Guardian Homes For Springdale Puppies
If You Live Within 60 Miles of Greensboro, NC
Interested? Please complete our online puppy application and choose "Guardian Home Puppy" option.
We will call you directly to answer any questions after we receive your application.
We are looking for guardian families that live within 60 miles of Greensboro, NC. We need to get to know you, since you will be an important part of our lives! You get a pick of the litter puppy with this program!
Guardian Home Explanation
We do not believe that puppies or dogs are best served by being kennel raised. By placing them in a home environment that will be their forever home from the time they are puppies we are doing our best to ensure their happiness and best start in life. We are not a kennel and rely on loving guardian homes to continue to provide amazing dogs to amazing families.
Guardian Families must understand and be able to afford the routine maintenance and care of an Australian Labradoodle which includes grooming, vaccines and heartworm.
We benefit as a breeder because we do not need to have kennels and all our dogs are raised in loving homes with lots of attention and affection. It allows us to not have to care for more dogs than we are comfortable with or can manage easily in our own home. Mostly, we know each dog has a forever home from the time they are young.
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 questions right up front so someone does not feel like they weren't aware of how this program works. Hopefully the information doesn't overwhelm you. It really is a very simple program even though it may seem like it has a lot of details. The main thing to remember is, if we as a people truly reject the idea of puppy mills, to my knowledge there is no better way than this guardian program to breed dogs in a humane, loving environment. People will find a way to get a dog for their family, and most people unknowingly choose puppy mills because it is the cheapest way to get dogs to the public. We value our dogs as family members, and we hope that you can see how this program benefits families and our four-legged friends!
What guidelines do I have to follow when raising the puppy or dog?
Guardian families must feed a dog food approved by us. We are advocates of health nutrition for dogs, and for feeding foods that will not cause health issues, things like cancers, tumors, allergies, etc. The foods we ask you to feed are easily found, but are holistic, no by-products or fillers, etc.
We require the family to avoid all chemicals unless necessary, and to have heartworm medication approved by us. Heartworm medications are required under the guardian program at the expense to the guardian family.
If the dog becomes sick or injured, we need the family to notify us right away, so we are involved in all decisions regarding the treatment of the dog.
We ask the family to practice safe handling of the dog. To 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. Provide basic obedience training so the dog has manners. All things that should be done to protect your dog anyway.
The guardian home is responsible for the transportation of the dog to us when needed for breeding, litters, or health testing. This is the most inconvenient part of the guardian responsibilities.
What age do you start breeding the dog?
We will usually breed on the first heat following when the dog reaches 13 months of age. If a dog goes into heat at any time beyond 13 months, you must notify us immediately so we can assess whether we will breed. This will depend on how many other girls are cycling and having litters, as well as the individual dogs age and situation. We would also like to be notified when your puppy has its first cycle, somewhere around 9-12 months of age, so we can have a calculated guess on when her next cycle will be.
How long is she with Springdale while breeding?
As soon as the family is aware the dog is in heat, we will have them arrange to bring the dog to us by day 5 - 7 of the heat cycle. She will remain with us for about ten days, and then they can pick her up and take her back home.
How long is a dog pregnant?
Dogs are pregnant for 63 days.
How long is she with Springdale when she is whelping?
She will come to us 5-7 days before she is due with her litter. This gives her time to settle into our house, get used to seeing the whelping box. It is important that she becomes very comfortable with being in our house and being with us all the time. She will go home after puppies go home. This will be around 8 weeks of age.
Can we visit her when she has the puppies?
The Guardian home may schedule visits to spend time with mom after the babies are 3 weeks old. This allows mom time to settle in with her babies. We encourage the families to schedule these visits so she can "show off" her babies to you. She will be very proud for you to meet the babies and excited to see you.
Does this negatively affect the dog emotionally to go from the guardian home to the breeder's home?
No. There is an initial "Where is my family going?" when they bring her to us, but in every situation the dog is settled and comfortable and doing very well within an hour or two. We try very hard to give them so much attention and love the first couple days that it is a pleasant and enjoyable experience for them. This is also important as everything the mother feels causes things to happen inside her body that can affect the babies. The less stress and the more relaxed she is, the better it is for babies. So, it is very important that the guardian home not make the transition difficult for the dog. If they act upset or nervous or sad about leaving her, she will feel that even more greatly and we need to make sure that doesn't happen. Bringing her and hanging out in our house with her for an hour or so and just pretending like it's any other visit you'd make is very important. If we can have the family sneak out so the dog isn't even aware, they've left, that is usually best too. She rarely acknowledges for more than a couple of minutes that anything has happened.
