It’s good for you, it’s good for us, and more importantly:
It’s good for the dogs.
Vista Goldens is proud to have a Guardian Program.
In an effort to make a difference in the breeding world and in our breeding dogs, we utilize a wide network of guardian homes for the majority of our breeding dogs instead of a kennel setting.
We pride ourselves on not being a breeder who relies on a kennel-like format for the breeding and raising of dogs, we believe every dog should have its day and that it should be sooner rather than later.
We actively try to find loving families to give our breeding dogs homes. We strongly believe that every dog should have a human bed to sleep in at night. To be loved as an only child, or share the love of a big family. With a kennel-like setting, this is not a reality.
We place dogs we would like to keep in our breeding program with homes that understand that these dogs have the chance of continuing our lines someday in the future. The dog is placed with the Guardian Home at a young age and is raised as their own dog. We will take the dog back for a handful of days (at our discretion) every year to do our health testing, to show them and title them, and then eventually breed them if we think they will further the breed goals we have. Some of these dogs will not meet our breeding standards and will be released from the program with the possibility of having never been bred.
Once the Guardian contract has been completed, for a female it is 4 litters over the span of 4 years, for a male, it is the right to use him as a stud up to four times a year for 5 years, both will not be bred until the age of two if they are bred at all. We pay for the spay or neuter of that dog and transfer ownership of the dog to the Guardian permanently free of charge, forever.
There are always instances where we don’t believe the dog we have placed with a guardian is going to be a good fit for our breeding program after all. If this happens, we work with the guardian home to agree on a buyout price (usually* significantly discounted) and permanently transfer the dog's ownership to the Guardian.
The dogs benefit by having a family to love and raise them as dogs, not as vessels used strictly for breeding. They are well adjusted to the world around them because they have been raised in a home, not in an 8’ x 10’ kennel run with minimal stimulation and interaction. We are redefining what it means to be a breeder.
What are the Benefits?
Families benefit from this program. There are hundreds, if not thousands of families who are well qualified but maybe can’t afford the purchase price of one of our dogs. This is a way for us to place our dogs with excellent families who will love the dogs like furry children. We are firm believers in spoiled rotten dogs.
We, as breeders benefit from this style of breeding program as it decreases our overhead. Guardian homes are responsible for annual/routine vet care, food, and hygienic upkeep of the dogs. We are responsible for any vet care related to breeding: health clearances, whelping of litters, etc. Should a major veterinary expense come up we will help pay that expense.* We are also responsible for any cost as it pertains to the showing and titling of the dogs.
So in summary;
It’s good for you, it’s good for us, and most importantly:
It’s good for the dogs.
In order to be considered as a potential guardian home for one of our dogs there is an in depth application. We require all guardian homes to be within two hours of us and be willing to meet us halfway to pick up/ drop off a dog.
At this time we are currently:
Not Seeking Any Guardian Homes