Interested in our Guardian Home Program? Our goal is to give our breeding dogs the best life possible, so it is important to limit how many dogs we have in our home. To make sure we breed the highest quality dogs possible, we continuously evaluate and add quality blood-lines to our breeding program. So, how is this possible?  For us, and many breeders in the same predicament, the answer is a Guardian Home Program. Our Guardian Home Program allows us to expand our dog breeding program the right way. Instead of having dogs kept in kennels, we've chosen to utilize loving Guardian Homes, where each dog is a cherished family member. 

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Making this Guardian Home Program a success, means our guardians must live within two hours of Grants Pass, OR and be flexible to drop off and pick up their dog for health testing, vet visits, breeding, and whelping puppies. 

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As a Guardian Home, you get a high quality, pick of the litter puppy free of charge and you become that puppy’s forever home. Rogue River PWD retains breeding rights of the dog. For females, this starts at sexual maturity and ends once the female has whelped (given birth) to 4 litters. Male dogs’ contracts tend to be longer and they are bred on an “as needed” basis.

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While the dog is in our breeding program, Rogue River PWD pays for all breeding-related expenses.  Guardian Homes are responsible for all typical “pet” expenses and maintenance, including grooming, dog food, pet-related vet visits (annual vaccinations, parasite prevention-following our guidelines), training, etc. See the bullet list below.

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Once a dog passes its health testing, Rogue River PWD decides when each dog will be bred and to whom. Females stay with their Guardian Family during pregnancy (normal gestation is about 63 days) and then she is returned to us a few days before her due date (normally around day 56) to deliver (whelp) and raise her puppies. Once the puppies are weaned, which is typically when pups are around 7-8 weeks of age, the female can be picked up by her Guardian Family. When the dog has completed his/her breeding obligations, we pay for the spay/neuter and release ownership of the dog to you so that he/she can return home to enjoy the wonderful life that you have provided for him/her since puppy-hood.

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There are many things that Guardian Families need to consider. Guardians of females have to deal with several heat cycles and keeping their girl protected from unwanted males. Guardians of females will also have to be comfortable being away from their dog for an extended period of time (normally around 7-8 weeks each litter.. Pro tip: if you vacation during that time, you don’t have to worry about a pet sitter). The Guardian Family will need to learn the signs of a heat cycle and be willing to communicate, cooperate and coordinate with us to ensure a successful breeding. Male dogs can only mate with approved females, so the Guardian Home is responsible for keeping the male away from intact female dogs. Guardians of intact males will need to consider the importance of keeping him properly contained to prevent unwanted litters.

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We view our Guardian Home Program as a “win-win” situation. Our Guardian Families receive a “pick of the litter” quality puppy free of charge, in return for working with Rogue River PWD during the breeding years of the dog. Also, to keep the relationship strong between us and the dog, we will help by pet sitting when you are out of town if we are home and available. We have the satisfaction of knowing that our breeding dogs are living life as cherished family members. 

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To qualify for our Guardian Home Program, you must:

 

• Live within 2 hours of Grants Pass, OR and be flexible for dropping off and picking up the dog for health testing, vet visits, breeding, and whelping.

• Be prepared for a home-visit and provide references prior to the dog/puppy being placed in your care.

• Keep the dog safe and contained at all times (fenced in backyard).

• Take the dog to our vet for vet care. Rogue River PWD pays for health testing and breeding-related vet expenses while the dog is in our program. The guardian is in charge of all routine, pet-related vet expenses, just like you would with any typical pet dog.

• Provide basic training that is standard for dog ownership (house, leash, and crate training, and basic obedience).

• Keep the dog free of mats and tangles, and have the dog groomed at least every three months.

• Feed our recommended diet (Purina Pro Plan), unless you have a preference that we approve of.

• No plans of relocating within the next 5 years.

• Understand that we are waiving the purchase price of the dog in exchange for a service- you must be willing to communicate, cooperate and coordinate with us during their time in our program, and be dedicated to providing a safe, loving home for the lifetime of the dog.
   

If you are interested in becoming a guardian home for Rogue River PWD and meet all of the above qualifications, please fill out our puppy application and indicate that you are interested in our Guardian Home Program. Thank you for your interest!