[deciding2doodle]

Hi Everyone,
I recently found out about the possiblity of becoming a guardian for a doodle who comes from a well respected breeder not far from our home. Does anyone have any experience with this? I am so excited about the possiblity of having a doodle in our lives...Any information would be greatly appreciated

[KGarro]

I'd say the only danger is falling madly in love with the pup and living happily ever after.
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Katie, Uma, and Juno

[evervescent]

I would also like to have some personal experiences on this topic. I am set to be a guardian parent for a little girl and I haven't had an unfixed dog for a VERY long time. Is there a way to tell they've gone into heat before you find little boy dogs coming around?
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Andrea
http://360.yahoo.com/a_hash

[daissyj]

Hi!

I would actually love to know of someone in Southern California that would like to be a guardian home for me. I'm very nervous putting this up on a public forum because I obviously have to highly trust the person. I just started spreading the word among my friends but decided I would put it up here as well. I would love to chat more with someone interested, but am honestly going to be very, very picky!!
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Julie
Faithful Doodles
Santa Clarita, CA
www.faithfuldoodles.com

[Maureen]

Julie you are right....trust is VITAL to a guardian situation!

We've had great experiences with guardians keeping our puppies and I'm actually looking around again. We'll have 3 dogs in our house after we spay/retire Fancy, and so I need another puppy to raise for breeding, yet my family would like a break from housebreaking another puppy right now, so I'm kind of keeping my eyes open for someone I might "click" with, and trust for a guardian program.

If you pet owners are interested in becoming a guardian that's GREAT! But ask, ask, ask any questions you have, spend time with the breeder so you are comfortable, and read your contract carefully too.

I think Guardian pet ownership is a win/win for everyone: a breeding-quality dog is loved in a family home, and not in a kennel, while a pet-owner can have the benefit of not having to extend itself financially at the start.

I have pet-sit for my guardian puppy in one case, because she is a female and I wanted her to be comfortable here when she was ready to whelp. I didn't do that in the case of the males in guardian homes. But having males in guardian homes is really really convenient, so they are NOT messing around with the girls! Yet, it has been difficult for one of my guardians owning a male, to be judged or not allowed at daycare or dog parks because her boy is intact. It's been a learning experience for all of us.

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~Maureen
LabradoodleRanch@aol.com
www.LabradoodleRanch.com

[cocoandjane]

I have just become a guardian for Abby...the little golden one standing over Coco. It is a win-win situation....IF you find a breeder you trust and would enjoy working with him/her. Do understand what the contract would require....I can PM you with some of what mine states....All costs involved in breeding, i.e. tests, whelping expenses and puppy costs belong to the breeder. Regular care, grooming and vet visits unrelated to breeding are my responsibility. The breeder and I agree on a certain amount of pregnancies...based upon how she does and all....I receive one puppy with breeding rights from Abby's litters and get to keep Abby when she retires from breeding and is spayed by the breeder. It help the breeder and is a blessing to the guardian in my opinion. The first couple of heats she wears a pad and panties that velcro on...and then she is old enough to breed. Coco has gone through one heat so far....its a pain, sort of, but not that bad to deal with. I say go for it!! It's wonderful to be a part of a breeder's program....you learn a lot!



I'd do it again if I could move....I will end up with three
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Jane

Coco and Abby, too!!

[DebBrown]

I considered this briefly but thought I wouldn't like giving up my girl so that she could have her puppies at the breeder's home. I would want to be with her and help care for the pups!

I agree that you really need a good relationship between breeder and guardian. It reminds me of parents who have shared custody - always having to work out details, compromises, etc.

Deb

[cocoandjane]

I don't think it is as complicated as joint custody issues....
I could be out at the breeder's for birthin' if I wanted to be....and just might some of the times.
Yes, it will be hard to leave Abby out there for a few weeks, but
I can go see her....she'll be fine, since I will take her for visits beforehand so she continues to remember the place and her first mama out there....both human and canine.
I will have Coco still at home...that helps me with the seperation anxiety.

I guess it just depends on what works for you.

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Jane

Coco and Abby, too!!

[doodleheaven]

Andrea,

I was considering being a guardian for awhile but decided not to in the end as I couldn't get my husband on board with the idea.

I did talk extensively with the breeder along the way (who was wonderful) and had the same question about a dog in heat. She said that most of her female doodles made very little mess and they didn't have to wear the little pads. Sometimes she had to give them a little wipe with a q-tip to see if there was blood. She could also tell because there was a little swelling and sometimes the dog was a bit irritable. She also, of course, knew when they were somewhat expected to go into heat and would watch for it.

