Guardian Home Program

At Red Spruce Retriever our dogs are part of our family and live in our house rather than separate in a kennel. We believe every dog deserves a loving home and therefore we offer a Guardian Program for some of our breeding females.

What is a Guardian home?
A Guardian Home is a permanent home that gives the opportunity for a family to get the “pick of the litter” without purchasing it. This agreement comes with conditions that the guardian home must follow to qualify. 

How does it work?
Becoming a guardian home means rather than buying this puppy, the ownership will be retained by Red Spruce Retriever until the breeding career has ended (2-3 litters). The dog will live and be part of the guardian home’s family and will only return to the breeder when the dog comes into breeding age and is in heat. As hard as it is to be without your dog for a couple of weeks, this also gives the Guardian home freedom for example to travel without worrying about their dog during that time. Furthermore, the guardian home family is allowed to see the litter at the first opportunity and is welcome to come snuggle puppies until their dam is weaned off and can go home. We reserve the right to cancel our guardianship at any time if we deem it necessary. Once retired, the female will be spayed at our expense and returned back to you. At the time of spaying, the guardian home will retain full ownership of the dog. 

What are the requirements for a guardian home?

  • Have previous experience with Labrador Retrievers

  • Live in Nova Scotia

  • Must provide a secure family-living situation in a home where the dog lives indoors and will never be left unattended outside

  • Feed a quality diet that we recommend

  • Must crate train the dog

  • Provide and pay for veterinary care as well as keeping the dog on flea and tick preventative year-around (We will pay for breeding-related health testing)

  • If there are any male dogs in the household they must be neutered

  • Willing to let us, the breeders, visit your home if needed

  • Communicate with us about scheduling, testing, breeding, whelping, and anything else breeder-related

  • Inform us when they go on vacation. If the dog will not be sent to the breeder’s home, they need to provide the pet sitter's contact information.

  • Must be prepared to manage heat cycles and ensure no accidental breedings.

  • Once the dog turns 2 years of age and has passed all necessary health tests the guardian family needs to be prepared to meet us once the female has come into her estrus cycle and is willing to drop her off for 1-2 weeks while she is bred and 1 week prior to her whelp date. She will stay until her puppies are weaned.

  • Contract and specific details pertaining to being a guardian home.

Please fill out our puppy application form and select GUARDIAN HOME at the bottom of the application.