Echo Shiloh's Foster Dog Program
*Currently looking for foster families*
We now have a Puppy Foster Program available at Echo Shilohs. This section will explain why we are using it
and how the program works. It will also let you know how you can apply to become a foster family and why it would benefit you.
This program is for studs and breeding females. Owners will be responsible for paying for all medical bills and health testing, in exchange they get a top quality Shiloh for the price of a years of pet insurance (roughly $800) and they must continue pet insurance through the contract.
The Basics of the Foster Program:
In order for us to give our dogs the best possible home it is important for us to limit how many dogs we keep at our home. As a breeder however we need to keep, evaluate and add quality bloodlines to our breeding program. We like to keep a few of our pick puppies to monitor their growth and development, to become part of our breeding program. We prefer to place these pick female puppies in foster homes. The foster parents do not pay anything upfront for the puppy, we give the dog to them to raise and love and keep forever.
This program allows local families an opportunity to own one of the best Shiloh Shepherds available without paying for it. The family must be approved as foster parents and agree to abide by our contract. As a foster puppy grows up we monitor her temperament, conformation and health. If the puppy is exceptional, it will be used in our breeding program. Before any dog is bred health testing will need to be done. This includes a holter monitor for 24 hours between the ages of 25-45 weeks, Cardiac certification, PennHIP (for hip dysplasia), and OFA elbows. The expense will be the foster parents responsibility. All registration fee's must be paid by the foster parent and she must be a If the breeding dog does not pass it's health tests, the canine must be spayed or neutered(at the fosters expense). Their papers will then be transferred to the foster parents, and it is your dog.
Generally, when a female is between 19-24 months she will come back to Echo Shiloh's when she comes into season, she will stay for approximately a week. After getting bred she will go back to her foster home. Then 4 or 5 days before whelping she comes back to Echo Shilohs and has her puppies here and stays until she weans the pups (at 6 to 8 weeks). We only breed a female up to 4 times, average is 2-3 times. When she is 6 years old she is retired from breeding. She then must be spayed at the foster owner's expense. Her registration papers will be transferred to the foster owners name, and she is now fully your dog, and remains a spoiled house pet. When a female is at our kennel we encourage visits from the foster parents. They can stop as often as they want and walk their dog and play with the pups.
Stud's will be used starting at 1 year of age. The foster owner has to have a flexible schedule and be willing to drive the stud dog either to my home or to my repro's vet (currently in Lancaster, OH) if a semen shipment is needed (usually two shipments). Around age 3 or 4 the stud will be collected and frozen at the breeders expense. If a live breeding is needed the stud owner will bring stud to Echo Shilohs for approximately a week. All breeding related costs (minus health testing) are the breeder's responsibility. Owner's must keep him intact until he is finished contributing to the genepool (usually around age 8-10 years old). When he is neutered his registration papers will be transferred to the foster owner's name, and he can remain a spoiled house pet.
The foster home program is a good deal for the dog, it's a good deal for the foster parents, and it's a good deal for our breeding program. It's one of those "win - win" situations for everyone involved.
Who Qualifies for a Foster Dog?
We are very selective of who we choose to become a foster family. Our primary concern is that our dogs go into safe homes where they will be well taken care of and not be allowed to escape or get bred while in season. We expect the foster parents to allow the dog to be a house dog. We look for people who have had dogs before.
We will not place a dog in the following homes:
1. Where the dog will be an outside dog only, or mostly outdoors.
2. Further than 150 miles from our home.
3. Everyone in the household does not feel this is a good idea.
4. Families that are interested in breeding dogs (we are not placing dogs for breeding, only fostering).
5. If we are not allowed to visit dog or Foster Home.
6. Females: Where there is an intact male in the home.
7. Males: Where there is an intact female in the home.
What are the Foster Family's Responsibilities?
While the foster family does not pay for the puppy (or young adult), they must agree to purchase a dog crate and a collar & leash. They must also agree to feed an approved quality kibble, or a raw diet. The foster family is going to socialize and train their foster to the fullest potential. The foster family must be able to exercise the dog on a daily basis.
Foster homes should have the following:
1. Own their own home or rent a home with landlord's written permission that it is okay to keep a dog
2. Have their own car that is large enough to transport the dog.
3. Prior experience with large breed dogs is a plus but not necessarily required.
4. Be willing to crate-train, housebreak and teach the puppy basic obedience and good manners. Take the puppy to atleast two obedience classes before she is 1 year old.
5. Afford to spend approximately $100 per month as is usually required for dog ownership in general - which will include feeding a quality kibble, as well as regular vet checks and vaccines.
6. Female: Get the puppy her health testing and forward the information on to Echo Shilohs to get her registered by the time she is 14 months.