That being said, she also told me that she did have some dogs that were messier and needed to wear the little panty things.

I've also had two good friends with different breeds of dogs and they both say it wasn't really a big deal for them when their dogs were in heat.

One of the big reasons for us not being guardian's though, was because my husband didn't want to deal with the pup being in heat and the potential messiness of it all, as well as having to watch her so closely while in heat. He also worried that her life expectancy might be shortened by have several litters of pups. He just didn't think we would have fun and enjoy our dog if we had to always be watching it so closely and be bound to a contract. I really didn't have these issues and still would consider it in the future if I could sway him. You do get the healthiest pup and pick of the litter in most cases and financially it is a great, along with the whole idea of learning so much about the breeding process.
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Lily and Bailey

[L's Mom]

I am also considering guardianship, my concerns have to do with the heat cycles, how messy it really is, and wether or not it will drive my neutered male bonkers? Any comments on this? I will be speaking with other guardians that my breeder has, but thought I would ask you guys as well!
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Jenny, Sam, Lucas, & Della

[cocoandjane]

I don't know if a neutered male is bothered much
by his being around a bitch in heat.....I really don't know.
....Coco's heat, as I said above, was only sort of a pain,
due to the panties and pads...
( human ones are less expensive and worked better for her...she definitely needed them....)
My husband let her out once and forgot to take off the panties....
She peed in them! GAG! That only happened once!
Otherwise, it wasn't that much trouble....
She got a little cranky and acted out of sorts sometimes.
It was a full three weeks dealing with it....
Abby hasn't had her first heat yet....I expect hers to be
totally different than Coco's, though, since she is so different
in every other way so far.
It really didn't bother my husband at all,
since I did all the changing for her.
If your dog is in the house mostly anyway....
and on leash when on walks...watching her won't be an issue...
I wouldn't leave her unattended in the yard though....
You never know what roaming dog can get into your yard....
jump the fence, etc.
I love being a guardian....and I love being mentored by
my breeders....I helped deliver a litter a week ago and
OH MY GOODNESS!! It was awesome!! I learned so much!
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Jane

Coco and Abby, too!!

[MaxandMe]

Jane...congrats on seeing and helping out with your first whelping!! it's so awesome!

I have 3 doodles and one is a Intact Male so i am not doing any guardianships for sure! hahhaaaaa

Back to TOPIC now
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Annmarie, Max,& Peanut
Forum BLOG ARTICLE LINK http://blog.labradoodle-dogs.net/

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." Anatole France

[L's Mom]

[cocoandjane]

Well, in Coco's case....
she bled and had a discharge for more like 2 1/2 weeks
...which I thought was a long time...but I think every dog is different. She wore her panties and pads all day, all night, for that long.
I changed her pads, depending upon how heavily soiled they were...
maybe twice a day and then one for overnight.
I am a clean freak though, and it may not be necessary
to do it that often. Our dogs get up on our couches and beds, sooooo.........I try my best to keep things pretty clean.

I had a setter years ago, that you barely knew
she was in heat. Never needed a pad and panties....
I would gate her in the kitchen until the drips were
gone...she didn't get on the furniture,
just her own bed which was in there by the breakfast table...
Doodles are so wonderful about low/non-shedding
and no stinky doggy odor...I don't mind them cuddling
on the couches with us. The setters were shedding and a tad stinky....
Different day, different dogs.

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Jane

Coco and Abby, too!!

[Jac]

From a breeder's perspective, I would tell you to negotiate the situation with your breeder and find out exactly what you are required to do.
Once you agree on all of the "what ifs" then write it into a contract.
Often breeders put into their contracts the clauses that protect the breeder, but not the guardian.
Keep in mind that your breeder has legal ownership of the dog until he/she is neutered/spayed and the ownership passes to you. So, have your contract spell things out.
Don't ask your breeder for an early termination...this is why the breeder can offer you a free dog...because you are taking the responsibility of that dog for a certain number of litters.
Along that same thought, I would not be a guardian if I had to pay for a dog that doesn't pass testing. Some breeders make the guardian pay a pet puppy price if they are not able to breed the dog...well, I think that is a risk we breeders take and should not pass that risk along to the guardian.
Sometimes being a guardian can be a problem if either you or the breeder decide to move away from each other before the contract is up.
Many things to consider...so it is a lovely way to get a doodle, but it comes with a heavy responsibility too.
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jacque.bayley.lexie.chase.rosie.nitos.amelia.dupree.madison.sherwood.gerry www.backporchlabradoodles-jacque.blogspot.com www.backporchlabradoodles.com