Guardian Program
At Lively Acres Cobberdogs, our Guardian Home Program allows us to continue developing our breeding program while ensuring that each of our breeding dogs gets what they deserve most—a loving, permanent family of their own.
Rather than having our breeding dogs live in a kennel environment, we place select, breeding-quality puppies and dogs with carefully chosen guardian families. The dog lives with you as your family companion while remaining part of the Lively Acres breeding program for a limited period of time.
What Is a Guardian Home?
Guardian families receive a carefully selected, breeding-quality Australian Cobberdog at no cost. These dogs are chosen because they meet the standards and qualities we are working toward in our breeding program, including temperament, health and genetics, structure, coat, and other breed characteristics.
In return, the guardian family agrees to provide a loving, stable home and make the dog available to Lively Acres when needed for breeding-related purposes.
Because our dogs need to be reasonably close to us, guardian homes must live within approximately one hour of Tumwater, Washington.
What Is the Guardian Family Responsible For?
Your guardian dog is, first and foremost, a member of your family. You will raise, love, socialize, and train your dog just as you would any other family pet.
Guardian families are responsible for the dog’s normal everyday expenses, including:
- Quality food
- Routine veterinary care and
- Vaccinations
- Grooming
- Training and socialization
- Preventative care
- Other normal costs associated with responsible dog ownership
Lively Acres is responsible for breeding-related expenses and testing required specifically for our breeding program.
We also require our guardian families to maintain pet insurance while the dog is actively participating in our breeding program.
How Does Breeding Work?
The process is somewhat different for females and males.
For a female, she will remain with her guardian family throughout most of the year. When it is time for her to be bred, she will come to Lively Acres for the necessary breeding arrangements. Later in her pregnancy, she will return to us to prepare for delivery and will remain in our care while she gives birth, raises, and weans her puppies. Once her puppies are ready, she returns home to her guardian family.
For a male, the arrangement is generally much simpler. He lives with his guardian family and comes to us when needed for breeding or other breeding-related appointments.
The exact number of litters or length of time a dog remains in our program will be outlined in the Guardian Home Agreement and may vary depending on the individual dog.
What Happens When the Dog Retires?
Once your dog’s breeding responsibilities with Lively Acres have been completed, (typically 3-4 litters for females) we will arrange for their spay or neuter and transfer full ownership to the guardian family.
From that point forward, the dog that has already been part of your family continues to be yours for the rest of their life.
How Are Guardian Homes Selected?
Choosing the right guardian home is extremely important to us. We aren’t simply looking for someone who would like a free puppy—we are looking for families who share our commitment to providing our dogs with an exceptional life.
The process begins with a conversation so that we can get to know you, answer your questions, and determine whether the Guardian Home Program is a good fit for everyone involved.
Approved guardian families will also enter into a Guardian Home Agreement with Lively Acres so that expectations, responsibilities, and breeding arrangements are clearly understood from the beginning.
Being a guardian home is a unique opportunity to welcome an exceptional Australian Cobberdog into your family while also becoming an important part of the Lively Acres Cobberdogs breeding program.
If you live within one hour of Tumwater, Washington, are a responsible and loving dog owner, and think our Guardian Home Program might be right for you, we would love to hear from you. Please reach out through our contact page to learn more.