What is a guardian home?

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At Oak Knoll Doodles, our dogs are our top priority. We believe all dogs deserve a loving home, for life, where they are cherished as part of the family. Therefore we created our Guardian Program. On occasion we have dogs that would benefit from a Guardian Home placement. The Guardian Family program offers a unique opportunity to welcome a Bernedoodle into your home, either as pick of the litter or an adult dog that is already house-trained with good manners, at no cost, in exchange for participating in our breeding program. However, we understand that the Guardian Program isn't for everyone. Some families may not be comfortable having an unaltered dog in their home, or they may find it difficult to be separated from their dog for approximately 7-8 weeks while she delivers and raises her puppies. For these reasons, an in-depth interview is required to ensure that a Guardian Dog is a good fit for your family and lifestyle. 

What are the requirements of a guardian family?

• Location: Guardian Families for male dogs must live within 30 minutes of Ramona, CA, while families with females must live within 1 hour of our location. You must agree to not move outside of this area while the dog is in our program. If the family needs to relocate, the dog must be returned to Oak Knoll Doodles. Once the dog is retired from breeding and has been signed over to the Guardian Family, these location restrictions will no longer apply.

• Home Ownership: Either own your home or have landlord approval to own a dog.

• Fenced Yard: A secure, physical fence is required to ensure the dog's safety and prevent unplanned pregnancies. This is a crucial part of your responsibility as a Guardian Family. 

• Supervision: Never leave the dog off leash in an unsecured area. NO dog parks or dog beaches are allowed!

• Transportation: Have reliable transportation and willingness to bring the dog to us when needed throughout the year for breeding purposes (ie testing, breeding, litters, etc.).  

• Health Care: Vet care to be done by mutually agreed-upon Vet. 

• Communication: Maintain open lines of communication with us concerning any matter related to the dog.

• Diet: Keep the dog on a mutually agreed upon food.

• Breeding Decisions: Our team may need to make certain decisions regarding the dog's care and breeding schedule, such as keeping the dog longer or arranging additional veterinary care. These decisions will always prioritize the best interests of the dog and we ask that our Guardian Families respect and support them. 

• Costs: Guardian Families are responsible for all regular expenses, including food, veterinary care, grooming, and training. We also require you to carry pet insurance for the dog while it is in our breeding program. 

• Breeder Responsibilities: Breeder is responsible for any vet bills associated with the breeding of the dog. 

• Breeding Process-

• Females: We begin breeding females at or after their second heat cycle. They are brought to our home to deliver and raise their puppies for approximately 7-8 weeks. Females will be bred a predetermined number of times. Once their breeding career is complete, we will cover the cost of spaying the female. At that time, she will be fully signed over to the Guardian Family. 

• Males: Males stay in our program a little longer and are typically picked up from their guardian homes to breed for the day. Rarely are over night stays required.

• Contract: All Guardian Families will sign a contract that outlines the parameters of the Guardian Agreement, ensuring clarity and commitment on both sides.

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Becoming a Guardian Family means giving one of our dogs a wonderful home and, in return, you receive a loving companion. We appreciate your commitment to ensuring the health, safety, and happiness of our/your dog.