I'm new here and thinking of being a guardian...

[Julia]

...and I would love to hear what I should be aware of before making this huge commitment. A big reason for me thinking about this is that I am looking for an adult multi-gen/ Australian LD and am having a hard time finding one. A breeder about 90min from me is looking for a guardian home for a 2 yr old ALD.

What sort of questions should I be asking the breeder? I understand that the dog would be away from us for about 7 wks once a year. I believe they breed a dog about 4x. Is that average? When I did some research with purebred breeders, they seemed to think 4 was a lot for a dog, is that true? Are the chances of some cancers significantly higher for breeder dogs? How hard is it on the dog to be away from their family and then to have their puppies taken from them? I'd really appreciate any and all insight you have!

[bmdoodle]

Hi Julia,

I am a guardian mom that lives in Hamilton. I have a medium golden doodle named Bella and she wil be 3 in February. She has had two litters so far. Although it is hard when she is at the breeders for 6 weeks we were able to visit her as often as we wanted to. Our breeder is located in Cayuga so it is only a 20 minute drive. Both of her pregnancies were fine and she was pretty active right up to a about 1 week before her due date. When she came back from the breeders the first time she seemed to miss her pups for about a week and then she was fine. The second time she came home she didn't seem to miss them at all. I love being a guardan mom and I would do it again. I also have a 1 year old mini australian labradoodle named Mia. I think she misses Bella most of all. Mia is not a breeding female just a family pet. If you have any questions let me know.

[Julia]

I just realized that you are a guardian for the breeder I am considering becoming a guardian for! I would to hear more about how you find working with Linda. (I've just blanked, is that her name?) I am actually beginning to wonder if they are interested because they haven't returned my email from over a week ago, though I know there has been an accident in the family, so perhaps they are very taken up with that.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I have a guardian dog that has had two litters with one more planned and I also have other guardian dogs that are in my breeder's program come to me to deliver their pups and I raise the puppies for the breeder (see my page and my blog and you will see pictures of all that) -so I could write you a whole book on this--but i am sure others will add to this. I would say that 2-3 litters would be the usual amount--especially since your ALD is 2 already--I think there is a SLIGHTLY higher risk of some cancers, but that didn't concern me. The dogs usually have a very easy time--they will be away for breeding then home again right up to the week they are due (pregnancy lasts 63 days) There might be some fussiness when pregnant food-wise can happen so you have to be prepared to find things they will eat to keep their weight up. You might have to spend a bit more on food than normal, but all vet bills etc should be paid by the breeder.

Once they leave, they are very wrapped up in the puppies for 4 or 5 weeks and then their hormones start to slow down and they are once again looking for their freedom (at least, that is what the dogs I have had here have done.) So by the time they come home, they are glad to be done with all that and their instinctual nurturing drive is calming down--so, no, I do not think they miss the puppies--it is all hormonal. They return to normal quickly and get on with their lives--it is not like it is with us humans.

I would expect that there should be a written contract that you should both be signing and there should be some financial compensation for you--either you get some of your money back from your initial cost of the dog with each litter or you get the dog for free and are reimbursed for expenses when the dog is pregnant.

At any rate, it is fun and not a terribly difficult committment--once the litters are done (again 2-3 would be best) you have the dog spayed at the breeder's expense and you are done. The dog is then your pet with no strings attached. 

[Julia]

Thanks for your replies. It seems to have been a really positive experience for both of you. While you dogs are in heat, how difficult is it to keep them safe? Do they try to run away? Can you take them for walks the way you normally would?

I have also wondered about the personalities of the dogs. Are they more aggressive, or do you know what an intact male dog would be like?(I also have the opportunity to adopt a retiring stud- he will be fixed, but do you happen to know if there will continue to be behaviours that would continue?)

I know the breeder who is looking for a guardian would give us the dog for no cost and reimburse us for pregnancy-related vet bills, but I don't think there is any money involved with the having the litters. Does that seem fair to you?

[Adina P]

I am not a guardian home, but 4 litters isn't too extreme and momma dogs usually couldn't care less about their pups once they are weaned.  They don't feel the pups are being 'taken away' from her any more than they do when the pups go to new homes.

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

I am preparing to be a guardian mom.  The mom dog was just bred this past month, and her pups (hopefully one of which will be a girl for me) are coming home in May which is perfect timing for me!  So, I am very excited about this.  I already have one doodle (a neutered boy), so my princess girl will be my second doodle.  My breeder says that she'll breed her 3-4 times (it says in the contract) and then she will be paying for her to be spayed.  I initially get the girl for free.  I will raise her until she is health tested & passes & is old enough to breed & then like everybody said, she will have to go to the breeders just for the breeding to take place & then about a week before her due date & to raise her litter.  I was concerned about the heat being messy.  I was also concerned that would I miss the signs and upset the breeder if I didn't recognize them & missed the cycle???  I of course will also miss her terribly when she is away raising her pups, but the breeder said I could visit whenever I wanted (she is about an hour away).  It seems that all the guardian parents I have heard from all say it is a very positive experience, so that is why I decided to do it.  It seems exciting to see what puppies your dog will produce!  Hopefully, I will get my puppy fix in that way so I won't be wanting a THIRD doodle!  Good luck and keep us posted on your decision.

[Julia]

I have recently heard of a guardian who was saying her dog's moodiness around cycles (and I assume breeding) were harder than she expected and this was turning the experience into a less than joyful one. What have you all experienced with the female hormones and mood and behaviour?