7. Male: Get the puppy's health testing completed and forward the information to Echo Shilohs to get him registered by the time he is 12 months old.
8. Be prepared to have their own vet listed as a reference
9. Fenced backyard or means to contain the puppy.
10. Be available to drive dog to and from our home come time for whelping and/or breeding. (In some cases we may be able to meet you partway)
11. Capable of moderate exercise.
12. Keep us updated on the puppy’s progress as well as all heat cycles and send photos on a regular basis.
What If I Have Another Dog Already In My Home?
We would never place a female puppy in a home where there was an un-neutered male. And we would never place a stud into a home where there is an intact female.
Who Owns The Dog:
The foster family is responsible for the dog and medical expenses. However the ISSR registration papers remain with the breeder until the breeding obligations are met. Registration papers will then be transferred to the foster family. The foster family will assume all liability for the dog and are responsible for the dog for her entire life. Once the breeding obligations are met, the foster family agrees to spay or neuter the dog. If at anytime the foster family can no longer care for the dog they agree to return foster to Echo Shilohs. The dog may not be sold or given to any other party.
Do You Ever Have Older Dogs, Rather Than Puppies To Be Placed In Foster Homes?
Some people know how much work it is to raise a puppy and would rather not go through the house breaking and chewing stages of a puppy. An older foster is a good solution for these people. At times we have young adults (and sometimes older fosters) that we would like to place in a home. These older fosters are all very nice dogs and well socialized. They are house trained and have some basic obedience.
What About Medical Issues And The Dog?
It is the responsibility of the foster parents to make sure the dog remains in good health. The foster parents are required to keep the dog current on routine veterinary care, shots, rabies and heartworm. The foster parent agree's to insure the foster with PetPlan Insurance. We would take care of any medical expenses as a result of the breeding or litters.
Who covers health testing?
The foster owner must agree to bring the puppy to Echo Shilohs at 6 months of age for 24-48 hours to complete their holter monitor testing.
When the puppy is between 12-18 months the foster owner agree's to bring the puppy back to Echo Shilohs for 1-2 days to finish health testing.
The foster owner is responsible for all health testing costs - a total of between $300-$500.
In the event the foster is not willing to bring the puppy back to Echo Shilohs for testing, they are still responsible for the costs, however they likely will be much higher (between $1000-$1500)
Because of the financial investment the foster owners have invested they will get compensation from Echo Shilohs upon their foster dog's first litter or stud service.
How Do We Know When A female Should Be Bred?
The foster parent must keep us informed of the female’s cycles. Females usually come into season 2 times a year. When a female starts to cycle or drip blood we expect to get a phone call or email. If we plan to breed the bitch we will inform the foster parents ahead of time. Because we use progesterone testing to determine the optimal time the bitch will need to be bred, the female must be brought to Echo Shilohs at the beginning of her heat cycle. She must be at Echo Shilohs no later than 5 days after starting her heat cycle. Once bred, she will return to the foster family.
Do I Ever Split Litters with Foster People?
When people ask if I split the litters with foster parents, the answer is "No". This is really not a program for
someone who wants to be a breeder. I co-own females for this purpose, which is different than fostering.
What's in it for me? Are there any incentives?
We ask our foster puppies be taught basic obedience and taken to at least two sets of puppy obedience classes. We do offer an incentive to foster families who choose to continue to train their dog. If the dog is titled as an adult ISSR Champion via the conformation show ring we will offer the proceeds of one of this female’s or stud's pet quality puppies approx $1550) to the foster family for their efforts and expense. We do not require foster families to title their dog but encourage and support any activity that provides you bonding time with your dog.
If you foster an already health tested female or stud there is no monetary gain unless you obtain that dogs ISSR Adult Championship, then you get the proceeds of one pet quality puppy from a litter (approx $1550).
There will be monetary compensation for using a stud, or breeding a female. Compensation is TBD.
Under What Circumstances Do We Remove a Dog from a Foster Home?
There are very few reasons that we would ever take a puppy out of a foster home unless one of the follow occur: The dog to allowed to run loose when there is no supervision, the bitch gets bred by accident, the stud is allowed to breed another female without permission, the foster parents do not tell us when a bitch comes in season, the dog is neglected or abused, the foster family moves without informing us, the dog must be rescued from an Animal Control facility.
These reasons will be discussed in detail before any puppy is placed in a Foster Home. The Foster Parents must agree to all terms with the kennel and sign a contract with the breeder.
Also, if the puppy dies, either from careless accident or neglect on the part of the Foster Family, they must pay Echo Shilohs the current worth of the dog. This will be stipulated in the contract.
