Guardian Home Program

We want to give our breeding dogs the best life possible. In order to do that, we need to place some of our dogs in "Guardian" homes. This provides each and every one of our breeding dogs a home where they are a cherished family member. We need to be able to add more quality blood-lines to our breeding program and Guardian Homes allow us to do that while still taking care of our dogs and they each get the love and attention they deserve.

As a Guardian Home, you get a pick of the litter pup free of charge and you become that puppy’s forever home. Summer Sun Doodles has breeding rights of the dog. For females, this starts at sexual maturity and ends once the female has given birth to 4/5 litters. Male dog contracts tend to be longer and they are bred on an as needed basis. 

Once the dog passes its health testing, Summer Sun Doodles decides when the dog will be bred and to who. Females stay with their Guardian Family during pregnancy and then she is brought to us a few days before her due date (normally around day 50) to deliver and raise her puppies. Once the puppies are weaned, which is typically when pups are around 6-8 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. If for some reason we decide not use the Guardian Dog in our program, the Guardian Family will be responsible for spay/neuter and they will remain your family pet.

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 2-3 months each litter). 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.

We view our Guardian Home Program as a true “win-win” situation. Our Guardian Families receive a “pick of the litter” quality puppy free of charge in return for working with Summer Sun Doodles during the breeding years of the dog, and we have the satisfaction of knowing that our breeding dogs are living life as cherished family members.

While the dog is in our breeding program, Summer Sun Doodles pays for all breeding-related expenses.  Guardian Homes are responsible for all typical pet expenses and maintenance including grooming by a professional, dog food, pet-related vet visits, parasite prevention, training, etc.

TO QUALIFY FOR OUR GUARDIAN HOME PROGRAM, YOU MUST:

• Live within 2 hours of Tehachapi, CA 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 or an approved vet by Summer Sun Doodles. Summer Sun Doodles pays for health testing and breeding-related vet expenses while the dog is in  our program. The guardian is in charge of all routine and 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 on 6-12 week schedule with a professional groomer.
• Feed our recommended diet (Open Farm w/ Ancient Grains)
• 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.