GUARDIAN HOME FAQS
FEMALE GUARDIAN HOME FAQs
1) When can I expect my dog's first heat cycle?
The female puppy will generally enter her first heat cycle between 6 and 12 months of age. No breeding will take place during this initial cycle. It is very important for you to notify us at first sign of this, as it allows us to establish a timeline as to when the next heat cycle will occur.
You may notice swelling of the dog's vulva as well as light bleeding and more frequent licking of the area. During this time, you must keep her away from any intact males and keep a close eye on her anytime she is outside. While it is not recommended for a dog of that age to become pregnant, she most definitely can if it is not prevented, as indicated above. A heat cycle will usually last for a 2-3 week period, at which time doggy diapers may be needed.
Heat cycles are generally repeated every 6-12 months, depending on the female. It may take a few heat cycles before we can establish a better timeline.
2) How long will she stay with us while she is in heat?
The breeding of the female and the stud will usually commence during her second heat cycle. The breeding will generally take place over a week, when it is determined that the female is most fertile.
The proximity of the guardian family to us will determine whether we will need to stay with us for the entire duration or if she can return to her home between breeding sessions.
3) How long does the pregnancy last?
The typical gestation period for a female is 63 days (give or take 3-4 days).
4) What happens during the pregnancy?
Once breeding is complete, the dog will return to her guardian home where she'll stay for most of the pregnancy with her guardian family.
In general, the pregnancy is relatively easy. In the beginning, you may only see minor changes, if any. She may be a little tired and not as interested in her regular food. At this time, it may be necessary to add something more appealing to her diet, such as chicken or high quality canned dog food to ensure she's getting enough to eat. Some females may also experience some morning sickness the first few weeks as well. For the first half of her pregnancy, normal activity and exercise can be continued as usual.
During the second half, she should not be engaged in vigorous activities, but it is still good for her to go for regular walks. You will likely see her appetite increase and therefore it is important to increase her food intake. If she is still picky, you can continue to add appealing food to her diet. Foods that are high in calcium, such as yogurt and cheese should be avoided during pregnancy. Vaccinations and medications during pregnancy should be avoided, unless otherwise approved by us.
Around day 55 of the pregnancy, we would take the dog to the vet for an x-ray to confirm pregnancy and complete a puppy count. Following this appointment, the dog would then come and stay with us, as she will need time to acclimate to our home and whelping area prior to giving birth.
5) How long does she stay with us once she has her litter?
Once the puppies are born, she will continue to stay with us for about 6 weeks depending upon how the weaning process goes. Puppies still stay with us for the full 8 weeks, but we have several female dogs that are great at helping the puppies socialize so the moms can return to their families sooner. After spending a full 6 weeks with her litter, Momma will be eager to get back to her family.
6) Can we visit once she has had the puppies?
After the first week, providing the puppies are healthy and thriving, we do allow families to come visit to a maximum of once a week if they wish. However, if we feel that it is confusing the mother or making it hard on her, we may ask to limit the visits to every two weeks.
This is an incredibly busy time for us and our dogs, so we will need to schedule any visits ahead of time to ensure that we will be available.
7) How many litters will our female have before retiring?
As per our contract, our females can have up to 4 litters before retiring. In saying this, we do look at each female on an individual basis. We would assess how well she handles pregnancy, delivery, puppy care and recovery with each litter. If at anytime we feel it is no longer in her best interest to continue with the breeding program, she will be released early and will be spayed. At this time, we would conclude the breeding contract and transfer full ownership to the guardian family. The dog will then continue to live her best life with her guardian family, 100% of the time.
Our dogs' health is always the top priority over them whelping and raising puppies.
8) Is there any monetary compensation?
We appreciate your teamwork in our breeding program and understand how difficult it can be to give your dog up to us for several weeks at a time. As a thank you, we offer compensation after each successful litter goes to their new homes.
This amount is dependent upon the number of puppies in the successful litter and will range between $100.00-$500.00 per litter.
MALE GUARDIAN HOME FAQs
1) When do males begin breeding?
Males can breed anywhere after 8 months of age.
2) How often are males bred?
This can vary depending upon our planned breedings and the cycles of the females in our program at any given time.
Males may be required only once a year or multiple times, but this is generally for much shorter durations than our females.
3) How long will our males have to stay with you?
This may also vary depending upon the proximity of the Guardian Home to us. Males will usually stay 5-7 days when the Guardian Home is farther away. If proximity is closer, it may be an option for the male to come every second day throughout the week for breeding.
4) At what age do males retire?
Males stay in our program for a maximum of 6 years of age. However, as with our females, we may decide to retire early based on ours or our vet's discretion.
5) As the guardian, am I able to offer stud services to any interested parties?
Absolutely not, we retain all breeding rights for the animals in our breeding program. This means that he may not be bred with any unapproved females. Under no circumstances should males be allowed around any unapproved females that are in heat. This will eliminate the risk of accidental pregnancies.
6) Is there any monetary compensation?
Yes, we give any guardians of our male dogs $100.00 for every successful litter.