tell me more.

Sometimes we have a puppy that would be terrific for future breeding, however we are not able to keep every potential breeding puppy, as we want all of our dogs to be family pets, not just a dog in a kennel for a breeding program. We occasionally offer a chosen puppy to join your family as a part of our Guardian program. 

Guardian families do not pay puppy price, but are expected to adhere to certain expectations set by CHL.  There is no charge/cost for the puppy to join your home as a Guardian.  The  guardian dog will come back to Chestnut Hill Labradoodles to breed and then again to whelp her litter of puppies. Once the dog has whelped and raised her litter, she will return back to the guardian family.  After the contract has been fulfilled, the dog will be spayed/neutered and full ownership will be transferred to the guardian family.

Puppies in Guardian homes have shorter breeding careers. Females will have up to 5 litters maximum by the time she is 6 years old, or whichever happens sooner.  Males will complete their breeding career at age 8 years or sooner.

A Guardian Family gets the very best that Chestnut Hill Labradoodles has to offer! This means that we choose our breeding stock based on the best qualities with health and temperament of course coming first, as well as the proper coat-type and correct structure.  Our Guardian Families get to enjoy the excitement of being a part of our program, and seeing the offspring of their very own Guardian dog be placed with families across the country bringing others the same joy and happiness that they have received from their Guardian Dog!

There are many things that Guardian families need to consider besides frequent separation from their pet. Guardians of females sometimes have to deal with several heat cycles, keeping their female protected from well-meaning gentlemen callers when she is in season. The Guardian family will need to learn the signs of a heat cycle starting and communicate, cooperate and coordinate with us to ensure a successful breeding. Guardians of males will need to be comfortable with some “macho” behavior in their un-neutered boy as well as protect his “purity” so to speak. 

Our Guardian Home Families will be responsible for the general routine veterinary care and wellness of the Guardian puppy/dog placed with them. This means vaccines, monthly grooming, monthly heartworm prevention, flea/tick prevention, training, regular exercise and socialization, and most importantly all the love, care and attention possible.  Any “breeding related” medical costs for the Guardian Dog are the expense of Chestnut Hill Labradoodles. Our Guardian Homes are responsible for the medical care that is routine maintenance/care just as they would if they had their own dog.

When the female Guardian dog is in season, the Guardian Family is required to contact us immediately. An intact female usually has a heat cycle that can last between 14 and 21 days approximately every 6 months however, she may or may not be bred every heat cycle. If we decide to breed her during her heat cycle, then we would need access to her for breeding related appointments. This happens on very short notice. The optimal breeding time is quite specific, so we will need to have access to getting the dog (male or female) when needed. We will of course provide you with as much notice as we are able.  If we don’t breed her on a particular cycle, it is of upmost importance that you keep her safe and not socialize with any other dogs at this time. Hormones of other females, or un-neutered males could cause an unexpected breeding or a possible dog fight which could be catastrophic and end her breeding career.  Once she has been bred, she will return to her Guardian Family until one-two weeks before her due date.  At that time, the Guardian dog will come back to stay with us throughout the last week of her pregnancy, and will be returned once her pups are fully weaned approximately 5-7 weeks later. If your Guardian dog is a male, his visits with us may be more frequent, but typically only a day at a time. Guardian Families are welcomed and encouraged to visit their dog and her puppies with scheduled appointments while their Guardian Dog is with us.

If you are receiving a Guardian Puppy, we ask for monthly photos and updates during the first year so that we can watch her develop, and update our website. We also require a visit to our Guardian Family’s home every few months during the first year to assess the Guardian Puppy, as well as build a relationship with her for the future. Occasionally, we will ask our Guardian Families to bring the puppy to us for a visit so that she can become comfortable with our home and our family so when she’s with us in the future having her babies it will be less stressful for her.