If you are interested in becoming a foster parent or have more questions about the program please contact me.
and how the program works. It will also let you know how you can apply to become a foster family and why it would benefit you.
This program is for studs and breeding females. Owners will be responsible for paying for all medical bills and health testing, in exchange they get a top quality Shiloh for the price of a years of pet insurance (roughly $800) and they must continue pet insurance through the contract.
The Basics of the Foster Program:
In order for us to give our dogs the best possible home it is important for us to limit how many dogs we keep at our home. As a breeder however we need to keep, evaluate and add quality bloodlines to our breeding program. We like to keep a few of our pick puppies to monitor their growth and development, to become part of our breeding program. We prefer to place these pick female puppies in foster homes. The foster parents do not pay anything upfront for the puppy, we give the dog to them to raise and love and keep forever.
This program allows local families an opportunity to own one of the best Shiloh Shepherds available without paying for it. The family must be approved as foster parents and agree to abide by our contract. As a foster puppy grows up we monitor her temperament, conformation and health. If the puppy is exceptional, it will be used in our breeding program. Before any dog is bred health testing will need to be done. This includes a holter monitor for 24 hours between the ages of 25-45 weeks, Cardiac certification, PennHIP (for hip dysplasia), and OFA elbows. The expense will be the foster parents responsibility. All registration fee's must be paid by the foster parent and she must be a If the breeding dog does not pass it's health tests, the canine must be spayed or neutered(at the fosters expense). Their papers will then be transferred to the foster parents, and it is your dog.
Generally, when a female is between 19-24 months she will come back to Echo Shiloh's when she comes into season, she will stay for approximately a week. After getting bred she will go back to her foster home. Then 4 or 5 days before whelping she comes back to Echo Shilohs and has her puppies here and stays until she weans the pups (at 6 to 8 weeks). We only breed a female up to 4 times, average is 2-3 times. When she is 6 years old she is retired from breeding. She then must be spayed at the foster owner's expense. Her registration papers will be transferred to the foster owners name, and she is now fully your dog, and remains a spoiled house pet. When a female is at our kennel we encourage visits from the foster parents. They can stop as often as they want and walk their dog and play with the pups.
Stud's will be used starting at 1 year of age. The foster owner has to have a flexible schedule and be willing to drive the stud dog either to my home or to my repro's vet (currently in Lancaster, OH) if a semen shipment is needed (usually two shipments). Around age 3 or 4 the stud will be collected and frozen at the breeders expense. If a live breeding is needed the stud owner will bring stud to Echo Shilohs for approximately a week. All breeding related costs (minus health testing) are the breeder's responsibility. Owner's must keep him intact until he is finished contributing to the genepool (usually around age 8-10 years old). When he is neutered his registration papers will be transferred to the foster owner's name, and he can remain a spoiled house pet.
The foster home program is a good deal for the dog, it's a good deal for the foster parents, and it's a good deal for our breeding program. It's one of those "win - win" situations for everyone involved.
Who Qualifies for a Foster Dog?
We are very selective of who we choose to become a foster family. Our primary concern is that our dogs go into safe homes where they will be well taken care of and not be allowed to escape or get bred while in season. We expect the foster parents to allow the dog to be a house dog. We look for people who have had dogs before.
We will not place a dog in the following homes:
1. Where the dog will be an outside dog only, or mostly outdoors.
2. Further than 150 miles from our home.
3. Everyone in the household does not feel this is a good idea.
4. Families that are interested in breeding dogs (we are not placing dogs for breeding, only fostering).
5. If we are not allowed to visit dog or Foster Home.
6. Females: Where there is an intact male in the home.
7. Males: Where there is an intact female in the home.
What are the Foster Family's Responsibilities?
While the foster family does not pay for the puppy (or young adult), they must agree to purchase a dog crate and a collar & leash. They must also agree to feed an approved quality kibble, or a raw diet. The foster family is going to socialize and train their foster to the fullest potential. The foster family must be able to exercise the dog on a daily basis.
Foster homes should have the following:
1. Own their own home or rent a home with landlord's written permission that it is okay to keep a dog
2. Have their own car that is large enough to transport the dog.
3. Prior experience with large breed dogs is a plus but not necessarily required.
4. Be willing to crate-train, housebreak and teach the puppy basic obedience and good manners. Take the puppy to atleast two obedience classes before she is 1 year old.
5. Afford to spend approximately $100 per month as is usually required for dog ownership in general - which will include feeding a quality kibble, as well as regular vet checks and vaccines.
6. Female: Get the puppy her health testing and forward the information on to Echo Shilohs to get her registered by the time she is 14 months.
7. Male: Get the puppy's health testing completed and forward the information to Echo Shilohs to get him registered by the time he is 12 months old.
