Find your new best friend!
What is a Guardian Home?
Australian Shepherds are social animals and thrive in a socially rich family atmosphere.
I believe that all my dogs/pups should live a life as someone’s beloved furry family member. My Breeding dogs live in my home as my family pets and in the homes of local Guardian Families. This partnership with my Guardian Families allows me to insure first and foremost that every dog/pup is healthy and happy with their very own families and TK Aussies puppies are able to have a Breeding Program in a home environment without utilizing a less than family oriented environment for our dogs such as a kennel environment.
My Guardian Families get the very best that we have to offer in the Australian Shepherd “Breed.” This means that I choose my breeding dogs based on the very best qualities that are outlined in my breed standards; temperament, physical conformation, genetics, coloring, etc. Another major benefit my Guardian Families receive is a completely health tested family pet for FREE. My Guardian Families get to enjoy the excitement of being a part of my breeding program and seeing TK Aussies pups being placed with families across the country bringing others the same joy and happiness that they have received from their Guardian pups.
To be considered as a Guardian Home, I require that you live within a 120-mile commute of my home in Nacogdoches, TX. It is necessary that you have physical or approved invisible fencing to provide a safe and secure environment for the Guardian dog/pup, and have a schedule that will allow for your dog to NOT be left alone for extended periods of time. All dogs/pups placed with Guardian Families MUST live indoors, and never be left outside unattended. Guardian Families must have reliable transportation, and a willingness to bring the dog to us when needed throughout the year although we will make every effort to be accommodating when transport is needed.
REQUIREMENTS:
* Guardian must live within a 120-mile commute of the breeder's home in Nacogdoches, TX (**Exceptions may be made if a guardian is willing to drive to us regularly!)
* Legal ownership of the dog (microchip #_____________) remains with the breeder until the dog has produced an appropriate number of litters (less for females, more for males) at which time the dog will be spayed or neutered at the expense of the breeder. Full ownership of the dog will then be transferred to the guardian.
* Guardian has no right to puppies produced by this dog or to semen produced by the dog.
* The Guardian home will be responsible for the dog day-to-day care, food, and non-breeding-related vet expenses. The breeder is responsible for all breeding-related expenses.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING A GUARDIAN HOME?
Being a guardian home for my breeding puppies has many perks, as well as responsibilities. I strive for a mutually beneficial relationship between myself and my guardian homes. You will receive one of the best puppies I can produce or a 'pick of the litter' puppy from another breeder from whom I purchase the puppy. I look for quality structures, coats, and personalities in all the dogs I buy to become one of our breeding dogs. Also, I do provide lifetime support for each of these puppies as I want them to be the best they can be. Also, since I do require you to live within 120 miles of our home in Nacogdoches, TX, I extend an offer for the dog to stay at my home when the family goes out of town and needs to have the dog boarded. This helps me, the guardian dog, and my dogs to be familiar with one another when it comes time to breed or whelp a litter. Also, when the dog has whelped or fathered an appropriate number of litters, they will be spayed or neutered at no cost to you.
Additionally, those who house female dogs will be compensated $800 for each litter the dog has of 5 or more pups or $400 for each litter the dog has 4 or fewer pups as a "thank you" for your patience while your beloved pet is away. Male dogs are not usually gone for more than 7 days and then returned to their guardian home.
WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED OF YOU AS A GUARDIAN HOME?
Though many of the requirements I have for guardian home candidates are similar to that of regular purchasers, there are a few additions and added responsibilities. Please review the requirements below:
Provide the dog with a safe and loving home, including but not limited to:
Containing the dog in a fenced-in visible or invisible yard or on a leash
Provide adequate exercise for the dog
Train the dog on basic commands (sit, stay, wait, etc.) or attend obedience classes
Housebreaking
Feeding the dog a brand of dog food approved by us
Do not allow him/her to become overweight
Keep dog socialized with dogs and people of different ages and sizes
Keep the dog clean and well-groomed
Provide the dog with basic veterinary care, including but not limited to:
Yearly wellness visits and vaccines
Any medical issues the dog may have which are NOT related to breeding
Emergency vet costs (NOT related to breeding)
Keeping the dog on monthly, year-round preventative medications against heartworms, fleas, and ticks.
For female dogs the guardian home will notify the breeder immediately when the female dog has come into her estrus cycle and be prepared to meet the breeder upon request when the dog is needed for breeding purposes.
For female breeding dogs, keep all unapproved intact male dogs away from her when she is in season. For males, keep females who are in season away to prevent accidental breeding.
If the guardian family goes on vacation or out of town for any reason and the dog is not sent to the breeder's home for the duration of the vacation, contact information for the kennel and/or pet sitter should be given to the breeder before guardian family departs.
If the dog does not pass certain health tests and is deemed by the breeder to be unfit to reproduce, the dog will then be spayed or neutered at the expense of the breeder. Guardian will not be required to pay any fee for the dog in this event.
Guardian agrees to maintain this contract even if they relocate out of the 120-mile area, including flying the dog back to the breeder at the expense of the guardian.
Guardian agrees to keep in close contact with the breeder, regularly sending photos of the dog and gives clearance to the breeder to use any photos sent for marketing purposes (social media, website, etc.)
Deliver dog to vet appointments for breeding purposes at times breeder is out of town. Will be set up at least 48 hours in advance.
Should the dog die early of natural causes, this contract shall terminate. If the dog dies while in possession of the breeder, a discussion will be made if placing another dog in guardian care is appropriate.
If at any time the breeder finds the guardian to be non-compliant, the dog shall return to the breeder immediately and the contract is voided.
If the dog is altered OR bred purposefully without the written consent of the breeder, the guardian will owe the breeder a sum of $30,000. Any legal costs involved with obtaining this payment will also be paid by the guardian.
Allow the dog to make regular visits to the breeder's home and/or visit with other members of TK Aussies pups family.
WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED OF US, THE BREEDER?
Provide a guardian with a healthy puppy.
Pay any veterinary costs associated with breeding, including but not limited to:
Progesterone testing
Cytology's
Ultrasounds/Radiographs
Necessary Health Testing/Genetic Testing
Spay or neuter the dog when they are deemed no longer needed for breeding, be it because of age or health standards required for breeding.
Provide lifetime support for the dog.
Try to board a dog at my home when the guardian family is out of town.
Assist the guardian with detecting and caring for a female dog in the estrus cycle or pregnant.
If the guardian dog is a dog bred by TK Aussies puppies and it is determined to be spayed or neutered before being bred, the breeder will comply with the health contract given with each of my puppies.
TK Aussies will turn over ownership at the termination of the dog being used for breeding purposes at no cost to the guardian home and at that point all previous responsibilities of TK Aussies will become void.
Message us TODAY if you want to be a Guardian Home for TK Aussies!
We are always looking to expand our partnerships.