At Chapman Schnauzer we believe that every dog deserves to have a loving, forever home. All of our dogs are part of our family and we want them to have as much attention as possible. Because of this, we have decided to offer select dogs/puppies to Guardian Homes.  A Guardian Home is a permanent home for one of our breeding dogs. Guardian homes are a great opportunity for the right family and greatly helps a breeder.  Being a Guardian home can be an excellent way to give back and have a top-quality dog/puppy for a family pet with financial incentives. The best part of guardianship is it allows our breeding dogs to have a forever home with the guardian and eliminates the heartbreak to find homes for our breeding dogs when they retire.  

A Guardian Home is a great opportunity for a person or family to enjoy a “pick of the litter” puppy/adult dog that is considered for breeding by the breeder. These puppies or dogs must meet the strictest requirements to be in our breeding program. A great dog at a great price. There is a $200-$500 deposit to ensure commitment to the puppy/dog that's reimbursed at the end of the breeding career. This is assuming all requirements of the breeding contract were kept. The puppy/dogs breeding rights and registration remain the breeders until the guardianship contract is ended and the female or male is then retired to their forever family. Our breeding dogs are retired at 5 years or sooner if circumstances call for it. Chapman Schnauzers will retain the right to cancel our guardianship program at any time if we deem it necessary. Once retired, he/she will be neutered/spayed at our expense and returned back to you with their AKC papers and registration. 

As a Guardian Home, you will be required to pay for the everyday expenses of owning a dog including annual exams, grooming, vaccines, food, etc. Breeder will pay for all breeding-related costs including health testing. All grooming needs will be met by the Breeder while the female is in our care during whelp.

It does take a commitment and the willingness to be flexible for the needs of the breeder, but I believe it is well worth it to receive what is typically a “cream of the crop” puppy or adult dog. Of course, there are requirements set forth in a contract that must be followed for obvious reasons. The value of one of these dogs can be up to $3500. Hence, the need for us to find just the right home.

Becoming a Guardian Home is not for everyone. You MUST be willing and able to follow these requirements:

- Have previous experience with dogs.

- Live within 1 hour of Queen Creek/Gilbert AZ. Or be willing to travel for all the required meetings if they live further.

- Be willing to socialize puppies. This is very important! Teaching basic commands or taking puppy obedience classes is strongly encouraged.

- He/She must be an indoor pet. Backyards must be securely fenced so outside dogs cant enter.

- Feed a premium, quality food.

- All other dogs in the home MUST be fixed if they are the opposite sex.

- Provide regular exercise.

- Willing to let us, the breeder, visit your home or provide pictures/video of where the dog would live. 

- Contact Breeder immediately in the event of a serious illness or accident.

- Send a copy of all vet visits to Breeder.

- Must not allow he/she to mate with any unapproved dogs.

- Provide veterinary care when needed.

- Alert breeder when females have come in heat. The breeder will give all information on what to look for and when to expect this to happen. But it is crucial that the guardian family pay attention and alert the breeder immediately once their heat cycle has begun.

- If you are a guardian for a female dog, you must be willing to drop her off for 1 week while she is bred or make 3 individual visits to drop her off for each breeding. Breedings typically take 45min to 1 hour. At 35 days gestation meet or drop her off for an ultrasound to confirm pregnancy and puppy count. Then drop her back off 1 week prior to her whelping date (53 days from breeding). She will stay with us until the puppies are weaned at 6 weeks old. At that time the Guardian family is more than welcome to come visit and play with the puppies before taking their female home.

- If you are a guardian for a male dog, you must be willing to drop him off for 3-5 days for breedings unless arrangements are made ahead of time for us to pick him up.

- Be able to communicate with us, the breeder, about mating, whelping, and anything else breeding-related.

If you are interested in becoming a Guardian Home for one of our Miniature Schnauzers please fill out the Guardian Home application. We look forward to hearing from you!