Guardian Home Program
As a Guardian Home, you get a high quality, pick of the litter puppy, free of charge and you become that puppy’s forever home. The Coastal Homestead retains breeding rights of the dog. For females, this starts at sexual maturity and ends once the female has whelped (given birth) to 4(ish) litters (all depending on their health, how well they carry pregnancy, whether or not they enjoy being a mama, etc). Male dogs contracts tend to be longer and they are bred on an “as needed” basis.
While the dog is in our breeding program, The Coastal Homestead pays for all breeding-related expenses. Guardian Homes are responsible for all typical “pet” expenses and maintenance, including grooming by a professional, dog food, pet-related vet visits (annual vaccinations, parasite prevention), training, etc. Refer to the bullet list below.
Once a dog passes its health testing, The Coastal Homestead decides when each dog will be bred and to whom. Females stay with their Guardian Family during pregnancy (normal gestation is about 63 days) and then she is returned to us a few days before her due date (normally around day 52) to deliver (whelp) and raise her puppies. Once the puppies are weaned, which is typically when pups are around 4-6 weeks of age, the female can be picked up by her Guardian Family. When the dog has completed his/her breeding obligations, we pay for the spay/neuter and release ownership of the dog to you so that he/she can return home to enjoy the wonderful life that you have provided for him/her since puppyhood.
There are many things that Guardian Families need to consider. Guardians of females have to deal with several heat cycles and keeping their girl protected from unwanted males. Guardians of females will also have to be comfortable being away from their dog for an extended period of time (normally around 5-7 weeks each litter). The Guardian Family will need to learn the signs of a heat cycle and be willing to communicate, cooperate and coordinate with us to ensure a successful breeding. Male dogs can only mate with approved females, so the Guardian Home is responsible for keeping the male away from intact female dogs. Guardians of intact males will need to consider the importance of keeping him properly contained to prevent unwanted litters.
We view our Guardian Home Program as a true “win-win” situation. Our Guardian Families receive a “pick of the litter” quality puppy free of charge in return for working with The Coastal Homestead during the breeding years of the dog, and we have the satisfaction of knowing that our breeding dogs are living life as cherished family members.
TO QUALIFY FOR OUR GUARDIAN HOME PROGRAM, YOU MUST:
Live within 90 minutes of Merritt Island, FL and be flexible for dropping off and picking up the dog for health testing, vet visits, breeding, and whelping.
Be available for a home-visit and provide references prior to the dog/puppy being placed in your care.
Keep the dog safe and contained at all times (fenced in backyard).
Take the dog in for regular vet care. The Coastal Homestead pays for health testing and breeding-related vet expenses while the dog is in our program. The guardian is in charge of all routine, pet-related vet expenses, just like you would with any typical pet dog.
Provide basic training that is standard for dog ownership (house, leash, and crate training, and basic obedience).
Keep the dog free of mats and tangles, and have the dog groomed on 6-8 week schedule with a professional groomer.
Feed our recommended diet (Purina Pro Plan).
No plans of relocating within the next 5 years.
Understand that we are waiving the purchase price of the dog in exchange for a service - you must be willing to communicate, cooperate and coordinate with us during their time in our program, and be dedicated to providing a safe, loving home for the lifetime of the dog.
If you are interested in the Guardian Home Program, please fill out the form below & we will reach out to you soon!