Guardian Program
Guardian families allow us to provide our breeding dogs with a family of their own, while being able to produce more puppies for our waitlist families.
Here’s an overview of the program.
Approved guardian families will receive a pick-of-the-litter female puppy, free of charge ($10,000 - 15,000 value). Blackwood Acres Kennels will choose the puppy best suited for breeding, based on health, temperament, and appearance. You get a DREAM PUPPY for FREE in exchange for your support of our program.
Blackwood Acres will own the dog until her retirement, and then she becomes all yours to love on for the rest of her life.
You will be able to enjoy every minute of the puppy stage. Your dog will begin her breeding career after her first heat cycle and after her health testing is complete (around 12-18 months of age).
You will care for your dog as a family member, providing training, routine care, socialization, and love, just like you would if you purchased her. Regular living expenses will be your responsibility, but breeding-related expenses will be the responsibility of Blackwood Acres Kennels.
You will bring your dog to our home near Long Creek, IL as soon as she starts her heat cycle so we can test her progesterone levels and breed her at the optimal time. This means you don’t have to deal with the blood!
You will need to provide your dog with regular vet care, including staying up-to-date on vaccinations. We will also ask you to schedule an x-ray to check for puppies (at our cost).
You will bring your dog to us one week before her due date. She will stay until her puppies are weaned (usually 6-7 weeks total). We will care for her and her puppies during this time. It’s a great time for you to take a vacation without hiring a dog sitter!
Your dog will retire from breeding after she has had four litters, and we will sign over full ownership to you.
If you’d like to become a guardian, please fill out an application!