8. Be prepared to have their own vet listed as a reference
9. Fenced backyard or means to contain the puppy.
10. Be available to drive dog to and from our home come time for whelping and/or breeding. (In some cases we may be able to meet you partway)
11. Capable of moderate exercise.
12. Keep us updated on the puppy’s progress as well as all heat cycles and send photos on a regular basis.
What If I Have Another Dog Already In My Home?
We would never place a female puppy in a home where there was an un-neutered male. And we would never place a stud into a home where there is an intact female.
Who Owns The Dog:
The foster family is responsible for the dog and medical expenses. However the ISSR registration papers remain with the breeder until the breeding obligations are met. Registration papers will then be transferred to the foster family. The foster family will assume all liability for the dog and are responsible for the dog for her entire life. Once the breeding obligations are met, the foster family agrees to spay or neuter the dog. If at anytime the foster family can no longer care for the dog they agree to return foster to Echo Shilohs. The dog may not be sold or given to any other party.
Do You Ever Have Older Dogs, Rather Than Puppies To Be Placed In Foster Homes?
Some people know how much work it is to raise a puppy and would rather not go through the house breaking and chewing stages of a puppy. An older foster is a good solution for these people. At times we have young adults (and sometimes older fosters) that we would like to place in a home. These older fosters are all very nice dogs and well socialized. They are house trained and have some basic obedience.
What About Medical Issues And The Dog?
It is the responsibility of the foster parents to make sure the dog remains in good health. The foster parents are required to keep the dog current on routine veterinary care, shots, rabies and heartworm. The foster parent agree's to insure the foster with PetPlan Insurance. We would take care of any medical expenses as a result of the breeding or litters.
Who covers health testing?
The foster owner must agree to bring the puppy to Echo Shilohs at 6 months of age for 24-48 hours to complete their holter monitor testing.
When the puppy is between 12-18 months the foster owner agree's to bring the puppy back to Echo Shilohs for 1-2 days to finish health testing.
The foster owner is responsible for all health testing costs - a total of between $300-$500.
In the event the foster is not willing to bring the puppy back to Echo Shilohs for testing, they are still responsible for the costs, however they likely will be much higher (between $1000-$1500)
Because of the financial investment the foster owners have invested they will get compensation from Echo Shilohs upon their foster dog's first litter or stud service.
How Do We Know When A female Should Be Bred?
The foster parent must keep us informed of the female’s cycles. Females usually come into season 2 times a year. When a female starts to cycle or drip blood we expect to get a phone call or email. If we plan to breed the bitch we will inform the foster parents ahead of time. Because we use progesterone testing to determine the optimal time the bitch will need to be bred, the female must be brought to Echo Shilohs at the beginning of her heat cycle. She must be at Echo Shilohs no later than 5 days after starting her heat cycle. Once bred, she will return to the foster family.
Do I Ever Split Litters with Foster People?
When people ask if I split the litters with foster parents, the answer is "No". This is really not a program for
someone who wants to be a breeder. I co-own females for this purpose, which is different than fostering.
What's in it for me? Are there any incentives?
We ask our foster puppies be taught basic obedience and taken to at least two sets of puppy obedience classes. We do offer an incentive to foster families who choose to continue to train their dog. If the dog is titled as an adult ISSR Champion via the conformation show ring we will offer the proceeds of one of this female’s or stud's pet quality puppies approx $1550) to the foster family for their efforts and expense. We do not require foster families to title their dog but encourage and support any activity that provides you bonding time with your dog.
If you foster an already health tested female or stud there is no monetary gain unless you obtain that dogs ISSR Adult Championship, then you get the proceeds of one pet quality puppy from a litter (approx $1550).
There will be monetary compensation for using a stud, or breeding a female. Compensation is TBD.
Under What Circumstances Do We Remove a Dog from a Foster Home?
There are very few reasons that we would ever take a puppy out of a foster home unless one of the follow occur: The dog to allowed to run loose when there is no supervision, the bitch gets bred by accident, the stud is allowed to breed another female without permission, the foster parents do not tell us when a bitch comes in season, the dog is neglected or abused, the foster family moves without informing us, the dog must be rescued from an Animal Control facility.
These reasons will be discussed in detail before any puppy is placed in a Foster Home. The Foster Parents must agree to all terms with the kennel and sign a contract with the breeder.
Also, if the puppy dies, either from careless accident or neglect on the part of the Foster Family, they must pay Echo Shilohs the current worth of the dog. This will be stipulated in the contract.
If you are interested in becoming a foster parent or have more questions about the program please contact me.
Flair at 8 weeks
|
Flair at 2.5 years
|
Midori at 4.5 months