• 22 month old female - Active in Performance (Available April 2025, pending final health clearances & titles) • 3 month old female - Will be titled & fully health tested(available now - will be added to our program late 2026-early 2027)
An active home is a must for these two. Both prefer having another dog around to play with although it’s not required as play dates can be arranged. Contact us if you think that you might be a good fit!
A guardian home is a family or person that helps raise the future dogs of our program for the life of the dog. In order for us to continue our program of producing high quality well rounded puppies, we must pick the highest quality prospects from each litter and fully health test them to determine if that puppy will continue their parents lineages or if they would be better as a pet. Removing or retiring a dog from our program can be a heartache when we have to then place that dog into a new home to limit the number of dogs that we have in our home. We created this program as we want the dog to stay with their permanent forever home as a pet indefinitely regardless if they are good fit for our program or not. Guardian families give us the opportunity to continue our dogs lineages and we give them an opportunity to have a high quality, pick of the litter, health tested dog and being apart of what we do while also being compensated for their time. Our guardian program allows for the dogs of our program to have the best individual care and attention possible. This includes while we prepare them as puppies, during their time in our program and after retirement. We are very picky with who we choose to raise our guardian puppies as we are entrusting you with a puppy that is very special to us and important for our program. Please be sure to read through everything down below as we sometimes change things around to allow for a better program.
*If we not have availability at the time of your approval then you will be added to our waiting list for upcoming litters and you will be notified when we have a litter planned, a puppy or a dog that is a good fit for you. Guardian home prospects are available at no cost to an approved home.Bear State Goldens reserves all breeding rights to the dog and retains full ownership for the time period of the contract.Once the dog retires from our program.. we cover the cost of sterilization, full ownership is transferred to the guardians and the dog continues their life as normal with their forever family. Some prospects may not be up to our standard of breeding and in that case: if the guardian home would like to keep them, we only require that they must sterilize the dog at 18-24 months for females and 24 months for males. Once we receive confirmation of the Sterilization, full ownership will be transferred to the guardians with no payments required. The Guardian Family will need to learn the signs of a heat cycle with our help and be willing to communicate, cooperate and coordinate with us to ensure success.Stud dogs can only mate with females that are approved and coordinated by the breeder, the Guardians are responsible for keeping the male away from intact female dogs.Guardians of intact female or male dogs will need to consider the importance of keeping the dog responsibly contained to prevent unwanted litters.We reserve the right to cancel our guardian program if ever necessary.Bear State Goldens pays for all breeding expenses, whelps and raises every litter.Bear State Goldens decides whom the breeding dogs are bred to and when.
We cherish our Guardian Homes for immensely loving and taking great care of our dogs, so in return of their dedication..
For our Mama Dogs:
Guardian families will receive up to $500 per successful litter or a choosing of a puppy from her final litter for free. Our contract is up to 4 litters.
For our Stud Dogs:
Guardian families will receive $200 per successfully sired litter or a choosing of a puppy from his final litter for free. The age of retirement depends on the dog and we look at several factors before making that decision.
Requirements:
We prefer for you to have experience with Goldens or with a high energy large breed dog.
Have some experience of basic dog training or be willing to learn and take the dog to training.
Be prepared for a meet & greet(s), a home-visit and to provide a vet reference prior to the dog being placed into your care.
Live within 2 hours from Orangevale, CA and willing to meet halfway if need be.
No plans of relocating within the next 5 years. If Guardian Home does decide that they need to relocate while the dog is enrolled in our program, they must return the dog back to the owner(Bear State Goldens).
Be willing to provide basic training that is standard for dog ownership such as: potty training, leash training, crate training, basic training and socializing. Group puppy classes are highly recommended! Must be willing to meet/drop off dog to breeder for training or complete Canine Good Citizen classes for AKC CGC titles(Classes will be compensated). This is a training class for a test of temperament, obedience and basic dog training. This training benefits the dog, the breeder & the guardian home.
The Guardian home is responsible for pet costs including: annual vet exams, high quality dog food, toys, bed and any pet expenses when the dog is in their care including for emergencies(Pet Insurance preferred). Guardian Home is to cover Rabies vaccinations & Heartworm meds. The guardian must be able to send a copy of all vet visits and vaccinations to the breeder to have on hand.
We cover all breeding related vet costs, all health clearances, DHPP & Bordatella boosters for as long as the dog is enrolled in our program. Dog must be brought to us for boosters. We also cover Bravecto Flea/Tick treatment while enrolled in our program. When pregnant, vaccinations and medications are avoided unless necessary.
Contact the breeder in any emergency situation such as a serious injury, illness, accident, etc.
Be able to contain an intact dog when in heat and not allow him or her to mate to unapproved dogs. Any opposite sex dog living in the home MUST be Spayed/Neutered.
Have good communication and attention to detail. Female will come into heat and guardian family must notify us as soon as possible. Experience with a female in heat is a plus! *
*Understand that Bear State Goldens is waiving the purchase price of the dog in exchange for a service- you must be willing to communicate, cooperate and coordinate with us during their time in our program, and be dedicated to providing a safe, loving home for the lifetime of the dog.Guardian home applicants must understand that the primary ownership of the dog will remain Bear State Goldens’ until full ownership is transferred by the decision of Bear State Goldens.
Keep the dog safe and contained at all times (fenced in backyard). Dog is to be a primarily indoor dog and never left outdoors unattended for long periods of time.
Diet: Must also be willing to keep the dog at a healthy weight and not allow them to become under or overweight. Kept on a breeder approved high quality dog food and supplements that we may recommend. Supplements for show/breeding are covered by the breeder.
Mamas: Be willing to meet and drop off mama dog at breeders home and/or bring to vet during heat cycles, vet exams, health testing, showing/titling/sports, training, breeding, the last week of pregnancy and 6-8 weeks during puppy rearing. Guardian Family will be allowed to visit mama & puppies by appointments. Breeder will send regular updates. Pregnancy care includes prenatal supplements(covered by breeder), regular walks and regular playtime. In the third trimester the mama dog is not to run, fetch balls or play roughly.
Studs: Be willing to meet and drop off stud dog at breeders home and/or bring to vet. This includes for vet exams, health testing, showing/titling/sports, training and breedings. Depending on the circumstances.. a Stud dog could be with us from 1-14 days at a time.
Be willing to send regular photo/video updates and bring the dog to the breeder for playdates/grooming/boarding when available.
Must take preventative care to not overwork or over exercise the puppy and provide floor traction(under the age of 24 months)
Grooming: Be willing to keep up with regular grooming.. including regular baths, teeth brushing, ear cleanings, nail trims every 2 weeks and daily-weekly hair brushing. Breeder will show guardian home how to keep up with basic grooming. Guardian home can opt for taking the dog to a groomer in between breeder’s grooms. Dogs enrolled in our guardian program receive full service grooms when available at no charge. Guardian home must be willing to preserve the natural look of the dog with the exception of basic grooming. Guardian home is to avoid hair shaving, cutting and hair dying. Hair trimming is to be done by a professional. No hair cutting will be permitted by anyone other than the breeder or an approved groomer at minimum 4 months before a dog show.
Boarding: Free Boarding when available and as space allows.
Training: Free Basic Training sessions when available and as space allows.