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 hungrier 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 during the first half of pregnancy is great. After that, we limit activity to walks on a leash and no ball chasing type of activities.
No medications may be given during pregnancy. We must be notified immediately of any illness or injury so we can be involved in determining how she is treated.
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. We must be involved in treatment plans and know what is going on and determining medications, but the family is responsible for those expenses. Trupanion pet insurance is required during her breeding years. This insurance is for your protection because these dogs are extremely valuable as breeders.
What expenses do the guardians pay for and what things does the breeder pay for?
We pay for all expenses related to health testing for breeding purposes, all breeding expenses and litter expenses. We also pay for the final spay/neuter procedure once the dog has completed its time in our program.
How many litters do you usually breed before retiring the dog?
For female guardians we contract for four litters. We may only breed three or two, or one, but we have the option of four. We are concerned for the well-being of our program dogs. If we find that the girl has problems with deliveries or it would be unhealthy for them to breed again, we will stop the breeding program with her, spay her, and she will be yours forever. For male guardians our contract will keep him in tact for up to 7 years at the discretion of the breeder and the needs of the program.
Who pays for the spay surgery& neuter surgery?
The breeder pays for the spay or neuter surgery. For females, it is scheduled after the girl has had time to recover from the last litter and have her hormone levels return to normal. This is typically 2 months after puppies are weaned. For males, it is scheduled once the breeder decides it is time for him to retire.
What happens if the dog doesn't pass a health test like you want them to for becoming a breeding dog?
At this stage in our business, we are typically placing puppies in their guardian home before the testing is done. We are very careful to know the lines we work with, and it's not typical to have a health test come back so poorly that we have been unable to use the dog as a breeding dog. Just because a dog may not be the best breeding candidate doesn't mean they aren't the perfect pet. Most of the testing we do is very specific, and we have already thoroughly screened the line and health testing of parent dogs, so it's not likely we'll encounter a problem that would cause us to say we can't breed with that dog. If for some reason we decide at any point to not breed her, we will spay her, and she will live with you forever. We do not take her from you to sell as a pet. She is your pet forever.
What are the grooming requirements, and do you want us to keep the dog clipped a certain way?
We ask that families keep the dog in one of the typical cuts for a Labradoodle. The most important part is the head and ears. We want them to have the look a doodle is supposed to have so that we can have updated pictures regularly for puppy buyers. It's very easy and most groomers will do okay if given specifics when you take the dog in. Springdale Labradoodles will need to approve the groomer you choose to use.
We do require that the dog be kept groomed and matt free. We recommend grooming every 4 weeks. If the dog is brought to us with a matted coat, or a coat that is in bad shape, we have the right to take them in to our own groomer and have them shaved down or worked on, but you will be responsible to reimburse us for that expense before the dog returns to you. Guardian dogs are ambassadors for our program. It is important that they are maintained and not matted and in bad shape.
Springdale Labradoodles believes all dogs should be loved and treated as members of the family. We are not a kennel. Since we can only have a few dogs living with us and still give them all the love and attention they deserve, we have the rest of our breeding dogs in carefully selected Guardian Homes. The dogs living in Guardian Homes are pet dogs loved like all dogs should be.
It is crucial that our Guardian Dogs are well socialized and comfortable in new situations and with new people.
GUARDIAN HOME REQUIREMENTS SIMPLIFIED
1. Puppies cannot be left alone for more than 3 hours for potty training purposes.
2. Guardian dogs must be fed food approved by Springdale Labradoodles of Greensboro. We feed Fromm Puppy Gold.
3. Guardian dogs are required to complete advanced obedience training at the expense of the guardian family. Training your Springdale puppy is not negotiable.
4. All oral medications must be approved by us. We do not allow oral flea/tick preventatives to be administered to our Guardian dogs. Once a month Heartworm prevention (Sentinel) is required.
5. All medical procedures must be approved by Springdale Labradoodles.
6. All guardian dogs must be groomed in accordance with grooming guidelines of Springdale Labradoodles. (Every 6 weeks from 4-12 months old then every 4 weeks after 12 months at a Springdale Labradoodles approved grooming facility.)
7. Guardian family agrees to keep in touch and send pictures at least once a month.
8. Always have the dog on a leash if not inside a fence.
Alyssa Draime
Springdale Labradoodles of Greensboro
336-736-9680