Guardianship Programme

What is Guardianship

Guardianship is a special arrangement we offer to ensure that our breeding dogs live the best possible life, without the stress of kennel living. We are committed to providing our dogs with a loving, family-oriented environment, and guardianship allows us to do just that while also helping our breeding program thrive.

In a guardian home arrangement, we place one of our "pick of the litter" puppies with a carefully selected family, based on their temperament and structure, as these puppies are chosen to carry on the qualities we’re breeding for. This puppy will become your family pet, at no cost to you. The guardian family is responsible for raising the puppy in their home, showering it with love, care, and attention, and ensuring it lives a full and happy life.

The guardian family is expected to follow a few guidelines—primarily related to the dog’s breeding and care—but the dog will live with the family as a cherished companion. When the dog reaches the appropriate age, and ready to start their breeding career, the guardian family will be asked to bring the dog to us for the breeding process. Afterward, the dog returns home to its family, where it continues to live a normal, happy life.

We believe this is the best way to ensure our dogs are well-loved, well-socialized, and part of a family, while still allowing us to continue our breeding program in a responsible and ethical way. Guardianship ensures that our breeding dogs experience a fulfilling life with their family, never feeling like they’re being kept in a kennel or outside of a home.

How does it work?

Our guardianship program is designed to ensure that our breeding dogs live in loving homes while still contributing to our breeding program. Here's how the process works:

Placement of Puppies

At around 6 months old, once all health testing has been completed, we place our puppies into their guardian homes. These puppies are chosen based on their temperament and structure, and we believe they are the perfect candidates to carry on the legacy of our breeding program. From the moment they arrive in their guardian homes, these puppies become family pets at no cost to the guardian family.

Female Breeding Dogs

For female breeding dogs, we generally allow a maximum of 4 litters in their lifetime. Their breeding career typically begins around their second heat cycle, which is usually around 18 months old. By the time the dog reaches around 5 years of age, her breeding career will be complete. When the female comes into heat, we need to be notified immediately so we can make plans for her mating.

During the mating process, she will stay with us for a couple of days. Afterward, she will return to her guardian family, where she will continue living life as usual for the next 8 weeks. Once her pregnancy is confirmed, she will stay with us for about 7 weeks whilst she cares for the puppies. During this time, we will welcome guardian families to visit their dog and interact with her.

Male Breeding Dogs

For male breeding dogs, their breeding career typically starts around 9 months old and lasts until they are about 6 years old. Male dogs may be used for breeding 2-3 times a year, but it’s not always guaranteed. They do not need to stay with us full-time and will only visit for mating days.

End of Breeding Career

Once a dog’s breeding career comes to an end, whether male or female, we take great care in ensuring they are well-cared for. We will spay or neuter the dog, and then the dog will be signed over to the guardian family permanently. This is the final step, and the dog will live the rest of their life as a beloved family pet.

Our Commitment

We make a significant commitment, both financially and emotionally, to our breeding dogs. In return, we expect the same level of commitment from our guardian families. We want to make sure our dogs have the best possible life, and we know that having them live in a home environment, surrounded by love and care, is key to their happiness and well-being.

We are dedicated to ensuring that all of our dogs—whether they are active in the breeding program or retired—live out their lives in the best possible conditions, and we work closely with our guardian families to make that happen.

Benefits

Benefits of Becoming a Guardian Family

Our guardianship program is designed to provide a loving home for our breeding dogs while offering some wonderful benefits for you as a guardian family:

General Benefits

You will receive a high-quality dog to join your family at no cost.
The dog will live in your home, becoming a cherished member of your family rather than a kennel dog.

Female Dogs

If you are the guardian of a female breeding dog, you will receive:

All food provided by Darling Doodles.
Professional grooming every 6 weeks to keep your dog looking and feeling her best.
Holiday care provided (when she isn't in heat)
Annual booster vaccinations fully covered.
A bonus payment per litter produced, as a thank-you for your role in helping continue our breeding program.

Male Dogs

If you are the guardian of a male breeding dog, you will receive:

A contribution per litter sired as a token of appreciation.
Note: We do not provide the same services as we do for females (such as grooming or food) for males, as we cannot risk them being around females in heat outside of planned matings.

By becoming a guardian family, you’re providing a loving home for a dog while also being part of a responsible and ethical breeding program. Your dog enjoys a life full of love, attention, and family, and you benefit from the support and guidance of our experienced team.

Get in touch

If you feel that you would like to become a guardian family for one of our puppies, we would love to hear from you!

To be considered, you must live in Kent.

Send an email to: claire@darlingdoodles.co.uk and we’ll be in touch to discuss the next steps.

Being a guardian family is a special opportunity to welcome a loving, high-quality dog into your home while supporting our responsible breeding program.