responsibility to pay for those expenses.
We pay for all expenses related to genetic health testing for breeding purposes, all breeding expenses and litter expenses. We make all decisions on what genetic tests are done and when.
HOW MANY LITTERS DO YOU USUALLY BREED BEFORE RETIRING THE DOG?
Usually 4 litters as long as she does well each litter. We do four litters back to back as this is recommended to avoid pyometra in dogs. When a dog goes into heat their body prepares for pregnancy whether they are mated or not. This is a lot on a dog's body. By breeding back to back they are retired earlier as well.
WHO PAYS FOR THE SPAY SURGERY?
We pay for the spay surgery after the girl has had time to recover from the last litter and have her hormone levels return to normal. This is usually about 2 months after puppies are weaned. We only pay up to $200-$250 for the surgery, so if you choose a vet that charges an amount that is more than the average we’ve found throughout NC, be aware you’ll be paying the difference. The average spay fee currently is between $125 and $175, but some vets will charge as much as $400.
WHAT ARE THE GROOMING REQUIREMENTS AND DO YOU WANT US TO KEEP THE DOG CLIPPED A CERTAIN WAY?
Australian Labradoodles should be combed with a metal toothed comb to the skin 1-2 times a week at least. They should also be combed with a slicker brush once a week. If you see or feel a mat starting, then it is best to cut it out asap. Australian Labradoodles need to be taken to the groomer ever 6 or so weeks at least. This starts around the age of 4-6 month old. You can also take a class or research online to be able to groom your own dog if you want to go that route and buy you r own equipment! It is not too bad and can be fun! This is what we do for our dogs in our home! You can leave your dog any length you would like as long as they stay mat free.
During the grooming routine the dog should be carefully checked for any signs of fleas or ticks should they be present in the area. Fleas can be treated with monthly topical applications, flea powders and flea collars and ticks can be removed with the fingers or with tick pullers, similar in appearance to tweezers.
Your puppy can also benefit from routine dental care. Just like with humans, tartar and plaque can build up on a dog’s teeth, resulting in early tooth loss, bad breath and even infections in the mouth. Brushing the teeth using a finger sleeve or specially designed dog toothbrush as well as dog toothpaste will help minimize tooth decay and prevent the need for costly tooth de-scaling procedures.
Bathing the Australian Labradoodle can be done whenever necessary using dog quality shampoo and following with a conditioner. Avoid over bathing as this can cause the hair to dry out and the skin to become dry and flaky.
If they need nail trimming a set of slotted scissor style trimmers or guillotine style trimmers are the most effective. Avoid using any type of human nail clippers as this can cause the nails to shatter. Most groomers will do this at the grooming appointment as well.
We ask that you provide us with pictures on a regular basis (every 6-8 months) for our website and so that we can see how our Guardian dogs look as they mature. We want the type of families who would keep their dogs well groomed and take lots of pictures regardless if they were guardians or not. These dogs are so beautiful you can’t help but take good care of them and take lots of photos. Haha! Believe me. I am constantly taking pictures of my dogs!
IN CLOSING…
The Guardian Home program is actually a very simple program even though it may seem like there are a lot of details. The guardian program is designed for our breeding dogs, if we as humans truly reject the idea of puppy mills, then to my knowledge there is no better way than the guardian home program to help reputable breeders continue to breed healthy, happy dogs in a humane and loving environment and out of cages.
We highly appreciate all our wonderful guardian families who have helped us to produce our amazing puppies!
We value our breeding dogs and we want them all to live their entire life as family members and we hope that you can see how this program can benefit your family by providing you with a HIGH QUALITY, HEALTHY puppy for life. This program is also very rewarding for not only us but our guardian families as well… there’s nothing better then getting to see how your dogs puppies have changed another families life! It is a wonderful adventure! Children also love this experience and learn so much!
Reserve your puppy today!
Reservations open in Millie and Lizzie's litters due the end of January 2025!
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