In some cases, families or individuals may want to partner with a breeder’s program while providing a loving home to a dog. One of the ways to do this is to become a guardian home.
What is a guardian home for breeding dogs?
At its most basic, a breeder places a high-quality puppy from their breeding program with another party (the guardian home) to love and raise. A puppy in a guardian home is a member of the guardian’s family in addition to contributing to the breeder’s program. It’s a partnership between the home and the breeder.
Once the dog is old enough (dependent on their gender), and has passed breed-specific health tests, they are bred to a dog of the breeder’s choosing. During their breeding years, females may spend a few months each year at the breeder’s home until they are retired. Males may spend as little as a few days at a time with the breeder on an as-needed basis.
This is a contractual agreement that, first and foremost, is meant to benefit the dog. Ethical breeders want all of their dogs to go to responsible, loving homes. This arrangement between a breeder and a guardian home guarantees a dog spends the vast majority of its life with its forever family, the guardian home.
How do guardian homes benefit the breeder?
When breeders entrust one of their high-quality puppies to another vetted home, the breeder ensures all the dogs that they would want to use in their breeding program are able to get the attention and care they deserve.
If a breeder personally kept every dog they wanted to include in their program, inevitably their home would become packed with dogs. That can lead to stress and sickness. For breeders who maintain their dogs in a pet environment it can also lead to inability to train appropriately, and to dogs who aren’t getting enough individual attention. This can be especially true with high energy or high-maintenance dogs.
‘Co-parenting’ with a guardian home is a win-win situation for everyone involved: the breeder can use dogs whose genetics and temperaments are in line with the goals of their program, without overcrowding their home. The guardian home has a wonderful family member as well as intense support from the breeder. The dog gets to be the star of their home.
How do I know if it’s the right fit for me?
A guardian is a special person who is committed to providing an excellent home to a dog of breeding quality. Contracts vary (and make sure to read and understand your obligations!), but generally guardians must make their dog available for testing and evaluations, breeding, and whelping.
You can read my expectations of a guardian home here. This is a partnership I take very seriously, and as such I try to be as transparent as possible about this opportunity. One of my primary expectations is candid and frequent communication. I think of my guardians as partners in my breeding program. If you find you have questions for me, please don’t hesitate to ask!
Other breeders will have other requirements. This is a relationship that lasts for years between a guardian and breeder, so I encourage you to do your research to determine who you would like to work with if you feel guardianship is right for you. Breeders should interview you ahead of time — don’t be afraid to interview them, as well!
Here are just a few questions to ask a breeder:
- How often would my dog’s services be required?
- Who covers certain expenses (vet bills, genetic testing, professional training, etc) and under what circumstances?
- Would I be able to pick a puppy from a future litter if desired?
- What if I decide to move away? What if you move away?
- What if the dog is forced to retire early, due to an accident or other unforeseen circumstance?
- What if the dog is seriously injured or killed?
- Who is responsible for the dog’s health insurance (if any)?
- Am I free to make veterinary care decisions?
Shouldn’t all puppies in a purebred litter be ‘show quality’?
The goal of ethical breeders is to have a stable, healthy bloodline that produces stable, healthy dogs. Responsible breeders will raise every puppy in the litter with some type of ENS/enrichment program, treating every puppy as if it might end up being the top show dog in the world!
But not every puppy is show quality. There isn’t anything wrong with puppies whose noses are a little too sharp or ears are too wide-set for the show ring, and they will make lovely pets. In order to produce the best-possible dogs, breeders have to be selective about which dogs are bred. And as much as they love every puppy in the whelping box a responsible breeder simply can’t keep them all.
For a star-studded analogy, consider the Hemsworth brothers. There’s Chris, Liam, and Luke. All three of them are actors. I’d argue that most people don’t even know about Luke, who I’m sure is a nice person and a professional on a set. It just so happens Chris, his younger brother, plays a god in the largest movie franchise in history. Same genetics, different outcomes.
If you would like to discuss my breeding program, feel free to reach out to me. Even if you are not interested in a Pomeranian but have found this information helpful in your journey to becoming a guardian home, I would be happy to answer any questions.