Fostering (Guardian Homes)
What is fostering?:
At Shadowland we prioratize that each individual dog is given a fulfilling, enriched life. While they compete in multiple venues with us at the end of the day they are beloved family companions first and foremost, and even as an integral part of our breeding program it's important to me that they have a couch to call their own.
Our Foster Program allows us to keep certain dogs as apart of our breeding program, while allowing us to maintain a limited number of dogs in our home. This permits us to offer every single one of the dogs living with us the individual time, love and attention that they deserve, while also offering the dogs apart of our Foster Program to live in homes with their families the same courtesy - whether this is a single or multi dog home, it is one where they can enjoy life and some extra attention from "Their" people.
At Shadowland we prioratize that each individual dog is given a fulfilling, enriched life. While they compete in multiple venues with us at the end of the day they are beloved family companions first and foremost, and even as an integral part of our breeding program it's important to me that they have a couch to call their own.
Our Foster Program allows us to keep certain dogs as apart of our breeding program, while allowing us to maintain a limited number of dogs in our home. This permits us to offer every single one of the dogs living with us the individual time, love and attention that they deserve, while also offering the dogs apart of our Foster Program to live in homes with their families the same courtesy - whether this is a single or multi dog home, it is one where they can enjoy life and some extra attention from "Their" people.
It also is an invaluable opportunity for our foster dogs to remain in the same home their entire lives once they have retired from the show ring and our breeding program. Rather than find a retirement home, these dogs can simply be retired into the home that they have lived in the majority of their lives!
~While we use the term “Foster” or “Guardian” these homes are truly their “forever homes”.
~While we use the term “Foster” or “Guardian” these homes are truly their “forever homes”.
|
|
What it entails...
-Through our foster program, the foster family/.guardian home would receive a puppy or young adult dog at no charge/expense to them (rather than the regular purchase price of one of our puppies/dogs).
-The dog would live primarily with the Foster/Guardian Home as their beloved family companion, just as any other dog they own.
-The Foster/Guardian would cover the cost of daily expenses including food, routine veterinary care, and everyday needs.
-We would ask the foster to work with the dog on leash manners and being handled to be a good show dog candidate.
-We would require the foster to keep the dog intact (not spayed or neutered) and we would get to “borrow” back the dog for short periods of time for breeding and dog shows for several years until the dog was retired out of the program.
For puppies and young adults this would include being with us for the occasional brief visit as they work towards finishing their Championship, complete health testing and steps towards being a good candidate for our breeding program. This is usually no more than a few weeks/weekends during the first couple of years. As for adults that have already finished their championships prior to being placed in a foster home, those show weekends would be rare, if at all!
|
|
*Most importantly, our Foster Program allows our dogs to be a crucial part of our breeding program.
For a female, this means that she would come back to us for breeding and to whelp puppies to continue future generations (this would be up to approximately 8 weeks at a time to whelp and raise a litter). Our girls are bred no earlier than two years of age and retired by six years of age. Once retired from our program, she would be spayed.
For a male, this means keeping them intact for the duration of their lives (unless medically necessary to neuter) and allowing us to use him at stud on occasion. Boys would be away from home for short periods at a time only for breedings, which would be taken care of by us, at our home.
For a female, this means that she would come back to us for breeding and to whelp puppies to continue future generations (this would be up to approximately 8 weeks at a time to whelp and raise a litter). Our girls are bred no earlier than two years of age and retired by six years of age. Once retired from our program, she would be spayed.
For a male, this means keeping them intact for the duration of their lives (unless medically necessary to neuter) and allowing us to use him at stud on occasion. Boys would be away from home for short periods at a time only for breedings, which would be taken care of by us, at our home.
- All expenses, transport and efforts regarding showing and breeding shall be ours here at Shadowland.
With our foster program it allows us to keep dogs as an invaluable part of our breeding program, and our foster homes receive a show quality puppy who will be championed and health tested (by us) free of charge.
Foster homes must live within reasonable driving distance to Chatham, Ontario, Canada. Please include your location when applying.
With our foster program it allows us to keep dogs as an invaluable part of our breeding program, and our foster homes receive a show quality puppy who will be championed and health tested (by us) free of charge.
Foster homes must live within reasonable driving distance to Chatham, Ontario, Canada. Please include your location when applying.
