GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAM
A guardian home is a co-ownership. Here's how it works: You receive one of our dogs to be your pet and live with you full time for almost free! You raise and love them in your home and they come back to us for breeding related visits. Once the contract is up, he/she is yours forever! Every dog in our program is like family to us, and we value our guardian homes like family too!There are a lot of questions that circulate around about the guardian program. The collection of questions and answers below are our best attempt to address all questions. It really is a very simple program even though it may seem like it has a lot of details. The main thing to remember is, if we as a people truly reject the idea of puppy mills and irresponsible breeding, there is no better way than this guardian program to breed dogs in a humane, loving environment. People will find a way to get a dog for their family, and most people unknowingly choose puppy mills because it is the cheapest and fastest way to get dogs to the public. We value our dogs as family members and we hope that you can see how this program benefits families and our four-legged friends!
GUARDIAN HOMES FAQ
Putting Our Trust In Each other
WHAT GUIDELINES DO I NEED TO FOLLOW WHEN RAISING MY PUPPY?
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Guardian Homes are responsible for providing their dog with a high-quality, nutritionally balanced diet free from unnecessary fillers, corn, and by-products.
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Guardian Homes are also responsible for keeping their dog current on all required vaccinations, routine veterinary care, and grooming.
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We expect all Guardian Families to practice safe and responsible handling at all times. This includes never leaving the dog unattended outside while no one is home, never allowing the dog to ride unsecured in the bed of a pickup truck, using a leash in public, and providing basic obedience training so the dog develops appropriate manners and is safe to handle.
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Guardian dogs must be enrolled in an approved pet insurance policy within seven days of going home. Sun Valley Goldendoodles will provide recommendations and must approve the selected policy. The Breeder must also be listed on the policy as a co-owner, and coverage must remain active for the entire duration of the Guardian contract. Pet insurance is an average of $35-$55 a month depending on the coverages you select. We require accident and illness coverage.
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The Guardian Home is responsible for transporting the dog to and from Sun Valley Goldendoodles or the vet as needed for breeding, litters, health testing, and other breeding-related appointments. This can be one of the more time-consuming responsibilities of the Guardian Program, so we ask families to carefully consider their ability to meet this commitment before enrolling. Providing transportation is an important part of the Guardian Family’s responsibilities and of earning full ownership of the dog through the program.
WHEN DO YOU START BREEDING THE DOG?
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After all health tests are completed and passed.
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We will usually breed our females on the second heat which generally occurs around 18 months of age. If a dog goes into heat, you must notify us immediately.
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For males- Between 12-18 months dependent on the breed and maturity.
HOW LONG IS A DOG PREGNANT?
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Typically between 60-63 days.
HOW LONG IS SHE WITH YOU WHEN SHE HAS THE LITTER?
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She will come to us between 5-7 days before she is due with her litter. This gives her time to settle into our house, get used to seeing the whelping box. It is important that she becomes very comfortable with being in our house and being with us all the time. We do not want the mom to feel threatened by us when she is getting ready to whelp. She will go home after the puppies are weaned.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING PREGNANCY AND WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO DIFFERENTLY WITH THE DOG?
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The guardian will receive a flyer on " What to expect during pregnancy" detailing the next 8 weeks. The dog may act a little more tired, or not eat normally for a few weeks. The last couple weeks of pregnancy she will become more hungry and sleeps more as time progresses. Otherwise, normal activity is typical and it is important to continue with your typical routine and lifestyle.
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No chemicals may be given during pregnancy. We have to be notified immediately of any illness or injury so we can be involved in determining how she is treated.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE PUPPY GETS SICK OR INJURED WHILE IN THE GUARDIAN HOME'S CARE?
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While the dog is in guardian's care and home, any illness or injury that happens is their financial responsibility. We must be involved in treatment plans and know what is going on and determining medications, but the family is responsible for those expenses.
WHAT EXPENSES DO THE GUARDIANS PAY FOR AND WHAT THINGS DOES THE BREEDER PAY FOR?
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The guardian home pays for any normal pet care. Food, dishes, leashes, beds, normal vaccinations and deworming, grooming needs etc.
