Where do I have to live to be a caretaker to a Ridge View East dog?
I ask that you live within 4 hours of traveling distance of my location, or be willing to transport the extra distance when the dog is needed.
What do I have to do with my Ridge View East dog?
This is a loaded question. You have to love them unconditionally! The everyday cost of having a dog is also your responsibility, such as food, water, exercise, extra training classes, and normal vet bills. Ridge View East covers all the breeding costs such as; registraion, OFA clearances, eye clearances, blood work, and breeding equipment for the dog.
I ask that families set up an excercise plan such as walks, hiking, pool days, fetch, and dog parks so our dogs stay fit and healthy. It is very hard to breed an overweight dog and is not good for the dog or the people involved. I also like the dogs to be fed a quality food such as what we use at my facility or one that is the same quality. Otherwise, the dog is your family companion.
Caretaker dogs are on full AKC registration. What does this mean for me?
Since caretaker dogs are a part of the breeding program they are on full reistration. Because of this, Ridge View East is kept as the dog's owner on the paperwork in order to retain all breeding rights. Ownership of the dog is transferred to the caretaker family upon the dog's spay or neuter at the time of retirement.
Full registration also means your dog is eligible to be shown in conformation. You are more than welcome to show your dog but are responsible for the cost of the shows unless another arrangement is made beforehand.
Ridge View East may reach out to you to request showing the dog if they show great potential in that area. If Ridge View East shows the dog, the costs will be handled by Ridge View East.
How often will my dog have to visit the facility?
I only call the dog back to the facility for breeding purposes. You may also be required to help transport the dog to a veterinarian for the breeding health clearances.
In females, the dog is bred from after 2 years old to around 5 yrs of age. This is around 2-3 litters. The family would notify their contact at Ridge View East when the dog shows the first signs of coming into heat. Their heat cycle can last as long as 1 month, I then have to wait another month for an ultrasound if the female is confirmed pregnant. From there, the female would stay and whelp at the Ridge View East facility and would be weaned from her litter at 7-8 weeks. I average 3 litters from each female and then retire them. The female has to be spayed before the family gets full rights after the female is retired.
In males, the dog reaches maturity at 2 years of age and can be called to sire a litter at any time of the year after that point. The length that a male stays at our facility depends on the female we are breeding them with.
Do I get compensated for the litters my dog produces?
Yes! Investing in our dogs has rewards! For females, the family will get $100 for each litter a female produces. For males, each time the male "visits the facility" the family gets paid $100 if there is a litter resulting from the breeding.
I also offer discounts for families om puppies they may wish to buy that are produced by their caretaker dog!