Discover the Joy of Our Guardian Home Program

Located near Echuca, VIC, Redrobiena offers a unique opportunity for families within 2 hours drive to become part of our Guardian Home Program. This program is an excellent choice for those who love Border Collies and wish to enjoy the companionship of a high-quality Border Collie puppy/dog without the usual costs associated with acquiring.

Why do we have a Guardian Home Program

With a larger number of dogs in our breeding program it allows us to be more selective when planning future litters. Having a larger number of dogs to select from provides us with access to a much larger gene pool. It allows to look for parents that compliment each other and try to balance the best qualities & attributes of each parent so they produce the best outcome which of course is to produce a healthy, happy, confident and stunning litter of puppies. Successful outcomes like these are vital for our future breeding program.

By offering the guardian program, we can ensure that our dogs get to live the best possible lives in a loving, caring home where they receive as much attention as possible.​

How Does Our Guardian Home Program Works

Through our Guardian Program, we give local families the opportunity to take home one of our selected breeding dogs or puppies for free. While the dog lives with you, we keep the rights to breed them. This program is perfect for those who want to have a high-quality dog at home without having to pay a high price.

Once the dog is retired from our breeding program, you gain full ownership. We choose only the best dogs for this program, ensuring they have the ideal qualities we want to pass on. These guardian dogs are among the best in terms of temperament and appearance, and we conduct thorough DNA tests on them.

However, being a guardian isn’t for everyone. We carefully assess potential guardian homes to make sure it’s a good fit and that the dog will have a happy and healthy life during and after their time in our breeding program.

Here’s how the breeding part works: When a female dog is ready to breed, she comes back to us just for the period she is in heat. After breeding, she goes back to her guardian home where she stays during most of her pregnancy. Dogs are usually pregnant for about 63 days. We also provide the guardian with detailed care instructions and diet requirements for the dog during her pregnancy.

A week before she is due to give birth, she’ll come to stay with us, and we’ll look after her and her puppies until they’re ready to be weaned and go to their new homes. During this time, we encourage guardians to visit, matching both our schedules.

When the puppies are about 7-8 weeks old and weaned, the dog can return to her guardian home.

Responsibilities and Commitments of the Guardian Family

  • Experience Matters:
    It’s important that you’ve had experience with Border Collies since they’re energetic and need knowledgeable care.
  • Safe Spaces:
    Your yard should be a good size, securely fenced, and dog-proof to let your Border Collie play safely.
  • Training:
    If your puppy isn’t leash-trained yet, you’ll need to teach them how to walk nicely on a leash and master basic commands.
  • Social Skills:
    It’s crucial that your dog is well-socialized and comfortable around adults, kids, other dogs, and, if possible,  different animals.
  • Supervision: Please don’t leave your dog outside alone; they should not be an ‘outside dog.’
  • Dietary Needs:
    We will provide food,  both kibble and a raw food mix.
  • Health & Grooming: You’ll take care of your dog’s grooming, dental, and ear care, ensuring they are always in tip-top shape and their health is always a priority.
  • Physical & Mental Health:
    Keeping your dog in great physical and mental condition is a must.
  • Communication:
    We love keeping in touch! Maintaining a friendly and open relationship with us is essential.
  • Household Harmony:
    If you have other dogs at home, they should be desexed.
  • Updates:
    If you have a female dog, please let us know at the start of her heat cycle whether we plan to breed her or not.
  • Travel Heads-up:
    If you’re planning a trip, just give us a heads up in advance, especially if we might need to coordinate for breeding purposes.
  • Regular Expenses:
    As a guardian home, you are responsible for routine pet care expenses such as grooming, bedding, and toys. We will take care of vaccinations and deworming. Should the dog require veterinary attention due to an accident or illness that is not hereditary while under your care, these costs will be your responsibility.
  • Keeps us Posted:
    We’d love updates on how she’s doing and pictures every few months to see how she’s growing and to keep track of her development.

Redrobiena's Obligations

  • Care Instructions:
    We will give the Guardian detailed written guidelines on how to take care of the dog. This will cover everything from what to feed the dog, how to handle worming, when to vaccinate, and other important health care practices.
  • Dietary Needs:
    We will provide food,  both kibble and a raw food mix.
  • Home Visits:
    We plan to visit the Guardian’s home to check on the dog. We might also pop by unannounced from time to time to ensure everything is going well.
  • Covering Veterinary Costs:
    All the costs for veterinary care that relate directly to breeding will be handled by Redrobiena. This includes any specific tests, x-rays, and exams required before breeding. We will take care of vaccinations and deworming. 
  • Custody for Breeding:
    We will need to take the dog for about a week when it’s time for breeding. After that, the dog will stay with the Guardian throughout the pregnancy. Close to the due date, we will take the dog back to care for her during the delivery. She will return to her Guardian Home after the puppies are weaned, which will be 8 weeks later.

Available dogs for our Guardian Home Project

We’re thrilled to introduce you to some of the wonderful female dogs that are available for our Guardian Home program. If you’re considering becoming a Guardian Family, or if you have any specific questions or needs, we’d love to chat with you about the possibilities.

Also, we have a questionnaire designed for Guardian Home applicants, which helps us ensure a great match. You can find this form right at the bottom of this page. Filling it out will give us a better understanding of your situation and how we can best meet your needs.

Thanks so much for your interest, and we look forward to hearing from you!

Poppy

Colour: Black & White
Age: 10 Months

Poppy is a classic black and white Border Collie with a cheerful, playful personality and a heart full of sweetness. She brings joy and energy to every day with her goofy charm and love of adventure.

Affectionate yet happily independent, Poppy enjoys being part of the action but doesn’t demand constant attention. She thrives on activity and exploration, making her a delightful companion for outdoor adventures or interactive play.

With her kind nature, balanced energy, and gentle disposition, Poppy embodies a lovely combination of liveliness and calm. Her easygoing temperament and friendly spirit make her a pleasure to have both at work and at play.

She had limited training. This will be an expectation of the Guardian Family.

Iris

Colour: Blue Merle Tri
Age: 10 Months

Iris is a striking blue merle tri Border Collie with a calm, thoughtful presence and a naturally wise disposition. She combines quiet confidence with a gentle, affectionate nature, making her both intuitive and independent.

While she enjoys human connection and interaction, Iris is equally content exploring or relaxing on her own. She is a quick and willing learner, eager to please and responsive to gentle guidance.

With her moderate energy and balanced drive, Iris approaches new experiences with focus and composure. Intelligent, adaptable, and kind-hearted, she embodies a beautiful blend of independence and loyalty — a true old soul in a young frame.

She had limited training. This will be an expectation of the Guardian Family.

Questionnaire for Guardian Project
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