We want our breeding dogs to live their best lives—as family pets, not kennel dogs. Guardianship ensures each of our dogs has a loving home from puppyhood while still allowing us to continue our breeding program responsibly.

Guardians pay between $500 - $1,000 to receive a top-quality puppy who becomes their forever family member. These are not just any puppies—they are often the pick of the litter and can cost us up to $5,000 to add to our program. Through guardianship, you get the very best, while helping us give our breeding dogs a loving family life from the start. After his/her breeding career is finished, ownership is officially transferred to you.

No! You need zero knowledge about puppies, heat cycles, prenatal or postnatal dogs, etc. We’ll take care of everything puppy related, and we’ll walk you through every step of the communication we need from you. You can do this!

Our guardians must maintain excellent communication with us: have a fenced-in yard; work no more than 6 hours outside the home regularly; live 60 minutes for less from Auburn, Alabama or Atlanta, Georgia; and love dogs of course!

Your main role is to love, train, and care for your dog just as you would any family pet.

Communication is key! If you have a female, please notify us right away when she comes into heat. We’ll walk you through what signs to look for and help you feel confident in recognizing them. You’ll never be on your own—we’re here to guide and support you through the process. If you have a male, we’ll contact you to arrange a time to meet for breeding as needed.

When she’s ready to deliver, she’ll come stay with us for about six weeks. During that time, she’ll be cared for in our home while raising her puppies in a safe, nurturing environment. Once the puppies are weaned, she returns to you for her happy, spoiled life at home.

Females typically have up to three litters. After that, we cover her spay at no charge ($500 value), and she officially becomes yours forever—no strings attached.

Male guardianships are also available! Males remain in your home full-time and only visit us as needed for breeding. This means less, but more frequent, time away compared to females.

HappyPaw covers all breeding-related expenses (health testing, reproductive care, delivery, spaying/neutering, etc.). Guardians cover normal pet ownership costs such as food, toys, routine vet care, and training.

The dog’s health always comes first. We only breed females who are fully mature, healthy, and cleared by veterinary testing. We support her through every step—heat cycles, pregnancy, and whelping—with plenty of care and veterinary oversight. After her breeding career, she’s spayed and lives the rest of her life as your happy, healthy pet.

While dogs don’t need puppies to be wonderful companions, many families notice extra sweetness in females who become mamas. Raising a litter often brings out a gentle, affectionate, more mature side. Guardians often tell us their dog seems extra snuggly and bonded during pregnancy and after motherhood.

We look for loving, responsible homes within reasonable driving distance of Auburn, AL or Atlanta, GA. Guardians should keep their dog well-socialized, maintain a safe environment, and be open to working closely with us during breeding periods.

Guardianship is an amazing experience, but it’s not the right fit for every home—and that’s okay! Here are a few things to consider:

• Time apart: Females will be with us for several weeks during each litter. If the thought of being apart is stressful, guardianship might not be the best fit—but some families enjoy this time as an opportunity to travel or take a short dog-free break, knowing their pup is in expert hands.

• Health considerations: Pregnancy and delivery carry some health risks. As a veterinarian-owned program, we’re trained and prepared to handle these situations safely, but it’s important to understand that breeding isn’t completely risk-free.

• Travel needs: Guardians will need to bring their dog to and from our home for breeding visits and, for females, the birthing period. We do everything we can to make this as easy and convenient as possible.

• Relocation considerations: If you are thinking about moving out of the Auburn, AL or Atlanta, GA area, guardianship may not be the best choice. We understand that life can be unpredictable and will work with you if circumstances change, but if you have any inkling you might relocate, adopting a non-breeding dog is the safer option.

We share these points to help families make the best choice for their situation. If any of these challenges would cause stress, it may be better to wait or consider adopting one of our non-breeding pups instead. Our goal is always a happy, healthy dog in a home that’s fully ready for the guardianship journey!