What is a Guardian Home?

Becoming a Guardian Home gives you the opportunity to have one of our puppies or young adults as a family pet while he or she remains in our showing and breeding program. You are responsible for the care of the puppy -- food, vet, health care, grooming, training (basic training) and such, but ultimately you will not end up paying for the puppy once he or she is "retired".

As a guardian home, you are the permanent home for one of our breeding dogs while they are in our program. Once they are retired (and spayed/neutered at the date pre-established by Pickwick Pugs), full ownership transfers to the guardian family.

The guardian program allows us to grow our program and continue to better the pug breed without sacrificing any of our pugs' happiness and need for love and attention. While we want to keep all of our pugs with us, we understand that they will be happier with more one on one attention than we can give them.

Ideally, guardian homes are located within a few hours drive of Birmingham, Alabama.

DOES IT COST TO BECOME A GUARDIAN?
There is no purchase cost for a Guardian Home pug. There is a deposit required ($1,500) which is applied toward the spay/neuter when the pug is retired at the date determined in advance by Pickwick Pugs. If the pug is neutered/spayed without permission prior to the pre-established date there is no refund of the deposit. The deposit refund can then cover the cost of spay/neuter so the only costs for the guardian home involves standard vet care, food, maintenance, general pet care. As a guardian home, you receive a top quality, show prospect (or champion - typically worth $3,000-$6,000) ultimately for free.

WHAT EXPENSES ARE GUARDIAN FAMILIES RESPONSIBLE FOR?
Guardians are responsible for all “regular” dog care including providing food, treats, toys, etc. They are also responsible for normal vet care that is not breeding related. The pug must be kept up-to-date on all shots and heart worm prevention at guardian's expense.

DIET: Guardians are provided directives on the food and supplements to administer. It is important that the pug eat the foods and supplements recommended by Pickwick Pugs to maintain optimal health, coat. Alternate diets may be discussed but agreed upon by both parties. Cheap foods such as Pet Store kibble -- Purina, Royal Canin etc. -- is not an option. Supplements (fish oil, daily vitamin, possibly probiotic, joint supplement, ester c) is required.  We recommend and require raw and PawTree freeze-dried raw or an agreed upon alternate option of similar high quality.

EXERCISE: Guardians are also responsible for keeping the pug in optimal health with regular walks, grooming, and toning.

GROOMING: It is important the pug be washed at least every other week with products recommended by Pickwick Pugs and that toenails are kept "show short". (Dremel weekly). Pugs should be brushed (and spritzed with conditioning spray) on a daily basis. Nose folds, face wrinkles, and ears kept clean (wipe daily or every few days). This is all just a pug's basic daily grooming requirement, but it is particularly important for a show pug.

COMMUNICATION: Lastly, Guardians must be willing to keep in contact with the breeders on a regular basis (every few weeks or so) until the pug is retired from the breeding program and transfer of ownership is completed. After that, we just ask for the normal, periodic updates and photos as part of the Pickwick Pug family.

WHAT ABOUT TRANSPORTATION?Guardians are responsible for the regular vet visits for wellness exams, vaccinations, heart worm prevention, food, ongoing training, and basic care expenses. We pay for vet procedures specifically related to showing and breeding (entry fees, showing the pug, travel to shows, hotels etc., AI's, progesterone testing, ultra sound, x-rays, and other required vet procedures specifically related to breeding and whelping. If the owner is interested in showing themselves, or hiring a handler, then they will pay the show expenses. 

HOW OFTEN WILL MY PUG NEED TO VISIT PICKWICK PUGS?
With males, the pug will only need to visit us for about a week for each litter. (Note: We do not breed often, with 1-3 litters per year typically). With females, the pug will need to visit us for a week or 2 once she is in heat to complete progesterone testing and AI. (It is possible for owners to complete the progesterone testing with their own vet if preferred). The guardian home owners will complete the ultra sound with their vet, paid for by Pickwick Pugs, to determine pregnancy around Day 30-32 after insemination. It is imperative that the dam be cared for specifically (not playing rough with other dogs, not being at dog parks and such, not walking on vet floor or grounds near vet or pet stores) during pregnancy. The pregnant dam will require 24-7 access to fresh water, and other things which will be discussed.

A couple of weeks prior to whelp, the pug will stay with us at Pickwick Pugs through weaning (approximately 7-10 weeks of age or sooner). All total, the female would be with us for approximately 9-12 weeks, but Guardian home owners can visit at any time. Female pugs are retired after 2 litters max (perhaps after 1). Male pugs are retired tba but typically are capable of siring many litters which means that a male pug with a guardian home will remain intact for many years. Belly bands are a marvelous tool for hotels and such if you are ever worried about marking. FYI, neutering a male dog does NOT prevent marking. It's what they do, or can be inclined to do. Keeping a male dog intact does not increase his need to mark. Training and consistency are the only things that prevent unwanted behaviors.

DOG SHOWS
Guardian Owners will not have to show the pug in dog shows. (Some pugs will already have obtained their AKC championships). If you would like to show them for fun, then we always welcome help! But it is definitely not required. If the puppy is not yet an AKC champion, the puppy or pug will travel to nearby dog shows on the weekends (every other month or so at most) to be shown by us, or a professional handler that we know and trust and choose, at our expense. (If the guardian home is interested in showing this is a possibility of course but not a  requirement at all. Dog shows can be fun and a great opportunity to spend quality time with your pet but not everyone loves the show scene.

Guardian Owners will not have to do anything with their beautiful pug except love them and raise them, as a pet that is intact.) Championships can be finished in a few weekends but sometimes it takes more. It all depends upon the judge and which other pugs participate in the show.

We hope you might consider the possibility of being a guardian home. This is a way that you can contribute to the preservation of this ancient and amazing breed!

Our pugs live a loving and enriched life with us, however there is a limit to the number of dogs we can house and care for. As a guardian, you would help to ensure that our pugs get to live the best possible life in a loving, caring home where they receive as much one-on-one attention as possible.

If you would like to become a part of the Pickwick Pugs family please contact us or, if you are interested in being considered as a future Pickwick pug owner, please complete the inquiry form so that we can get to know you better! We look forward to hearing from you!