(Looking for Couples or Families within ~120 miles of South Jordan, UTAH, USA)
Here at GVAussies we feel that in order to succeed as exceptional breeders of the Australian Shepherds, and to properly develop the Australian Shepherd breed, it requires us to have a number of dogs in our breeding program. It is our goal to successfully further and develop our lines while having our breeding dogs live in a family environment. We have researched and found that the Guardian Home Program is the best way to accomplish this. This is a very unique program that allows our breeding dogs to live as much loved family members with our locally selected families while participating in our breeding program. This is our way of ensuring that our breeding dogs live with their families in forever homes and still participate in the future development of the breed under our watchful eye. We can’t thank our families enough for the important role they play in the future of the Australian Shepherd.
GUARDIAN HOME PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
A security deposit of approximately 25% of the current pet price will be required. Rather than paying full price for a pet puppy, you will receive a “pick of the litter puppy” for 25% of the normal pet price. You are getting the best that GVAussies has to offer in an Australian Shepherd puppy or dog. This means that in the litter this puppy possesses the best qualities as outlined in our breed standard, not only for type, conformation, color an
d movement, but also for temperament, soundness and coat quality.
Between 6-14 m
onths of age of the puppy, we will have a breeding program assessment and health testing visits scheduled. We will pay for the full range of health testing to be completed. Once we receive the results from the health testing, we will make a final assessment of adding this dog to our breeding program. This is our way of being able to keep the best males and females from some of our litters, and then to have the ability and availability to select the best candidates to continue with the breed’s development. If we decide not to breed this dog, we will then have them spayed/neutered for you, at our expense, and the contract is complete.
(If the dog does not meet our Breeding Standards by around 12-16 months of age, it will be spayed or neutered and the ownership of the dog will be signed over to you. This means you get to have a GVAussie puppy for a fraction of the cost!)
If you are joining the Guardian Home Program and acquiring one of our older, trained, health tested, titled dogs, the above info about genetic testing/evaluations is not prevalent. If the dog is older than 2 and/or already had a previous litter, they have had all their testing already done! The price for an older dog in the Guardian Program may be different as well. Please talk to Jeff concerning any specifics.
Guardian families are expected to care for their new puppy or dog physically and financially. We will cover all costs associated to breeding and care for all litters produced by Guardian Family dogs at our home. Guardian dogs are your forever family pet, but will come to us every so often to sire or whelp their litters.
Guardian families must:
- Have a fenced yard, own a car, and own a home (no renters)
- Have previous experience with owning a dog or have adequate knowledge of caring for a dog
- Not have any other intact dogs in the home (male or female)
- Be able to provide a puppy or dog with proper health care, nutrition, and exercise
- Be able to properly train and socialize a puppy or dog
- Be able to take a dog to be groomed often
- Be able to drive the dog to and from our home for whelping or breeding
- Live within 100 miles of Salt Lake City, Utah.
If you own a Female Guardian Dog:
Once the female has came into heat and has reached the breeding age, GVAussies will have the sole right to determine if she will be bred at this cycle or if we will skip that cycle, etc. If we decide to breed her, we will board your dog for approximately 8-14 days during the breeding process, then she will go back home with you. At approximately 4 weeks post breeding, we will set up an appointment for you or us to take her to South Mountain Pet Care in Draper, UT to have an ultrasound to confirm pregnancy. Then at approximately 8 weeks post breeding, we will set up another appointment at the Vet to get an xray performed to determine the amount of puppies she will have. After that appointment, she will then come back to us for 6-8 weeks while she whelps her litter. Once old enough, female dogs will spend 6 to 12 weeks a year in our care. Guardian families are always welcome to visit during this time! To see their dog and her puppies! Guardians must be able to detect a heat cycle and keep females away from intact male dogs during this time. Females retire at around the age of 4-6. After retirement the female will be spayed and continue to live the remainder of her life with her Guardian Family.
***You will be refunded after each litter based on how many puppies are sold in the litter. The refund amount will be $200 PER PUPPY sold. GVAussies will pay for the female to be spayed after agreed number of breedings are completed (typically a $400+ procedure).
If you own a Male Guardian Dog:
Male dogs will spend a few days with us at a time when needed during breeding. Guardians must be able to keep male dogs away from intact female dogs in heat. Males retire at around the age of 6-8. After retirement the male will be neutered and continue to live the remainder of his life with his Guardian Family.
Other requirements:
- We ask that you allow us to make arrangements to have the puppy brought to our home throughout various stages in its puppy-hood to document and photograph him/her to display on our website/social media channels. We also ask to be sent quality photos every once in a while that we can post on social media.
- Guardian dogs are to be kept on a healthy diet at all times especially during the pregnancy.
- Guardian families are required to take their puppy/dog to the vet for its annual vaccines and whenever else needed (aside from breeding related visits).
REQUIRED LITTERS
We require up to 4 litters from our Guardian Home Program dogs once they are in our breeding program, with the exception that the dog is not healthy enough for more litters (Determined by a vet). Each dog will be individually assessed with each breeding and litter produced. GVAussies takes the health and well-being of each and every one of our breeding dogs very seriously. It is our top priority to ensure they are in optimum condition for each litter they produce. If we have accomplished our goals in breed development, we may select to retire them early.. It will be solely the decision of GVAussies, and it is our right exclusively to make that decision. Upon retirement, we will spay/neuter them and transfer ownership to their Guardian family where they can be your pet with no further requirements.
COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH BREEDING
Any medical costs related to the breeding, and any stud fee costs required to produce the litter are the sole responsibility of GVAussies. Our Guardian Program families are only responsible for routine maintenance and medical care, such as, but not limited to, feeding, vaccinations, flea, tick and heartworm preventative, just as they would if they had a spayed/neutered family pet.