Guardian Homes

The basics of our guardian program.

We believe that parent breeding dogs deserve a great home and a great life.  We will not ever keep our dogs in outdoor runs/kennels. Sometimes our program requires us to have more dogs than we can lovingly keep in our home, so our answer is to allow some of our breeding dogs to leave us and become part of another family’s life and home.  Later they then return to us for breeding, and for females, again when it’s time to give birth to the puppies.

The parent dog gets to be a companion/pet and have the happiness of being part of a family and home. The breeding/parent dog lives in the guardian home, grows up, is trained, is well socialized, loved and cared for and is part of the family. What could be better? The Guardian Family has the opportunity to have a truly wonderful dog at no cost, in exchange for working with us for a limited number of litters. The Guardian Family is paid $500 for each female dog’s litter during the contract period. It’s a total “win” for everyone, the parent dog, the Guardian Family, and Zona Doodles! 

This plan is used by many breeders and is often called a foster or “Guardian Home” program.  Summarized – the breeding dog lives with their adoptive family and returns to us for breeding as needed.  Females will return when in season, then again to deliver the puppies. The female stays with us for 5-7 days during her heat cycle, to be bred. Then, she returns to whelp (deliver) the puppies a week before they are due, staying with us until the puppies are weaned (about 8 weeks total).  We work with our Guardian Homes using a simple contract and we provide support and guidance all along the way, staying in contact through the year. At the END of the Guardian Home Family contract, the mama belongs 100% to the Guardian Family. 

Please note that we are very selective and only highly qualified families will be approved to foster our breeding dogs.  We will conduct a telephone interview and will conduct a home visit. Our breeding program depends on the quality of care provided by our guardian families – we expect the best home life possible for our dogs. 

Guardian Home families must live in Arizona, and preferably in the east valley, Gilbert/Mesa/Chandler/Queen Creek area.

Details.

• Guardians must own and live in a home with a fully fenced yard.

• Guardians must have prior dog experience.

• Guardians must be willing to communicate and work with us throughout the dog's entire contract period.

• Guardians must be willing to train the dog the very basic obedience commands (down, sit, stay, leave it, crate)

• Guardians must ensure, if they are taking a puppy, that the puppy is socialized to adults, children and other animals – SUPER IMPORTANT

• Guardians must provide appropriate veterinary or emergency care when needed.

• Guardians must have the dog groomed at least every 12 weeks.

• Guardians must feed the dog a diet approved by the breeder.

• Guardians must be able and willing to identify and notify us immediately when a female begins her heat cycle.

• Guardians must live within 50 miles from Mesa, AZ.

• Guardians must communicate, cooperate and coordinate with the breeder regarding testing, mating, whelping, and other breeding related activities.