At Doodles in the House, our goal is for every one of our breeding dogs to live a full, happy life as a beloved family pet—not in a kennel. To do that, we keep only a small number of dogs in our own home. But to continue improving our lines and raising high-quality, healthy Doodles, we occasionally need to keep exceptional puppies in our program.

Our Guardian Home Program makes this possible. Instead of living in a kennel, our breeding dogs grow up in carefully chosen families within our community, where they are treated as cherished house pets while also being part of our responsible breeding program.

How the Guardian Home Program Works

As a Guardian Home, you receive a pick-of-the-litter puppy at no purchase cost. That dog lives with you as your family pet, while Doodles in the House retains breeding rights for a set period of time.

• For females, this begins once she is mature and ends after she has raised an agreed-upon number of litters.

• For males, participation is usually longer, and he may be used for breeding on an “as-needed” basis.

During the time your dog is in our breeding program:

• Doodles in the House covers all breeding-related costs (health testing specific to breeding, breeding expenses, and whelping/puppy care).

• The Guardian family is responsible for normal pet ownership costs such as routine vet care, vaccines, parasite prevention (following our guidelines), grooming, training, and daily care.

When your dog has completed their breeding obligations, we pay for the spay/neuter procedure and transfer full ownership to you. At that point, your dog is simply your family pet for the rest of their life—just as they have been from day one.

Location & Availability

To be considered as a Guardian Home, you must:

• Live within approximately one hour of Fremont, CA, and

• Be able and willing to bring the dog to us or our designated vet for health testing, breeding, and, in the case of females, for whelping and raising puppies.

Good communication and flexibility are very important, as we will coordinate timing for appointments, breedings, and litters.

What to Expect as a Guardian for a Female

Guardian families of females should be prepared for:

• Managing heat cycles and keeping her safely away from intact males

• Watching for signs of her coming into heat and communicating that with us

• Being without her for a period of time when she comes to us to have and raise her puppies

Typically, a female:

• Stays with her Guardian family during pregnancy

• Returns to Doodles in the House shortly before her due date

• Remains with us until her puppies are weaned (usually around 6–8 weeks of age)

After that, she returns home to you until/if she is bred again, according to her contract.

What to Expect as a Guardian for a Male

Guardian families of males need to:

• Prevent him from breeding any females outside our program

• Keep him safely contained and away from intact females except under our direction

• Be available to bring him to us for planned breedings

Male Guardians do not have to manage heat cycles, but they must be committed to preventing accidental litters and following our rules regarding breeding.

Responsibilities and Costs

While your dog is in our program:

Doodles in the House covers:

• Breed-specific health testing required for our program

• Breeding-related veterinary expenses

• Costs associated with pregnancies and litters

Guardian families are responsible for:

• Routine veterinary care (annual exams, vaccines, parasite prevention)

• Daily care and supervision

• Professional grooming on a regular schedule (typically every 6–8 weeks)

• Feeding our recommended diet (or any updated food we specify)

• Basic training (house manners, leash skills, crate training, basic obedience)

In other words, you care for your Guardian dog just as you would any other family pet, while we take on the breeding-specific responsibilities and expenses.

Why We Use a Guardian Home Program

The Guardian Home Program is designed to be a win–win:

• Our breeding dogs are raised in loving family homes, getting individual attention and a normal home life.

• Guardian families receive a high-quality, carefully selected puppy without paying a purchase price, in exchange for partnering with us during the breeding years.

It allows us to grow and improve our program while making sure our dogs are truly part of a family.

Guardian Home Requirements

To qualify for the Doodles in the House Guardian Home Program, you must:

• Live within about one hour of Fremont, CA

• Be willing to meet, complete an application, and allow a home visit and references

• Provide a secure environment (such as a fenced yard or appropriate containment)

• Use our approved veterinarian(s) for breeding-related care when needed

• Follow our guidelines for vaccines, parasite prevention, and nutrition

• Keep your dog well-groomed and free of mats with regular professional grooming

• Commit to feeding our recommended diet and not changing it without consulting us

• Have no plans to relocate far from the area during the dog’s breeding years

• Be willing to communicate clearly, cooperate with scheduling, and uphold the terms of the Guardian contract

We waive the purchase price of the dog in exchange for your partnership. In return, we ask for commitment, reliability, and a loving, stable home for the lifetime of the dog.

Interested in Becoming a Guardian Home?

If you feel a Guardian Home arrangement might be a good fit for your family and you meet the requirements above, we would love to talk more. You can reach out to Doodles in the House through our contact page for current availability and next steps.