What is our Guardian Home Program?
Our Guardian Home Program allows us to expand our dog breeding program with high standards without having to kennel our dogs. Instead, we find the guardian dog an exceptional family where they will be loved and spoiled everyday. A guardian puppy/dog is placed with a local family at a reduced cost. The guardian dog family will receive a top-quality puppy/dog that meets our very strict requirements to be in our breeding program.
How it works:
Knapp Trick Goldens reserves the breeding rights to the guardian dog.
Once the dog has reached maturity (normally 2nd heat for females and 24 months for males) a planned mating will take place at the Knapp Trick Goldens’ residence.
Female:
A mating at the Knapp Trick Goldens’ residence takes 3-7 days, afterwhich, she is returned back to your home, where she can stay for the duration of her pregnancy until 10 days before her due date (63 day gestation period).
10 days prior to the female’s delivery date, she will be welcomed back to the Knapp Trick Goldens’ residence. She will remain with her puppies for up to 8 weeks with all care and expense provided for by Knapp Trick Goldens.
Families are allowed to visit her and puppies at appropriate scheduled times.
After the puppies go to their new homes, your girl will once again return to your home and go back to her normal routine for the remainder of the year or until her next heat cycle. Female heat cycles are every 6 months. Knapp Trick Goldens reserves the right to decide whether breeding will take place once or twice a year depending on the health of the dog. No female will be bred more than 5 times total. When she is retired from our breeding program, she is spayed at our expense, and full ownership is granted to your family.
Male:
Once maturity is met (about 24 months), a breeding at the Knapp Trick Goldens’ residence will take place. The male will stay at our residence for 2-5 days at a time for breeding purposes and then will be returned to his guardian family. If doing artificial insemination, he can be returned the same day.
Males can be bred 2-3 times a year.
Once retired, between 5-8 years of age, he will be neutered at our expense and full ownership will be granted to your family.
Guardian Home Requirements:
Reside within 1 hour of Knapp Trick Goldens’ residence or close to 1 hour and be willing to bring your dog for the required visits (located in Rexburg, ID). Must have a vehicle to transport the dog and be prepared to transport the dog to and from our home when necessary.
You must own your home with a fenced yard or other means of safe play and potty time. The dog must be monitored 24/7 when outdoors and be on a leash when off of your property. Be watchful, even if s/he can’t get out that doesn’t mean other animals can’t get in.
No unaltered female/male dogs may reside with you- of any breed or size or even visit the home (where there’s a will, there’s a way). Any breedings to the dog without Knapp Trick Goldens’ consent will result in a fine and possible rehoming of the dog.
When the female goes into heat, the guardian family is required to contact us immediately. An intact female has a heat cycle that lasts between 10 and 21 days every 6-8 months.
If you are receiving a guarding puppy or young adult, we require a visit to our guardian’s home every few months during the first year to assess the puppy,as well as to build a relationship with him/her for the future.
The puppy/dog may not be given or sold to any other party without Knapp Trick Goldens’ consent.
The guardian home is responsible for:
Providing routine veterinary care. NO VACCINATIONS past puppy shots, without consulting Knapp Trick Goldens!
Providing puppy training with a reputable trainer for a minimum of 5 weeks. The puppy needs to be taught the basic commands such as leave it, sit, stay, lay, down, no jumping, no biting. The puppy must also be crate and potty trained.
Providing plenty of walking space in the home as this dog will be an indoor dog.
Ensuring proper measured feeding and keeping a fit healthy dog.
Keeping excellent communication with Knapp Trick Goldens on the wellness of the dog, regular check-ins and photos.
Providing the means to keep her/him away from any intact females/ males during her heat cycle- boys are sneaky!
Signing a legal contract with all details. All information will be provided up front and will be documented for both parties (will be notarized).
Following all recommendations on health and care from us. No medical decisions are done without our consent. All copies of medical records are to be sent to us. Natural living is a bonus, or a home that strives to live chemical free. No flea & tick medications, no heart guard, no chemical shampoos, no shaving the dog, only regular nail clippings and ear cleaning.
Staying away from all dog parks and/or germy areas where the puppy would be at risk of contracting canine herpes, papilloma, brucellosis or parvovirus. Taking the dog to stores, regular parks, and public areas to socialize when fully vaccinated is okay if done responsibly.
Providing proper care of the puppy’s growing body, which means no going up and down the stairs frequently, no excessive jumping, ball chasing, retrieving, running, jogging or walking on a treadmill. Limit activities until 2 years old when the growth plate is closed.
And most importantly, providing a loving home and family to a precious life long companion!
Information on our guardian program puppies:
A guardian home receives one of the picks of the litter chosen by Knapp Trick Goldens. As a result, not only will the puppy be beautiful, but any puppy/dog eligible to be enrolled in the Guardian Home Program will be of sound temperament. They will not have behavioral, medical or any otherwise unwanted issues that are not typical to a regular, healthy puppy.
Knapp Trick Goldens will pay for all health testing related to genetic, heart, eye, hips, and elbows. If any issues arise that would make this puppy unbreedable, we will discuss a buy out option or will replace the puppy with a new puppy for the program.
Adding a puppy to your home is a big commitment and should be agreed upon by every residing member of the home. A puppy is a lifetime commitment.