Guardian Home

Please read this in its entirety before reaching out/applying as a guardian home.

A guardian home is when we place our pick keeper puppy from a litter, or an adult Poodle with their permanent home, where they will stay for the rest of their life.

Over the past few years, we have placed a couple puppies and adult in guardian homes with good friends, and we love seeing our poodles be the center of attention.

*We will require an application, interview and references. Please understand that we will be picking the home that is best for the individual puppy/dog, and it may take time to find the right match*

Puppies

Our puppies that are placed in Guardian homes, are shown in Conformation by a handler or myself. We also focus on other events and work closely with our guardians to accomplish goals with each puppy.

If the puppy earns titles with their guardian, such as Canine Good Citizen, Trick Titles, scent work, Barn Hunt, NASDA, obedience, etc, we do offer special incentives as a thank you and pay for title submissions to AKC.

Working closely together over the next few years, we discuss ahead of time which events I plan to enter the puppy in. The guardian either meets up with us at close events, or we puppysit them for a weekend/week or more when going to further events.

Puppies placed in Guardian homes are a big commitment on both sides, require great communication, more grooming upkeep due to longer hair needed for showing, and flexibility.

Attending classes, appropriate socializing of the puppy and keeping up on grooming are very important. Coat change is hard and often difficult to keep up with. We do offer free grooming at our residence for our guardian homes.

Adults

Adults that we decide to place in Guardian homes, have most likely earned their conformation and other titles. If we have further goals with them, we do go over them with our guardian homes to make sure that we can both be flexible enough to make everything work in the best interest of the dog.

Placing adults that we’ve raised from puppies is extremely hard for us as we love each of our dogs. They live in our home, travel with us, sleep on our bed and do everything with our family. The hard reality is we can only keep and care for so many dogs in our home. They all have so much love to give and watching them bond and thrive with their guardian means everything to us.

If there is an event close by that offers a fun class our poodle may like, we will reach out to our guardian home and see if we can pick them up for the day and bring them along with us. Cooper and Buck LOVE these types of playdays and have a blast!

Flexibility is important when it comes time for yearly health testing, breeding and vet appointments related to breeding.

Males

If we have a breeding planned, Males may have to leave their guardian for a few hours, day or week when it comes time for breeding.

Males are left intact until 8 years of age.

Females

Females may have to leave their guardian for a short period of time for breeding. It’s very important that the guardian home lets me know when she starts their heat, so we can track their schedule and begin giving pregnancy supplements and different food. This also helps me know when to start progesterone testing, and notify the stud owner. Once the breeding has taken place, she’ll go back home with her guardian until it’s closer to whelping puppies.

When it’s time to whelp puppies, about a week before their due date, they will stay at our home for a few months as we care for her and her puppies. The guardian is ALWAYS allowed to visit, has a place to stay when visiting if they choose, and given many updates. Our females are only bred 2-3 times if placed in a guardian home and then spayed.

Contract

Even with friends and family, our poodles that are placed with a guardian do have a signed contract for what each person is responsible for, care of the puppy/dog, etc

*During the duration of our agreement, any breedings, breeding rights, or breeding related expenses will be the responsibility of the breeder. Guardian is responsible for regular pet vet care and emergencies, grooming and pet training. The Guardian home does not own any breeding rights, or make breeding decisions.*

Guardian Requirements:

*Live within 6 hours of Burns Oregon. Further distance may be considered.

*Give regular updates and maintain good communication with the Breeder.

*Puppies: Attend puppy classes, socialize, groom regularly, and provide them with important life experiences.

*Adults: Attend classes together to bond. This can be obedience, Rally, Barn Hunt, NASDA, 4H, Therapy Work, etc. Depending on which adult poodle, many of them have shown great interest in certain events and we would love to continue doing them with their guardian.

*Have great references.

*A fully fenced yard or equivalent.

*The puppy/dog must live inside the home with their family as a loved pet.

*Provide regular Veterinary care, vaccines, flea and tick treatment, yearly check ups, etc.

*Recommended:Carry pet insurance in the event of an emergency during the duration of our contract.

*Provide age appropriate exercise and keep in good bodily condition.

*Professional grooming every 4-6 weeks, and regular hair care weekly when growing coat for showing.

*Willing to work with Breeder for breedings that are planned. Being flexible is key. Breeder would oversee and take care of any breeding that takes place.

*Willing to travel a reasonable distance or halfway for puppy/dog pick up

*Understand and be willing to be flexible when it comes time to do required events, health testing, breeding and whelping

*If for any reason the Guardian home can no longer care for the puppy/dog they are to be returned to the Breeder. They cannot be surrendered to a shelter, sold, given away, etc.

*Signed contract

Breeders responsibility:

*Breeder would pay for all breeding related expenses/ health testing.

*Breeder is the only party that can make breeding decisions and has all breeding rights.

*If the Guardian brings the puppy /dog to breeder for grooming, Breeder offers free grooming for their entire life. Any regular maintenance grooming done by a different groomer, will be at the expense of the guardian home. If it is a show groom, the breeder is responsible for that expense.

*Breeder offers free boarding for the puppy/dog at breeders residence if Breeder is available/able. If the breeder is raising a litter or out of town, alternative boarding will need to be found by guardian.

*Breeder will notify Guardian home of upcoming breedings as soon as they find out.

*Breeder will provide regular updates while the puppy/dog is in their care.

*Breeder is always available

*Breeder will take the puppy/dog back anytime during their lifetime for whatever reason.

If this is something that you feel is the right fit for you, please submit your application HERE

Pictures of our poodles that are living their best life with their guardians: