Available

HiddenRidge Kennel Foster Program

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS:

We place our breeding females in selected foster homes. These females are either bitches that have been purchased or they are pick of the litter female puppies that are selected to keep to enter our breeding program.

The foster family pays nothing for the puppy/young adult but the dog does remain in our name and it must be available to us to show and/or breed. They do agree that the dog will live as a housedog; they agree to purchase a dog crate and have a fenced area for the dog to exercise.
We are very selective in who we choose to become a foster family. The foster parents go through a detailed selection process. This is a person who knows how to take care of a dog. We do not give dogs to people that want farm dogs, nor do we give people dogs that are going to keep them in an outside dog kennel.

Another important point for potential foster families is that you must live within 2 hours of Kingston, Ontario. We have learned that to allow the dogs to go further then this only creates problems in the long run. We do not see the dog enough and it becomes a major concern to have the dog brought back for breeding and whelping.

We sign a contract with the foster family clearly identifying that we have full breeding rights and can breed the dog when we want and the dog remains in our name until done breeding. The fosterer signs the agreement. When we no longer wish to breed the dog the fosterer must spay the dog and provide a letter from their vet confirming the spay was complete. At this point we will transfer ownership of the dog to the fosterer.

In addition, the foster family must tell us when a bitch comes in season (even if we do not plan on breeding it) as we keep track of the heat cycles of every dog with a computer program. If there is a concern of a bitch being mis-mated while with the foster family then she will come back to HiddenRidge Kennel until the season is complete in order to prevent a mis-mate.

As a puppy/young adult grows up we monitor their temperament. We either go to the foster home or ask that the dog be brought to our home occasionally. The foster home is required to give the dog it’s mandatory vaccinations, and health checks at the time intervals required by law in Ontario.

If it is determined that a bitch is suitable for breeding, it will be bred here at the home of HiddenRidge Kennel. It comes here, gets bred and then goes home again. It then comes back to our home (2 weeks prior to whelping) to have the puppies. When the bitch weans the pups (usually at 6 weeks but as many as 10 weeks) she goes back to the foster home.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FOSTER HOME:

The foster parents are required to feed a good quality food and we can recommend a couple brands we feed. We do not want grocery store food used.

The foster parents are required to keep the dogs current on rabies and vaccinations according to Ontario law.

Foster Parents will be expected to have a dog crate in their home. Dog crates are used to housebreak dogs and keep them safe while you are away. We do not place dogs in homes where the dogs are allowed to run loose. That is just asking to have accidents and valuable articles chewed up.

If at any time something changes in a foster home and they are no longer able to keep a foster dog the fosterer must return the dog back to the Bellagio Boxers.

The dog will be house trained and must have some form of obedience training.

The foster homes we are looking for are not interested in breeding. If they are good foster parents and want another dog, we will give them a second one, but we will not amend the contract to co-own a litter or a female.

If a person is interested in breeding then this is not a program for them. They should purchase a dog and get into the business.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BREEDER:

The breeder (HiddenRidge Kennel) is responsible for all breeding costs (including necessary testing, stud fee etc) of the forthcoming litters.

The breeder will not be held liable for any reason by the fosterer should something arise, such of loss of life of the bitch, during whelp. Should it be necessary for the bitch to be spayed during whelp due to complications, the spay shall be paid for by the fosterer and registration shall be transferred to the fosterer.

If you are interested in becoming a foster home, please contact us.

I'm sorry ... I don't have any older dogs available at this time. Please check back if you have room in your heart for an older dog. I do retire my girls when they are done breeding and/or showing. They have been raised in my home as pets/family first and are therefore house trained and well adjusted.