Acerca de
Guardian Home Program
NK Ranch's Guardian Home Program
A Guardian Home is a unique opportunity for families to be a part of the future of Australian Shepherds here at NK Ranch! In order to continue to give our future breeding dogs the best care possible, we have set up a guardian home program where we can place selected breeding dogs in their forever home and still be part of our breeding program!
Guardian home puppies require a 50% deposit of the full purchase price. Instead of paying full price for a puppy, you are getting a puppy who is the cream of the crop! You are getting the pick of the litter in temperament, conformation, coat color and health.
You are getting the best dog NK Ranch has to offer!
Guardian home puppies will be evaluated, and health tested between 6-14 months old and then be assessed for our breeding program. We will pay for all needed health testing and evaluations. When we have the health test results, they will then be given a final assessment on whether they qualify for our breeding program. This gives us the opportunity to find the best possible dogs to improve the development of the breed! If we choose not to breed a candidate dog, we will have them spayed or neutered at our expense, and the ownership of the dog will be signed over to you. If the dog does not join our guardian home program, that means you get the best Aussie NK Ranch has to offer at half the cost!
Guardian Home families are required to care for their NK Ranch Aussie in all other needs both physically and financially. NK Ranch Aussies will pay for all costs associated with breeding, and will care for all litters from guardian home dogs at our home. They will be your forever pet and spend their everyday life in your home, but every so often Guardian home dogs will spend time at our home for breeding, end of term pregnancy, and whelping.
Requirements for a Guardian Home family:
Live within 120 miles of Tremonton, Utah, or able to travel to and from our home within a few days notice.
Own a home with a fenced in yard
Own a reliable car
No other intact dogs in the home
Have experience owning an Australian Shepherd or other dogs
Be able to properly care for, socialize, train, and regularly groom your puppy
Be able to provide your dog with all its needs both financially and physically
Keep in close contact with NK Ranch
Be able to detect a heat cycle (if female) and keep from being bred by any other dogs outside of NK Ranch
**We will provide training for heat cycle detection, pregnancy, post pregnancy care, and we will remain in close contact throughout the process**
Owning a Female Guardian Home dog:
Females can start breeding at 2 years old until they are 5-6 years old. NK Ranch will determine during each heat cycle if they will be bred. Sometimes it could be back to back, and sometimes a cycle could be skipped. If we choose to breed, they will stay with us for up to two weeks during the breeding process and then will be able to go back to home to you. After 4 weeks post breeding, we will set up an ultrasound appointment for you to take your guardian dog to confirm pregnancy. If pregnancy is confirmed, at 8 weeks we will have her come stay at our home for the remainder of her pregnancy until the puppies are whelped (around 6-8 weeks). Guardian home females will spend around 8-12 weeks a year at our home. Guardian home owners are always welcome to come see their guardian dog and puppies while they are in our care! When they have reached retirement age from our breeding program (around 4-6 years old), we then will have them spayed at our cost and full ownership will be transferred to you.
For every litter your guardian home female produces, you will receive a refund amount of $50 per puppy sold in that litter.
Owning a Male Guardian Home dog:
Males can start breeding at 2 years old until they are around 6-8 years old. They will stay with us for a few days at a time during the breeding process, then will go home with you. When they are ready to be retired, we will have them neutered at our expense and full ownership will be transferred to you.
We ask all Guardian Home owners that they are able to take and send quality photos/videos of the guardian home dog that we are able to post and share on our website and social media from time to time.
If you are interested in becoming a Guardian Home for an NK Ranch Aussie, please fill out the application below.