Guardianship Program | Drover's Hill Doodles

ABOUT OUR GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAM

What is a Guardian Family Membership?

Drover's Hill is committed to keeping our pets and their puppies in private home settings as opposed to kennels, where dogs never receive as much attention, love, or care as they deserve. So to help us ensure this, we've begun the Guardianship Program, allowing for Guardian Family Membership! As a Guardian Family Member, you would receive exclusive rights to your pick-of-the-litter puppy and also receive that puppy free of charge! Your new puppy will then become your forever family member, while the breeding rights are temporarily retained by Drover's Hill. Each dog and Guardian Family Member have unique circumstances, so we don’t provide any specific time limits until details are completely worked out. However, females generally provide a maximum of 3 litters during the "breeding rights" phase while males generally are needed for a longer duration. As a Guardian Family Member, when your pet’s "breeding rights" period is completed, your puppy is spayed or neutered at no cost to you! They then continue on as the Guardian Family Member's loving pet, received at no cost! We are always so thankful for the close relationships we build with our Guardian Family Members and the bonds we get to build around their new pet!

Can anyone become a Guardian Family Member?

(Must live within 3 hours of Northwest Missouri) We maintain a very high standard for applicants wishing to home our pets, needing to ensure them a high quality of life, a loving home, and a healthy environment, regardless of circumstance. There is an extensive interview process if the Guardian Family Member Applicant is not someone we know well. All Guardian Family Membership Applicants that pass the application process sign a contract that clearly and concisely outlines the agreement's terms. Guardian Family Members must live within a reasonable driving distance (usually no more than 3 hours distance) from Grant City, MO, and be willing to drive their new pet to our home or meet us at a pre-planned destination.

How much time will my pet spend away from home?

This depends on many factors, but we want to make sure we honor the dog as your family member at all times! Males: We will bring the female to him, at your residence, for up to 4-7 days, skipping a day in between each visit. This may occur for several months out of the year, but most likely will not occur every month. Females: We would borrow her for 4-7 days to be bred. This would rarely require an overnight stay. After the breeding process, she would go directly back to your home as a Guardian Family Member for the majority of the pregnancy duration. A week prior to her giving birth, we would relocate her to our home and keep her through the birthing process until her pups are completely weaned (usually around 7 weeks total). Most moms have 3 litters with us.

Is there a cost to becoming a Guardian Family Member?

You pay nothing for your pick-of-the-litter-puppy. You, as a Guardian Family Member, will be responsible for the general routine veterinary care and wellness of the Guardian puppy/dog placed in your care. This will also include food (a special brand recommended by Drover's Hill), vitamins, grooming, and basic vet bills. We pay all costs related to reproduction: special supplements and reproductive vet bills. We also pay for the spay/neuter of the dog once the breeding contract has been met.

What breeds are available?

Depending on availability, we occasionally have Old English Sheepdogs, Sheepadoodles, and Poodles available for Guardian Family Members.

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