Guardian Program
Before You Begin
Becoming a Guardian Family is a very special commitment — one built on trust, open communication, shared responsibility and a genuine love for the dog entrusted to your care.
At Misty Creek Rose, our Guardian Program allows selected dogs to grow up in loving family homes while remaining an important part of our breeding program. They are, first and foremost, cherished family members — never simply breeding dogs.
Our Guardian Families play an incredibly valued role in the future of Misty Creek Rose. We seek families who understand the importance of following our health, training, grooming and breeding requirements while providing a stable, loving and enriching home throughout the dog’s life.
Because Guardian Dogs are required to return to Misty Creek Rose Headquarters in Yatala, Queensland, for health testing, breeding appointments and other program commitments, families must live within a practical driving distance:
- Female Guardian Dogs: generally within a one to one-and-a-half-hour drive of Yatala.
- Male Guardian Dogs: generally within a one-hour drive of Yatala.
- Southern Boundary: Tweed Shire is the maximum southern boundary for participation in the Guardian Program.
These location requirements are essential to ensure all breeding-related appointments can be managed safely, promptly and with as little disruption as possible for both the dog and their Guardian Family.
All Guardian puppies are also required to complete the TASAA Puppy Stay & Train Program with Therapy & Support Animals Australia. This forms an important part of their early development, helping to build confidence, resilience, appropriate manners and a strong foundation for life within their family and the Guardian Program.
The full cost of the TASAA Puppy Stay & Train Program is the responsibility of the Guardian Family and should be carefully considered before submitting an application.
To express your interest in becoming a Misty Creek Rose Guardian Family, please complete the application form below. This helps us learn more about your family, lifestyle, location and your ability to meet the responsibilities of the program.
Further information regarding the Guardian Program, including eligibility, responsibilities, costs and program requirements, will be provided to suitable applicants following submission and review of their application.
Our goal is always the same — to create a trusted partnership where the dog is deeply loved, the Guardian Family feels supported, and the future of the Misty Creek Rose breeding program is protected with care, honesty and purpose. 🐾🌹
What is a Guardian Home?
Guardian homes will welcome a prospective breeding puppy into their home and raise it as their own fur-family member adhering to all Terms & Conditions in the signed agreement.
Misty Creek Rose retains all breeding rights to this puppy. Once a Guardian dog has fulfilled its breeding contract, the Guardian Family is responsible for having the dog desexed and all costs associated with the procedure and the contract ends. Once proof of desexing is provided to Misty Creek Rose, the contract ends and the dog belongs to the Guardian family forever.
Misty Creek Rose will pay all expenses pertaining to breeding, hip & elbow scoring and DNA testing. The Guardian family is responsible for the usual ongoing costs of keeping a pet dog including vet bills such as vaccinations, worming, food, tick & flea prevention, council registrations, pet insurance, obedience classes etc.
If you have a female guardian, then at the appropriate time we will ask you to bring her back to stay at Misty Creek Rose premises for a week. During this time she will “honeymoon” with her chosen male. We will call you to collect her as soon as she is mated and she will remain with your family until about a week to 10 days before her puppies are due. You will then need to bring her back to us, where she will stay at Misty Creek Rose to give birth and raise her babies until they are weaned.
Once the babies are weaned, we will call you to collect your girl and take her home. This will happen twice, occasionally three times (at our discretion). We will send you regular updates on how your girl and her puppies are doing. We do not encourage visitation at this point as it stresses out the mothers.
Depending on how your girl handles her pregnancy, she may be mated on her next cycle or we may choose to wait till the following cycle. Upon completion of her contract, you (the Guardian) will organise with a licensed vet and pay for her to be de-sexed. Upon receipt of proof from the Vet that she has been de-sexed, we will send you her registration papers and she is yours to keep forever and at no cost.
If you are the Guardian of a male you may need to bring him to us for a number of visits (up to a maximum of 8 visits per year). The timeline for a male could be up to 5 years from contract date before he is neutered and you are given complete ownership.
At Misty Creek Rose it’s all about genetics and breeding the very best Australian Cobberdogs possible; not breeding as many puppies as possible for a fast buck with no regard for ongoing health, vitality and therapy traits of the breed as a whole.
As a Guardian, we offer you first preference for a second puppy; either as a second Guardian or to purchase outright if you prefer. We also guarantee that, regardless of our wait-list, you will be first in line if you wish to buy one of your current Guardian dogs’ puppies.
For more FAQ regarding our Guardianship Program, please head to our BLOG section for more information.
Still have questions about our Australian Cobberdog puppies?
We are happy to transport our Australian Cobberdog puppies anywhere in Australia and overseas; all we ask is that you promise to love your puppy forever.