Application
The first step in getting a puppy from us is to fill out our puppy application. This application gives us some of the basic information needed to ensure that your family will be a good fit, and that we have a puppy (or litter on the way) that we feel would fit your family well. Please answer these questions IN DETAIL, if you provide one word answers to these questions we will not reply to your application.
"Dachshund: A half-a-dog high and a dog-and-a-half long."
H. L. Mencken
Guardian Homes
What Is A Guardian Home?
If you are interested in a high quality puppy and live within an hour of the Louisville, KY area then the guardian program may be right for you. The guardian program allows us to grow our program and continue to better our breed, without sacrificing any of our dogs happiness and need for love and attention. While we want to keep all of our dogs with us, we understand that they will be happier with more one on one attention than we can give them.
Our guardian program is where we place breeding prospect dogs and puppies in local families, at no upfront cost to the family and we retain the breeding/showing rights on that specific dog. Guardian families generally are interested in a higher quality dog but recognize the value that they receive in a higher quality dog and understand the sacrifice (having to share their dog with us) until the breeding/showing agreement is fulfilled.
This is not for people who are interested in breeding dogs themselves but rather a program for those who are interested in supporting our program and receiving a very high quality puppy without the cost of paying for a dog. Once they are retired (and spayed/neutered at our expense), full ownership transfers to the guardian family and they get to keep the dog forever. 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 program at no upfront cost to you!
By offering the guardian program, we are able to ensure that our dogs get to live the best possible lives in a loving, caring home where they receive as much one on one attention as possible.
What Are Guardian Homes Responsible For?
Guardian homes are responsible for all “regular” pet parent costs including but not limited to: grooming, food, routine veterinary care and vaccinations, bedding, toys etc. Howard Hounds Longhair Dachshunds are responsible for all breeding related expenses and/or breeding related veterinary costs including but not limited to: progesterone tests, semen evaluation, genetic testing etc. Guardian homes assume responsibility for the care and maintenance of their guardian dog in terms of coat care, general health and well-being. Guardian homes must keep their guardian dog in good physical and mental condition and the dog must be kept well maintained and groomed. Guardians are required to maintain a friendly and open relationship with us as well. We need to know how our guardian dogs are doing and we keep in touch weekly with our guardian homes. If you are planning on going out of town as well we need to be informed in advance so we can make arrangements should we have breeding plans for your guardian dog at that time. We prefer your dog be in our care if you are needing to be out of town/travel.
Guardian homes should have some basic experience with dogs, willing to socialize, exercise and care for your puppy (teach your dog basic manners/commands). Your dog must be an inside pet and never be left outside unattended. Guardian homes must only have other dogs that are altered (spayed or neutered). Guardian homes must have no intention of breeding or running a breeding program/business and must reside for the duration of the contract within the specified geographical area that they signed on for. This is not a good program for those who do not have plans to stay in one place for a while. The breeders must be able to visit the home of the guardian when/if necessary. Guardian homes must let the breeder know in the event of any serious illness or injury to the dog.
How Do I Become A Guardian Home?
We generally ask that people interested in being a guardian send us an email letting us know their interest. Please send us a detailed message and let us know that you are aware of our guardian program and are interested in being considered for our guardianship program. We will further schedule phone and/or video call interviews as one progresses through the guardian home interview process.
Guardian homes must have stable living conditions and be able to adequately care for an incoming puppy. All family members must be informed and happy to be guardians. Our guardian homes must live somewhere that dogs are allowed if they do not own their own home. (Written permission from a landlord).
Male Guardian Home Responsibilities
Male Guardian home opportunities are generally available for those who are in a close physical proximity to us. Male guardian dogs are generally not kept overnight at our home but we do require close communication and a lot of flexibility from our male guardian home owners. We may have females come into season more quickly or often than expected so we may borrow our guardian boys quite often. After the male guardian dog’s “date” he can go back to his owner until the next “date”. Male guardian home owners are required to keep in close communication with us and be flexible about his use.
Female Guardian Home Responsibilities
Female Guardian home opportunities are generally available more often than males. Female guardian homes are committed in the program for a specified number of litters, typically 2 (possibly 3) successful litters in a female’s lifetime (A successful litter is considered two or more puppies). Female guardian dog owners must notify us at the onset of a heat cycle whether we are breeding the dog or not that cycle. After the completion of the female guardian dog’s litters she is spayed by us and released fully to the guardian family. Guardian homes with female dogs must notify us when their dog comes in season (in heat). The female is away from the guardian home during the week prior to expected delivery and following the weaning of her puppies. Generally this process in total is around 8-9 weeks. The actual breeding of the female will occur while she is with us not her guardian home to ensure she is closely monitored post breeding.
How often do you have guardian opportunities available?
This depends widely on what we are breeding and keeping back within our own breeding program as well as the select dogs we bring in from other breeders from time to time. Please contact us for most current availability and future plans.
Can we buy our dog from the guardian program?
No, we do not allow our guardian homes to “purchase” the dog from us as these dogs have been hand selected in advance in order to get the best genetics, color, structure etc. possible to move our breeding program further. If you are interested in applying please be confident in your commitment to the guardian program.