GUARDIAN HOME

All of my dogs are part of my family and live in my home rather than in kennels so that I know they are getting as much attention, training, and love as possible. While I would never have my dogs live in kennels, I do at some point have to limit the number of dogs I have in my home for my own sanity and for their well being. Because of this I have decided to offer a Guardian Home Program. A Guardian Home is a permanent home for one of my breeding males or females. This allows me to grow my program and continue to better the Labrador breed without sacrificing any of my dogs needs. Think of it as being a foster family with the intention of adopting the dog permanently once their breeding career is finished. Guardian homes are meant to be permanent so that the dog does not need to go through the retiring process, but gets to just go home to their family.  

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Becoming a Guardian Home gives you the opportunity to have a top notch "pick of the litter" puppy or young adult dog as your pet without paying the usual puppy. price. Rather than buying this puppy at full cost, you will only have to pay the deposit fee of $500 which will be refunded at the end of the dogs breeding career. Barefoot Kennels retains all ownership and breeding rights until their breeding career is over. For females this can be up to 4 litters and for males this can be up to the age of 6 years old. Once retired, he/she will be neutered/spayed at my expense and returned back to you.

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When the guardian dog is of age, I will get all of his/her health clearances done and then if all goes well, I will breed them to a mate of my choosing. If you are the Guardian Home for a female, you will bring your girl to my home to be bred and then she will return home to your family for the duration of her pregnancy. Two weeks before she is due, she will return to my home to get ready for the birth of her puppies. She will stay in my home until her puppies are weaned and placed in their new homes at 8 weeks old. Then she will return back to you, her Guardian Home. ​If you are the Guardian Home for a male, he will just need to come over the week he will be bred and then he can return home. Typically within 2-5 days.​

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Guardian Homes are responsible for normal dog care including but not limited to keeping up with training and socialization, vet expenses (non-breeding related), food, grooming and lots of love and affection. Barefoot Kennels pays for all breeding related expenses.  As an added benefit for the Guardian Home, I will train the dog for free as well as teach you how to keep up with this training, board the dog for free for any vacations you may have planned (assuming I do not have an event planned at the same time), AND groom the dog free of charge.

I will ask you to visit my home periodically to ensure the dog is comfortable when he/she comes for breeding and whelping. Ideally this would be short "sleepovers" for the dog at my house every few months. You will be responsible for sending pictures/updates monthly so that we can keep up with the dog regularly.

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Some Requirements/Responsibilities

• Live within 4 hours of Conover, NC 
  Willing to work with families a bit outside of this range if you are the perfect home

• Feed Inukshuk 30/25 (this can be bought for much cheaper through me versus Chewy.com as I order by the pallet)

• Allow me to title the dog in at least one sport. It is not required of you to participate (unless you are interested in getting involved in sports), but you must allow me to take the dog for occasional sport event weekends

• Must not own intact dogs of the opposite sex

• Not allow any female in heat to be around any intact male

• Keep up with training! 

• Notify us immediately when the female comes into season

• Allow the dog to visit my home periodically to ensure the dog is comfortable when they come for breeding/whelping

• Bring the dog to my home as needed for health testing, breedings, and whelping. I am willing to meet IF I have the free time to do so.

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Please note that you will likely NOT be bringing home an 8 week old puppy as I want to ensure the puppy has a great start with training/socialization. I will keep the puppy until 12-16 weeks old unless otherwise discussed. I am SO excited to start offering this to approved families. If this is something that interests you, please email me at barefootkennels@gmail.com.