Guardian Families

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Comment by Nancy - Opal, Meadow & Tariki on July 25, 2011 at 5:13pm

Wow those are all very interesting bonus programs. My breeder required me to feed a certain way and trusted I wold keep her safe, and I receive her for free at the end of her career (which is now). Woohoo!

Comment by Ginny Nightingale on July 25, 2011 at 5:05pm

My breeder is very fussy about a lot of things--very strict instructions about food, yards, etc, but as she has started to trust me, (I volunteered to raise Lyric's first litter and did it successfully--she now hires me to raise other guardian dog litters) the "rules" have relaxed a bit. We are more of a partnership now. I paid half of Lyric's price and would have gotten half of that back for each litter up to the second litter--Lyric is required to have three litters. If anything had gone wrong with her health tests, she would have been spayed and I would owe nothing more. So, for example, if Lyric was worth $2000, I paid $1000 (whether she passed health tests or not) and would get $500 for the first and second litter. OR a free puppy from one litter. I think my breeder was shocked when I wanted to take Rio--he is my third doodle--but too darn cute to give up! 

Lots of people have different arrangements and the breeder could be more generous-- after all, they do make money when they sell the puppies! But the health tests are costly and they make all the sales arrangements, advertising, etc., so it is fine with me. 

I think that you should be reasonable--if you want the dog to be fed a top quality dog food, which can be 5 times the cost of grocery store brands, you should consider that when you reimburse the family. That is just one example of how expensive the whole deal can be to the guardian family. Reimburse gas if they need to drive the dog someplace for you--etc. 

Comment by Jeanne, Tura and Dolly on July 25, 2011 at 4:52pm

Our #2 doodle is a Guardian doodle.  So far she has had one heat cycle and has not been bred yet.   I don't hear from my breeder much although I try to send updates on how my pup is doing.  I had to pay  1/6th of the usual price for her, and then the agreement is she pays me a fixed amount for every year I have her (while she is unspayed).  She doesn't allow me to take her to dog parks so it has been challenging to socialize her to other dogs.  We go to Farmer's Markets every week they are open or other festivals where we can find people or experiences for her.  I worry about her when she is in heat.  It is a big responsibility that I take seriously.  So far it has been an OK experience.  I guess I will know more as the years go on and she actually has puppies.  I like the idea of offering a pup from her litter although I'm not sure we could handle 3.  But they are so cute I will have to tie my hands behind my back!!

Comment by Ginny Nightingale on July 24, 2011 at 6:28am

I would say that the heat starts within the month. It is hard to say exactly. I use a q-tip and gently wipe the inside of the vulva area to see if there is even a trace of blood, so that i know exactly when it starts, but usually within a day or two of starting, it will be noticeable when she sits for a cookie on the kitchen floor and leaves a little red spot behind!

Comment by lyn cederholm on July 24, 2011 at 6:14am

Welcome Ginny! We are awaiting our first heat with our dog Annie any time now. When you first notice swelling, licking, etc., how long after do you typically see the first sign of bleeding? Lyn

Comment by Ginny Nightingale on July 23, 2011 at 5:25pm

Just joined the group as I have two dogs in a guardian arrangement-Lyric is having her second litter this fall and just turned three. She is in heat now and will be bred next week. Rio, her son from her first litter is now mine (I had the option of one free puppy from Lyric's three litters) and he is 6 months old. He is going to be a stud if he passes all his health screenings.

I am lucky at the moment because Rio is a bit too young to be noticing his mom's heat. I am keeping a close eye on him, but so far, he has no interest in her new smell. That will change next time when he is over a year old but that will be Lyric's last litter and then she will be spayed. 

I also keep her close to the house during her heat -- we have very few if any stray dogs around here--but just in case, she stays home. 

Comment by Jacque Reynolds on February 28, 2011 at 4:37pm

For those of you with females that go into heat...when she is out for a walk, she is marking her pathway to your home. Every male dog can follow her mark and will find where she lives. If you want to avoid having stray males hanging around, keep her home until she is out of heat. Even walking her on leash is not a great idea.

My girls stay at my house, inside, or in my fenced yard when in heat. No exceptions.

Comment by Nancy - Opal, Meadow & Tariki on February 28, 2011 at 4:09pm

I DO have a 6' fenced dog run, but I choose to keep her inside during her heat.  We have not had any problems with the neighbour dogs at all, but if I take her to her run I always walk her with a leash as a precaution.

Comment by lyn cederholm on February 28, 2011 at 4:03pm

Thanks April, that's a great idea. 

Comment by April Cliber on February 28, 2011 at 3:46pm

I usually have the female stay at my house during days 7-18 or so.  This way I'm not risking an unwanted breeding from a neighborhood dog.  Even if I'm skipping that cycle the girl will stay with me.   

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