Guardianship

 

Being a guardian home for one of our goldendoodles can be an excellent and affordable way to have a well-bred top quality dog for your family. We believe that all dogs have the right to a family that loves them and will treat them as a member of the family. Our guardianship program or as others like to call it, joint custody, is the best possible situation for one of our dogs. We have found that we can only give adequate love, attention and training to a maximum of three dogs that currently live permanently in our home.  With this in mind, we like to place the pick of the litter babies in forever homes with the right family while River Falls Goldendoodles retain breeding rights.  This means the dog will stay in your home as your family dog.  River Falls pays for all health testing, and all breeding expenses. The dog’s every day expenses are paid for by the host family. At the appropriate time (when a female is in heat, or we need your male to breed to a female), your dog will come back to River Falls for breeding and then again for whelping. Some families actually want to participate in the birthing and raising of pups in their home which is not an option at this time. 

 

When breeding obligations are complete, usually 3 to 5 years after the dog matures, you agree to spay or neuter your dog. It then returns to your wonderful home where he/she has lived since puppyhood.  Each female will be bred two to five times during a two to five year period, at the breeders discretion.  He/She will be boarded at River Falls during her heat cycle and whelping.  Males may be needed for several more years but will only need to be away from their families a few days at a time. 

 

If it is determined that the dog is not needed for our breeding program when he or she comes of age, the contract is dissolved.  If the family moves more than 100 miles from the breeder, the contract is dissolved and the pet price of $3,500-$3,700 must be paid for the dog and the dog must be spayed or neutered. If River Falls as the breeder determine that the dog is necessary to continue our breeding program then other arrangements can be met at our expense to have the dog returned to River Falls for the period of time needed to breed. Contract terms can be modified and altered to meet an individual need or situation. The dog must be kept healthy, on heart worm meds, up to date on vaccinations and well groomed. 

 

At any time, if  we, River Falls Goldendoodles, specifically Steve or Neelie Smith feel that the terms of the contract are not being met by the guardianship family, we retain the right to take possession of the dog. The guardian family will relinquish all rights to the dog via contractual terms.  If at any time, we determine that the guardian family is not being cooperative in making the dog available to us, or not informing us when the dog is in heat, we will reclaim the dog.  The dog must be relinquished immediately upon request with no legal ties or binds.  If any legal fees are incurred by River Falls Goldendoodles to repossess the dog, the guardian dogs host will be responsible for payment of any and all such legal fees including court costs and attorney fees.  Any money the guardianship family paid for the dog will not be refunded including vet bills.  The guardian family must agree to contact us, River Falls Goldendoodles, specifically Steve and Neelie Smith if they plan to transport the dog more than 60 miles from River Falls for any length of time exceeding two weeks.  

 

Guardianship programs are a win-win situation for guardian families, the breeder, and most of all the dog:

 

•  Guardian families have "pick of the litter" puppy chosen by River Falls Goldendoodles.

 

•  Guardian dogs don't ever have to live in a kennel.
   

•  Guardian dogs get to be in their forever home from puppyhood.

   

• The family gets a pick of the litter, health tested dog while incurring only routine costs.

 

Requirements to be a Guardian home for a River Falls puppy. 

The family must: 

 

• Own their own home.
   

• Provide obedience classes for the puppy.
   

• Be vet recommended.
   

• Have a fenced yard.
   

• Feed TLC Pet Food or Paw Tree Pet Food.
   

• Notify breeder when a female begins her heat cycle immediately.
   

• Allow River Falls Goldendoodles to board females during heat cycle or provide assurance of secure inside containment.
   

• Not allow a male to breed with other females or expose females to males while in heat.

 

• Be within 30-40 miles of River Falls Goldendoodles.

 

• Not transport the dog more than 100 miles from River Falls for more than two weeks without notifying the breeder.

• Relinquish the dog during the time the breeder needs the dog for breeding.

 

• Provide regular vet care including shots, heart worm and flea medicine.  This will be at the host family's expense.

• Be kept well groomed at all times.

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• ***Application and detailed contract for Guardianship will be sent after our regular puppy application is completed and approved.