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We pay for all expenses related to health testing for breeding purposes, and all breeding expenses and litter expenses.
HOW MANY LITTERS DO YOU USUALLY BREED BEFORE RETIRING THE DOG?
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We contract for three litters. We may breed three or two, or one, but we have the option of three. The well-being of our program dogs is always our top priority. If at any point we feel that a female is having difficulty with pregnancy or delivery, or that breeding again would not be in her best interest, we will retire her from our breeding program. At that time, she will remain with you permanently as your family pet.
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For males, we contract for 5 years.
WHAT ARE THE GROOMING REQUIREMENTS AND DO YOU WANT US TO KEEP THE DOG CLIPPED A CERTAIN WAY?
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We do require that all Guardian dogs are kept well-groomed, clean, and free of mats. If you are unable to properly maintain the coat at home, you will be required to use a professional groomer on a regular basis.
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If a Guardian dog is brought to us with significant matting or a coat that has not been properly maintained, we reserve the right to have the dog professionally groomed, including shaving the coat if necessary for the dog’s comfort and well-being. Any grooming expenses incurred will be the Guardian Family’s responsibility and must be reimbursed before the dog is returned to your care.
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Our Guardian dogs are ambassadors for our breeding program, so it is important that they are consistently maintained in a healthy, clean, and well-groomed condition.
WHO PAYS FOR THE SPAY/NEUTER SURGERY?
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We cover the cost of the female’s spay once she has completed our breeding program and has had adequate time to recover from her final litter and allow her hormone levels to return to normal. This is typically around two months after her puppies are fully weaned.
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If a Guardian dog is removed or disqualified from the breeding program before producing a litter—or, in the case of a male, before successfully siring a litter—the cost of the spay or neuter becomes the financial responsibility of the Guardian Family. The procedure must be completed within six weeks of the termination of the Guardian Agreement.
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We will provide trusted veterinary resources and recommendations to help you arrange the procedure.
WHAT IF WE DECIDE TO MOVE?
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Committing to becoming a Guardian Home means agreeing to remain within approximately 1.5 hours of Sun Valley Goldendoodles until your dog has completed his or her Guardian contract and full ownership has been transferred to you.
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If you plan to move outside of this area, you must notify us prior to the move so we can discuss available options. Depending on the distance, you may be responsible for transporting the dog to and from us for all breeding-related appointments and obligations outlined in the original contract.
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If the distance makes it impractical to fulfill the Guardian Home responsibilities, or you are unable to continue meeting the requirements of the program, the dog must be returned to us prior to the move so that we can arrange placement with a new Guardian Home.
ARE GUARDIAN HOMES COMPENSATED?
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Yes! We compensate our guardian home owners for their time and commitment to our program with a monetary bonus after each litter.
IS THERE A FEE FOR GUARDIAN DOGS?
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There is a one-time enrollment fee of $500, due when the Guardian Family takes possession of the dog. This fee serves as a good-faith commitment to the responsibilities of the Guardian Program and reflects your dedication to providing a loving, stable home while fulfilling the requirements of our breeding program.
ATLAS
This handsome boy has just about mastered all of his basic commands, including sit, down, stay, come, kennel, and “go to your kennel.” He is incredibly smart, eager to learn, and picks up new things so quickly!
Atlas definitely has his moments of playful puppy energy, but overall, he is such a laid-back, docile boy. He would be perfectly content lounging in your lap on the couch or snuggled up in bed with you all day.
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He will likely mature around 35-45lbs
DOB 05/01/2026
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Guardian families must live within 30 minutes of Northwest Tucson OR within 30 minutes of the Queen Creek area.
LULU
Lulu is a multigenerational Cavapoo. She is fun, playful, and an outgoing girl with a big personality! She has a playful energy level and loves to be involved in whatever is going on. She’s confident, social, and always ready for playtime or a new adventure.
She is expected to mature around 15–18 lbs and has a beautiful wavy, non-shedding coat. She would be a wonderful match for an active family looking for a happy, affectionate companion with a playful spirit and lots of personality.
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DOB 04/19/2026
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Guardian families must live within 30 minutes of Northwest Tucson OR within 30 minutes of the Queen Creek area.
