Guardian Program

At Cariad Doodles we want to give all our puppies the best possible homes, so that they can live happy and fulfilling lives. In order for us to continue breeding quality dogs we need to limit the number of dogs we personally keep at our home (although saying goodbye is always so hard!). This is where Guardian Homes come in.

What is a Guardian Home?

From some of our litters we will hold back a “pick of the litter” puppy to add to our breeding program - this will be a puppy that conforms to our breeding standards of health, temperament, bloodlines, and coat. All dogs need and deserve the love and attention that a forever family can bring, and the Guardian home will be that forever family, whilst breeding rights are retained by Cariad Doodles for a designated period of time. You will receive the puppy FREE OF CHARGE for being a Guardian Home.

At the end of the designated breeding time (usually around 4 years total), we will pay to have the dog spay/neutered and any legal rights to the dog by Cariad Doodles will be terminated. If the dog has not been used within our program, then you will be required to pay the fee to spay or neuter them.

Guardian Home Requirements

There are certain requirements Guardian Homes will need to meet, there are, but not limited to:

Be within 90 minutes of San Antonio
Have previous dog ownership experience
There cannot be any unaltered dogs living on the property and they cannot be brought into contact with them either - as no breeding can occur, only through Cariad Doodles.
Keep the dog well socialized with other dogs and people of all ages. Your dog should be well-loved by everyone they meet including strangers, other pet owners and small children. It takes work on the part of each of us to create excellent breeding dogs.
House train your puppy.
Own your own home - with a fenced back yard, and have no plans to move outside of the 90 minute limit for 5 years.
Ensure that the dog is not left unattended for the majority of the day, especially outside.
Provide routine wellness, vaccines etc. and heartworm & Frontline flea control meds, at guardian's expense
Afford to provide premium dog food that we approve - this is important as they are part of the breeding program and will come to stay at our home for periods of time and switching back and forth between foods will irritate your dog, plus certain foods are better for breeding dogs.
Be available to drive your dog to and from our home for whelping, breeding, and health visits that we require (we will do some health checks during their growth, and will pay for all these vet costs and any relating to breeding)
Keep us updated on the dogs progress via email/text/calls etc.
Provide pet insurance for the dog for the period of the Guardian Contract, at guardian owner's expense, this can just be a basic plan, these usually start around $20 per month, or whichever plan you prefer.
Provide proper grooming (in the doodle style - we can show pictures) at least 4 times a year
To notify Cariad Doodles if the dog becomes sick or injured right away, so that we are involved in all decisions pertaining to the treatment of dog.
If you go on vacation, the dog cannot be boarded in a kennel facility, you are welcome to bring the dog to our home and he/she can stay with us free of charge if we have room, and notify us of any planned vacations 7 days in advance.
LOVE THE PUPPY AS PART OF YOUR FAMILY, FOR ALL OF THEIR LIFE.

Guardian Program

FAQ

When do you start to breed a dog?

For females:

We will evaluate where they are at their first heat cycle after they turn twelve months. A female dog will typically have had one heat cycle prior to this, typically aged between 6-12 months old. You MUST notify us of EVERY heat cycle. This is how we determine when we breed, and who we breed.

For males:

After they reach about 10 months old we will have them evaluated to see how they are maturing and we will base decisions on when to start breeding from those results.

How long are they with you when they breed?

For females:

Families will need to drop their girl off with us so they can come to stay with us for about a week during their heat cycle, and then come and collect her at the end of this period, or we can meet at our Reproductive Vet (in Castroville) to get progesterone testing done, and take her back home with you, until the next appt.

For males:

They are not needed as long as females, but will need to be with us for at least 4 days during this period. Occasionally males are needed for stud services where their sperm may be collected and shipped, that would usually just require one day.

How long are dogs pregnant?

They are pregnant for roughly 63 days.

How long do they stay with you when they have their litter?

They will come to stay with us about a week before their due date, so that they can become comfortable with our home and family again, and get prepared to whelp their puppies, this is very important. They will stay with us until the puppies are almost ready to go home. The mama dogs are ready to leave by this point and the puppies are fully weaned.

How long does the Guardian Contract last for?

We contract for 4 breedings with a female dog, we may not use them all and may choose to do less, as the health and well-being of the dog is our primary concern. For a male dog we contract until they are 5 years old.

What expenses does the Guardian Home family incur?

The Guardian Home family is responsible for all the usual expenses that come with pet ownership, for example, food, leashes, routine wellness vet visits, illness, etc. plus pet insurance and completion of dog training courses.

What expenses does Cariad Doodle incur?

We cover the cost of the initial purchase of the dog, and all costs relating to breeding and litters, and the final spay or neuter of the dog (if we have had a litter with them) before transfer of ownership to the guardian family when ending the contract. If we have not had a litter with them (for females), or sperm collection (for males), the Guardian Family are required to pay for the spay or neuter.

VIEW THE CONTRACT HERE