Partner with us. Give one of our dogs a full life.
Guardian homes are families we partner with so our dogs can live full lives. We place puppies and dogs with people who are excited to be part of our program — passionate about the care and training of their dog, and glad to have a well-loved companion who is also part of the Bearded Retriever Project.
Not every dog in a guardian home goes on to produce puppies. Some never do. What matters to us is that every one of them is properly socialized, healthy, and a deeply loved addition to their family.
Currently Seeking Guardians
Charmander
Male • Bearded Retriever • Born February 26, 2026
We held this amazing boy out for further evaluation, and he has been continuing his training in our home and in public ever since. Charmander is easy to train, treat motivated, and highly human focused. He learns very quickly, he will not alert bark in public, and he has built great confidence in crowded places. He has amazing potential to be trained for just about anything.
As a breeder, it is not all about the training — it is about the dog before the training. We know whoever ends up blessed with this boy will be extremely happy.
We are also building relationships ahead of upcoming litters and will need both a male and a female guardian home for future puppies. If guardianship interests you but today’s match is not the right one, please still reach out.
Who Pays for What
Your dog comes to you at no cost. From there, the split is simple.
We cover
- All health testing, including OFA and PennHIP, plus full genetic panels
- All breeding-related costs
- Transport — and travel compensation for male guardians who live out of town or out of state
- Any supplements we ask you to give
- Specialized training we request — for example, if you would like to be the handler and trainer for a service or therapy dog you do not personally need
- Spay or neuter, if your dog becomes a breeding candidate and produces a litter
- Boarding, grooming, care bonuses, and help with training costs
You cover
- Everyday care — food, routine veterinary visits, and day-to-day needs
- Spay or neuter, if your dog does not go on to become a breeding candidate
One of the biggest perks our guardians tell us about is having a complete view of their dog’s health and wellness. Every result we run is shared with you — and published publicly, because we believe families deserve to see it.
Guardianing a Female
This is a big commitment, and one we do not take lightly.
Our females will never have more than three litters. Our goal is to have enough well-rounded girls in wonderful guardian homes that we only ever need to plan two.
Female guardians need to live within about a one hour travel radius of us, so that grooming and visits are easy for everyone. Your girl will need to be comfortable coming to our home, and comfortable becoming part of our pack.
Our home runs smoothly and our mommas genuinely love and respect one another. That matters more than almost anything else, because a momma needs to feel confident and safe in the home where she whelps.
Guardianing a Male
Our boys are not required to stay with us, so the distance requirement is more relaxed. We are glad to board your dog when your family travels, if we are available.
We do expect the same good manners from our males that we expect from our girls.
How It Works
- You reach out. We talk — by phone or FaceTime — about your family, your home, and what you are hoping for.
- Your dog comes home to you at no cost, and becomes your companion.
- Temperament evaluation. Before any dog is considered for our program, they must pass evaluations proving they are mentally sound and well rounded, with traits that are desirable for the Bearded Retriever Project. We will soon share BRTA publicly, which is a targeted temperament evaluation.
- Health testing at maturity. We perform all health testing and any additional genetic testing, at our cost. You see every result.
- If your dog meets our standards, we move to planning together. If they do not, nothing changes — they remain your companion, exactly as they have been all along.
Your Dog Is Yours for Life
We want to be very clear about this, because it is the heart of why we use guardian homes at all.
Your dog is intended to be your companion for the whole of their life, with the same family, in the same home. We use guardian homes precisely so our dogs can have that — a full, loved life rather than a kennel.
The only circumstance in which we would ever remove a dog is if the home can no longer properly care for them, or if the dog is found to be in danger.
Older Puppies & Adult Dogs Available
We hold some puppies back to evaluate them as they grow. Health, temperament, structure — a dog has to meet the standard on every one of those before we would ever breed them, and not every dog does.
When one doesn’t, nothing is wrong with that dog. It means their life is going to be somebody’s companion rather than part of our program. They come to you raised in our home, already socialized, with an honest account of who they are.
This is an adoption, not a guardian placement. There is no breeding, no program involvement and no obligation to us. The dog is simply yours.
Eevee
Female · Bearded Retriever · Born February 26, 2026
Why she is available. Eevee finds grooming genuinely hard to tolerate, and she asks for more attention than most of our dogs. She is very human focused and is happy just to be with you. Our issue is touch tolerance is a high priority and grooming needs for a long coat furnished breed are important for the dog and the handler. We know we could work through both of those with her. That was never the question. The question is whether we are willing to risk passing those traits into puppies, and the answer is no. Our program decisions are stricter than even we would like them to be sometimes — that is rather the point of having them. This is a devastating reality for me to absorb because we do love her and if I just wanted a companion she would be perfect. She loves me so much and my children we will be very picky about her placement and ease of transition.
What that means for her home. She is single-coated, and straightso she will need brushing at home and a professional groom every 6 to 10 weeks for the whole of her life. Expect to spend real time helping her grow comfortable with handling, clippers and dryers, and to find a groomer willing to go slowly with her. With that work she is entirely manageable. She will also be happiest with someone who is home a good deal and wants a dog who stays close.
- Adoption fee: $3,000
- Fully vaccinated, including rabies
- House trained and crate trained
- Pet home only. Eevee is not available as a breeding prospect.
Think You Might Be a Fit?
Guardianship is a partnership. We are entrusting you with a piece of our program, and in return we ask for dedication and mutual respect. If that sounds like something you would be glad to be part of, we would love to hear from you.
Please mention that you are interested in a guardian home so we know where to start the conversation.