We have openings for the Cherry Creek Doodle Guardianship program! Currently looking for the Corvallis, MT, area for 2023-2024. We are open to homes outside Corvallis, but must live within an hour from us and be willing to drive to here for breeding and whelping.
PLEASE READ ALL THE INFORMATION FIRST AND THEN FILL IN A GUARDIAN
HOME APPLICATION FORM TO START THE PROCESS.
Thank you for considering being a guardian home. We appreciate our guardian families and consider the program a win/win for everyone involved, most of all for our dogs.
You may have some questions about our program before you know if you are interested in opening your home to a puppy from us. The collection of questions and answers below are our best attempt at addressing all the questions up front so someone doesn't feel they weren't aware of how this program works. Hopefully the information does not overwhelm you.
It is a very simple program even though it may seem like it has a lot of details. The main thing to remember is this: If we as a society truly reject the idea of puppy mills, there is no better way than this guardian program to breed dogs in a healthy, humane, and loving environment!
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WHAT IS A GUARDIAN HOME?
A guardian home program is where we place our breeding prospects with local families and we retain the breeding rights and ownership, until he or she is retired from our program. Once they are retired, full ownership will transfer to the guardian family and they will get to keep the dog forever.
Becoming a Guardian Home gives you the opportunity to have one of our puppies or young adults as a family pet while he or she remains in our program at no upfront cost to you, plus you get our ongoing support.
By offering the guardian program, we are able to ensure that our dogs get to live the best possible lives in a loving and caring home where they receive as much one on one attention as possible. This also prevents the neglect or less than ideal conditions that often go with a crowded kennel or home.
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HOW WILL THE CHERRY CREEK DOODLE GUARDIAN PROGRAM WORK?
Our guardianship program allows Cherry Creek to agree with a guardian home to keep our breeding dogs in a loving, secure environment for the duration of their lives. We believe healthy, happy dogs breed beautiful, healthy companions. We want the best for all our dogs, regardless of their involvement in our breeding program or as a pet.
As compensation for the disruptions breeding creates, the guardian homes receive $50 for each puppy born in a litter for a female. This is in consideration for your time away from your pet and for taking great care of her.
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DOES IT COST TO BECOME A GUARDIAN?
No, you will receive a top quality dog from us with no costs up front.
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WHAT ABOUT TRANSPORTATION?
Guardians are responsible for all transportation to and from us. This is one of the ways you earn your dog.
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WHAT EXPENSES ARE GUARDIAN FAMILIES RESPONSIBLE FOR?
Guardians are responsible for all "regular" dog care including providing food, treats, toys, etc. They are also responsible for normal vet care that is not breeding related. The dog must be kept UTD on all shots and deworming at guardian's expense. Guardians are also required to pay for grooming unless they opt to do it themselves.
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WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A GUARDIAN HOME?
Have a fenced in yard or working underground fence (though some exceptions may be made).
Provide basic obedience training so the dog has good manners.
A leash must be used at all times when walking in public.
We ask that our families stay away from off leash dog parks while the dog is intact (protects the dog from potential fights, as well as prevents any unplanned and unwanted pregnancies).
Must be willing and able to train using positive reinforcement only. Guardians must NEVER hit the dog with an object or their hand as a form of discipline.
Potty train and crate train the dog if they have not already been trained.
Keep the dog as an indoor family pet and never allow them to live outside.
Be willing and able to socialize the dog with other dogs as well as people.
Provide adequate exercise and mental stimulation.
Be able to bring the dog to and from the breeder within 24-36 hour notice.
Must be able to communicate, cooperate, and coordinate with the breeder effectively.
Contact the breeder in the event of any serious illness or accident of the dog.
You may not be a guardian home for a different breeder while participating in our program.
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WHAT IS CHERRY CREEK RESPONSIBLE FOR?
Provide the guardian family with a healthy dog at no cost.
Pay for all its health testing.
Pay for all breeding related expenses (ie progesterone testing, semen collection, etc).
Teach the guardian family how to detect a heat cycle and how to care for a pregnant dog if they don't already know how.
Pay for the dog's spay/neuter upon retirement.
Pay a monetary sum per litter.
Provide lifetime support for the dog.
Always be willing to take the dog back if the guardian family can no longer care for them.
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BENEFITS TO BEING A GUARDIAN HOME
You are getting a top quality dog at no up front cost.
The dog will be health tested at the breeder's expense.
Families are allowed to visit their female and her puppies.
Monetary compensation for each litter.
The breeder pays for spay or neuter.
Once retired and spayed/neutered, full rights and ownership are transferred to you.
Knowing your canine companion is blessing families all over the country.
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Guardian families can schedule trips during breeding/whelping without worry or cost of kenneling their pets.
At Cherry Creek Doodles, we consider all our dog and puppy families, as family. But when you become a Guardian Home, you are truly part of our team.
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WHAT HAPPENS IF I DECIDE I DON'T WANT MY DOG BRED?
Becoming a guardian home for one of our dogs is a huge commitment and a decision that should not be made lightly. Please keep in mind that we are retain full legal ownership of the dog until they are retired from our program and guardians have a legal obligation to follow the contract. Our dogs are very high quality and have been hand selected to benefit and improve our program further. Becoming a guardian home is not for everyone! Please consider this commitment carefully.
