Thoughts on being a guardian home to a female who is not spayed?

[Jody Neeley]

Has anyone been a guardian family to a female dog who is not spayed? Our breeder is looking for guardian families, we would have the female in our home and then have an agreement that she would have pups. I've been reading a lot about it and am not taking the decision lightly. Wondering what your thoughts are on this subject. We do have a 14 month old male labradoodle and I also want to know if anyone has thoughts on how he will handle everything when she is in heat etc. he was neutered when he was young. Thank you so much :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I personally couldn't deal with having my dog living somewhere else for 1-2 months even once, let alone several times over a period of years. I could also not deal with having someone else dictate to me how to care for my dog, which is what often happens when you are the guardian but someone else really owns the dog and has a big financial stake in her. And I would be concerned about the stress and potential health problems for the dog. The only possible reason I can see for anyone doing this is that they can't afford to just buy a doodle puppy, in which case, I personally would save up, adopt a rescue, or look for a different breed. There is no benefit to you other than that you get a "free" dog after the breeding contract is up, which is usually 4 years.

We do have a group here for guardian families. It's not very active, but perhaps some of the members would respond if you started a new discussion there.  

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/guardianfamilies?groupUrl=guardia...

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I agree with Karen and it seems like a lot of stress and anxiety goes into this agreement. Will you have to go along with the breeders practices regardless of your own desires/health preferences? Such as which food you will feed? How many litters per year? Your responsibility for her Vet care/visits during pregnancy. Not financially, but time and travel? 

The stress of having her be "re-homed" for 1-2 months would not just be on you, but on the dog, and your present dog as well. How do you explain "She'll be back"?

As far as when she is in heat and it's effect on a neutered male? I wouldn't know. And like all dogs, it might be different for each one.

So if your decision is based on your desire to help this breeder then there might be other ways you can assist her, if it's a financial decision, then yes, consider a doodle rescue. Just my opinion and none of the above may or may not be an issue in this particular case. 

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

We had the opportunity of being a guardian home prior to getting Charlie and we decided it was not for us.  I do feel that one of the pros of guardianship is that the breeding dog is living in a loving home and not living in a kennel situation.  Another pro might be that you as a Guardian would be getting the pick of the litter without actually purchasing.  For us, I did not want to have to plan our lives around the breeding periods once a year for four years!  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree that it's a pro of guardianship that the dog is living in a loving home and not a kennel situation, but that's a benefit for the breeder and the dog, not for the guardian, lol. 

[Lorrie W.]

My dog was a guardian dog.  If you would like to friend me I would be happy to share my experience.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Maybe you would share it with all of us as I'd be interested in how it actually works out for the guardian home.

[Lorrie W.]

I can send you the information in a PM if you are interested.  Just let me know.

[Jody Neeley]

Thank you for your thoughts. I appreciate it and will let you know what we end up deciding.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I also have been a guardian--I ended up getting involved with the breeder's business since I had just retired and now raise litters and do puppy sales for the breeder--my female is retired now after three litters but other females come to me to have their pups--if you look up my blogs, you can see some past litters I have raised--but that is besides the point. Friend me and I can send you a description of the responsibilities of guardianship. It is not for everyone, but some people have no problem with it. It is a personal decision that is made once you have all the facts. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You had the ideal guardian situation though, Ginny, because your dog stayed at your house to have the pups. And forgive me, but didn't Lyric have 4 litters? 2 in 2011 and 2 in 2013? 

[Ginny Nightingale]

Technically yes--one was small (the one Rio was in) and she did so well and had such a long break between litters (she had a 9 month heat cycle and skipped one heat entirely) that we went for one more--and I got some $$ for that last one--yes, I do have the ideal situation which is why I agreed to the fourth litter, but now I have the guardian females come to me and I work with the families that are the guardians--they are always concerned about the dog leaving, but then are amazed at how fast the time goes and how totally normal the dog is when she comes back home. They also enjoy visiting and meeting the puppies, as well as seeing their dog as a momma. So, I have some experience with the folks that give up their dog for that breeding time. 

[Lynda Kamrath]

I'm glad you are not taking it lightly, because it is a big decision.  I personally would not have an unspayed female in our home as I know what a problem it could be.  Our male dogs were always neutered, but they do not know that they have been altered and if a female comes in heat, they feel obligated to service her.  Our neutered males tore up their pads trying to get out of the gates when a female in the neighborhood was in heat.  It is a pain for you and a pain for your neighbors.  It sounds like a nice idea to get a free doodle, but nothing is really free.  I would rather buy a neutered dog than be obligated to breed my family pet.