As small family breeders, we have limited breeding dogs available in the home. We plan on growing the guardian family in the coming years as we plan to be able to expand into the future. We want to do it in the most ethical way possible and create an experience for our guardian families to be able to become part of.

We have had mixed feelings about guardians as small family breeders, so a lot of thought has been put into how we can make this program work. The program has been created with the following things in mind.

• Having potential breeding dogs that get all the love and attention that any dog deserves with their own furever family. This ensures when breeding dogs retire they remain in their loving family homes.

• Getting the guardian family involved as much as possible so they can experience the joy of seeing puppies grow, develop and seeing what goes into our breeding program.

• The program will ensure our ethical breeding can continue with dogs mental and physical health always coming first.

• Planning for the future ensures that our beautiful bloodlines can continue for years to come.

• It will be done with strict conditions to ensure the smoothest possible transitions for all parties.

• Some breeders have kennels to house all the breeding dogs they need. However, this is unacceptable to us. We believe that loving family dogs that live in the family home make the best well-rounded puppies when raised in a home environment. This is the only way that we can ensure that each breeding dog will receive all the love it deserves.

What Are Guardian Dogs?

Guardian dogs are dogs/puppies sold at a highly discounted price or in some circumstances no cost at all to families to allow the dog to have a loving family home but will be part of our breeding program.
Contracts are in place with strict conditions for prospective owners.

The dogs return to the breeder for breeding purposes and at the end of their breeding life, they are desexed and become the guardian owners forever dog. 

We will impose strict conditions for our guardians to ensure a smooth process for them. Specifically for our female guardians, we will only consider families living close to us. This allows us to get to know them and vice versa as our dogs grow, making the process easier and less stressful for everyone involved. It will also enable regular visits during whelping by the guardian families.

The thought of taking a guardian from their home for breeding and going through those changes in a stranger’s home is also unacceptable to us and for this reason, guardian families will be selected extremely carefully. Because just like our furbabies, our guardians will be treated like our own with their physical and mental health always coming first. So being able to develop a relationship with the guardian dog and family alike is our eyes in the only way we can ensure that the transition is easier for them when in comes time.

If you think that you could make a fantastic guardian family and would like to work with us, please feel free to apply. We intend on interviewing potential families and getting them ready so when our next guardians become available, we can have you involved in the process.

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What are the conditions of our guardian program?

Breeding Conditions

• The puppy will be chosen by Perth Groodles and offered to suitable families. The name will be agreed upon by both parties. We always try to match the guardian puppy to the most suitable guardian family and their needs.

• The puppy will leave for its guardian home from 8-12 weeks of age or after temperament testing is complete.

• At around 12 months the guardian will undergo any health screening and testing needed for breeding. When passed they will begin the breeding program with females starting between 18 months and 2 years of age. Males will start earlier.

• All breeding health screening costs etc will be paid by Perth Groodles.

  FEMALE GUARDIANS

• For females, there is no adoption fee initially as the pup remains the property of Perth Groodles until they retire from the program. The adoption fee (if any) will be according to how successful the breeding program goes.

• We aim to breed females 2-4 times. But each will differ according to the physical and mental health of the dog. This is extremely important to us. Each dog will be assessed on their physical and mental health condition for how regular the litter will be. No more than 2 litters within an 18 month period. So a maximum of 4 litters would be done over a 3-year period.

• During pregnancy, we will have a few appointments for health checks which the guardian is required to make themselves available for.

• The guardian dog will stay with it’s guardian family during pregnancy until around 8 weeks gestation, where it will then be transferred to the breeder’s home to settle in for whelping. And then stay until the puppies reach 8 weeks of age (or earlier depending on feeding).

• The guardian family is encouraged to schedule visits throughout this time.

  MALE GUARDIANS

• Male guardians will undergo health screening at 12 months and breeding will begin not long after.

• The guardian family agrees to NOT breed guardian males. A lot of planning goes into breeding to ensure optimal health of puppies so this is not acceptable.

• The male will be available for breeding up to the age of 5 years of age. Depending on how successful he is, future breeding can be discussed with both parties at this time. Otherwise, he will be sterilised at this time or beforehand if not suitable for breeding. An adoption fee may apply if he isn’t suitable for breeding or is unsuccessful.

Other Conditions

• The care of the guardian is paid by the guardian family like it would be any normal puppy.

• This includes feeding the guardian puppy high-quality food recommended by the breeder to ensure optimal health.

• All normal vaccinations and worming, and fleeing schedules are expected to be done on time.

• The guardians agree to participate in puppy school from 8-12 weeks and to socialise the puppy to new things, other dogs, and people. And ensure they have all the basic training needed.

• The guardian family must not have any other intact males or females in their care and or home.

• The guardian must ensure that no indiscriminate breeding occurs during the pup’s initial heat cycles. Females usually come on heat between 6-9 months of age and then every 6-9 months there after.

• The guardians will agree to provide monthly updates including photos to Perth Groodles.

• The microchip details will remain under Perth Groodles until the time of desexing when it will be transferred to the guardian family.

• The guardian family will comply with council regulations and purchase lifetime council registration.

• Perth Groodles will pay for all veterinary care related to breeding and pregnancy but the guardian family will pay for all other veterinary care related to the dog’s health and well-being.

• Preferably the guardian family will live within 30 minutes of the breeder to make catch-ups easier to create a relationship and facilitate breeding activities. If not then it can be discussed between both parties.

• The guardian pup should be an inside dog with preferably someone at home during the day but this is negotiable. The guardian dog is expected to be house trained as they will be inside with our family at the time of whelping.

• The guardian family agrees NOT to breed their guardian dog under any circumstances. A lot of planning goes into ensuring partnering dogs are suitable. Some genetics if bred incorrectly can see health issues in litters.

• The guardian MUST agree that should they be unable to keep the dog before the transfer of ownership due to unforeseen circumstances, it MUST be returned to Perth Groodles

• The guardian must be willing to attend appointments in Perth for pre-breeding screening and a local vet for frequent testing during the heat cycle.

• We are more than happy to have the guardian family be part of the breeding process if it is working for all parties.

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Would you like to be considered to be to become part of our Guardian Program?

If so, please fill out the application below and we will be in contact.