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CAN MY DOG BE BOUGHT FROM THE PROGRAM?
As mentioned above, our dogs have been hand selected to be a part of our program and in most cases may be irreplaceable. We do not allow dogs to be "bought" from our program.
However, they will get to be yours forever once they are retired from our program. Please be sure you are able to make this commitment.
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WHAT HAPPENS IF I MOVE BEFORE MY DOG IS RETIRED?
Again, becoming a guardian home for us is a big responsibility and commitment. We understand that life can be unpredictable and things may change, but please keep in mind that in almost all cases you will not be able to buy him or her out of our program. We have invested a lot into our dogs to ensure that we are bettering our program and we have also most likely already started making plans for them in our program. This means that you will be required to return him or her.
If you know that you will be moving before the contract is up please do not apply for a puppy. In some cases, we may have a young adult that is looking for a guardian family that may be an option if they'll be in our program for a shorter period of time.
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DO WE HAVE TO FEED A SPECIFIC FOOD OR TREATS?
We do not require a specific food to be fed, however, we do require it be rated at least 3.5 stars on Dog Food Advisor. It is also required that they are not fed a grain free food. I do prefer that our dogs stay on Paw Tree or Purina Pro Plan (30/20 all life stages) dog food. For treats, we do not have any specific requirements, but they should be high quality. For example, no "Ol Roy" or rawhide treats.
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WHAT HAPPENS IF MY DOG ISN'T SUITABLE FOR BREEDING?
If your dog is deemed unsuitable for breeding by either us or one of our veterinarians, then the dog will be retired from our program. You will not be required to pay any fees, but you will be required to pay for spay/neuter at your expense. After that, full ownership will transfer over to you.
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AT WHAT AGE DO WE BEGIN BREEDING THE DOG?
We typically breed on the second or third heat of the dog, provided all their health tests have been done and approved. If a dog does go into heat at any time beyond 12 months of age, you must notify us immediately so we can assess whether or not we will breed. This will depend on how many other girls are cycling and having litters, as well as the individual dog's age and situation. We would also like to be notified when your puppy has its first cycle, somewhere around 8-11 months of age, so we can have a calculated guess on when her next cycle will be.
HOW LONG IS A DOG WITH THE BREEDER FOR BREEDING PURPOSES?
As soon as the family is aware their female dog is in heat, we will have them arrange to bring the dog to us by day 4-6 of the heat cycle. She will remain with us for approximately one week - depending on her cycle - and then they can pick her back up again, or we can arrange for a drop-off.
HOW LONG IS A FEMALE DOG WITH THE BREEDER AFTER SHE GIVES BIRTH?
She will come to us between 7-9 days before she is due with her litter. This gives her time to settle into her whelping area and get used to seeing the whelping box and become comfortable with her facilities. This also gives us time to love on her, and for our family to bond with her and spend plenty of time with her before she is ready to whelp. She must become very comfortable with being at our house and being with us all the time. We do not want the mom to feel threatened by us or uncomfortable with our presence when she is getting ready to whelp. She will go home after puppies are weaned. This will be between 6-7 weeks of age.
WHAT IF THE DOG GETS SICK OR INJURED WHILE WITH THE GUARDIAN HOME?
While the dog is in guardian's care and home, any non-genetic illness or injury that happens is the financial responsibility of the guardians. Cherry Creek must be involved in treatment plans and know what is going on and determining medications, but the family is responsible for those expenses. Health insurance is recommended during her breeding years. This insurance is for your protection because these dogs are extremely valuable as part of our breeding program.
If the dog is killed, goes missing, or dies prematurely for any reason not related to genetic health or breeding/whelping while in the care of the guardian home, the guardian family will be required to pay the full pet price for the dog ($1200-$2,000) along with any vet or medical bills collected during that time.
HOW MANY YEARS WILL THE FEMALE DOG BE BRED BEFORE SHE IS RETIRED?
We contract to retire the female by the age of 5 at the latest. We may only breed her for 1 year, or 2, or even just one litter, but we have the option of breeding till she is 5 (beginning at 1-2 years old and/or her second heat cycle). The number of litters in that time will depend on her health, our schedules, and various factors which we will discuss with the guardian home. (If we breed her once a year, it will be longer before she is retired. If we breed back to back, she will retire younger, etc.) We are concerned for the well-being of our program dogs. If we find that the girl has problems with deliveries or it would be unhealthy for her to breed again, we will stop the breeding program with her. After the contract has been fulfilled, Cherry Creek Doodles will work with the guardian home to spay the dog at the expense of Cherry Creek. Once proof of spay has been provided, legal ownership is transferred to the guardian family.
SOME OTHER BENEFITS OF GUARDIAN HOMES INCLUDE THE FACT THAT THE DOGS AND PUPPIES IN OUR BREEDING PROGRAM GET TO LIVE IN LOVING & STABLE HOME ENVIREMENTS ALL THEIR LIFE. THEY GET TO HAVE THEIR OWN FAMILY, AND BE A WELL LOVED AND CHERISHED FAMILY MEMBER. THEY ALSO DO NOT NEED TO BE REHOMED WHEN THEY REACH RETIREMENT, BUT CAN STAY WITH THEIR FAMILY AND RETIRE WITH THEM.
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