Welcome to the Twilight Doodles Guardian Fam!

Guardian families must live within approximately 60 minutes of Garland, Texas (75040). Proximity and flexibility are essential to this program.

You must be able to accommodate occasional drop offs, pickups, short stays, and veterinary appointments related to health testing, breeding, and whelping. These needs arise periodically and are planned with as much notice as possible.

Guardian families should not have plans to relocate outside of this area within the next five years. Stability is critical for the dog and for the long term success of this partnership.

A secure, fenced yard is required for all Guardian homes. Even with fencing, supervision is still necessary, especially during heat cycles.

The first year in your home is incredibly important to me. During this time, I am entrusting you with laying the foundation for your dog’s entire life.

This first year is about more than basic manners. It is about helping your dog learn how to move through the world calmly, confidently, and with trust. The time, effort, and intention you pour into your dog during this stage directly shape their future as both a companion and a breeding dog.

My expectations during the first year include:

• Consistent obedience training

• Ongoing, thoughtful socialization

• Regular exposure to new environments, people, sounds, and experiences

• Using the training resources I provide or working with a professional trainer when needed

I believe deeply in supporting this process. I reimburse up to $500 for approved, in person training during the first year.

Guardian dogs must be fed my recommended PawTree diet. Nutrition plays a critical role in growth, hormone balance, coat quality, and overall health, especially for dogs in a breeding program.

Guardian dogs must be maintained on a regular professional grooming schedule, typically every 6 to 8 weeks. Proper grooming is essential for comfort, coat health, and long term wellbeing.

Guardian families are responsible for routine veterinary care. This includes, but is not limited to:
• Core and non core vaccines as recommended
• Rabies vaccination
• Heartworm prevention
• Flea and tick prevention

Breeding related veterinary care is always covered by me.

MALE AND FEMALE

Once your dog is roughly a year old and has matured emotionally and physically, we move into what I consider the graduation phase of the Guardian Program.

Genetic health testing is typically completed before your dog ever comes home to you. Structural health testing happens later, once growth and development are complete. This stage is essential and determines whether a dog will continue in my breeding program.

Structural health testing includes multiple appointments, often spread over one to two weeks, and may involve short stays with me depending on scheduling and availability.

Testing typically includes:

• An eye exam with a veterinary ophthalmologist

• Hips and elbows evaluated by a reproductive or orthopedic veterinarian

• Cardiac and patella evaluations completed by my primary care veterinarian

Because these appointments are rarely available on the same day, your dog may come stay with me briefly, or I may schedule visits over time. In some cases, I prefer to receive results from one test before proceeding with the next.

If any test results do not meet breeding standards, that dog will not continue in my breeding program. This decision is always made with the dog’s long term health and wellbeing as the top priority.

Graduation into the breeding program is never automatic. It is earned through careful evaluation, patience, and respect for the dog as an individual.

FEMALES

A female’s first heat cycle typically occurs between 6 and 12 months of age. Some girls cycle earlier, some later. Both are completely normal and not an indication that anything is wrong.

Early signs that a heat cycle may be approaching can include:

• Subtle to significant changes in temperament

• Increased alertness or protectiveness

As hormones continue to rise, you may notice:

• Increased grooming or licking

True signs that a heat cycle has begun include:

• Swelling of the vulva

• Visible bleeding

This is the stage where communication with me becomes especially important. I need to know as soon as you see these signs so I can document the cycle and begin planning next steps.

Protecting your female during a heat cycle is critical. While intact males are often assumed to be the ones seeking out a mate, females in heat may also actively seek attention and attempt to meet up with someone new.

During this time, your dog must be supervised when outside, including in fenced yards. This is not the time to assume normal boundaries will hold.

Every dog experiences heat differently. Some girls are very tidy, while others are less discreet. I will help set you up for success and usually provide reusable, washable dog diapers. Constant diaper use can cause matting, and allowing appropriate opportunities for self grooming is often more comfortable.

Heat cycles typically repeat about every six months, though timing can vary.

Most females are allowed to pass through their first heat without breeding. Depending on maturity, temperament, and health testing, breeding may occur on the second heat. Every decision is made on an individual basis.

MALE AND FEMALE

Once a dog has completed all required health testing and passed evaluations, we begin preparing for breeding when timing is appropriate.

For females, readiness to breed is determined through progesterone testing with my reproductive veterinarian. This typically involves one to two short vet visits and is based on hormone levels, not calendar dates.

For males, I coordinate timing and collect them when a breeding is scheduled. Males are typically brought to Twilight Doodles for breeding and then returned to their Guardian families.

Guardian families of males are responsible for preventing all contact with intact females outside of scheduled breedings. Accidental breedings put dogs at risk and are taken very seriously within my program.

All breedings are carefully supervised and managed. Breeding typically occurs over one or two visits, and dogs are returned home promptly after each breeding.

Clear communication during this stage is essential, and Guardian families are kept informed throughout the process.

FEMALES

After a successful breeding, females return home to their Guardian families and continue life as normal for the early part of pregnancy.

There are two scheduled veterinary visits during pregnancy:

• Around 30 days post ovulation for ultrasound confirmation

• Around 55 days post ovulation for x ray puppy count

Around day 59 of pregnancy, she will come stay with me at Twilight Doodles for whelping and puppy care. From this point forward, she remains in my care through delivery and the early stages of raising her puppies.

She will stay with me until puppies are weaned, typically between 5 and 7 weeks of age. Once puppies are weaned, she returns home to you.

Between litters, females live full, uninterrupted lives in their Guardian homes. It is common in my program for a female to have two litters back to back followed by a skipped heat, though this varies by dog. A female may have up to six litters over her lifetime, but this is never guaranteed and is continually reassessed.

When your mama dog comes to stay with me at Twilight Doodles, she is cared for just as you would care for her, because she is also mine.

While she is with me, you can expect:

• A calm, structured environment centered around her comfort

• Around the clock monitoring during whelping and early postpartum

• Close attention to appetite, energy, and emotional state

• Regular updates, photos, and videos

• Immediate communication if anything outside of normal arises

Guardian families are welcome to join the Sharecast if they choose. This is where I post ongoing updates, photos, and videos throughout pregnancy, whelping, and early puppy raising.

Mothers are never left alone during labor and are supported through every stage of recovery. Once puppies are weaned and she is ready, she returns home to you and resumes normal life until her next planned breeding cycle.