Guardians

Local Comfort® for Kentucky families

Here at GoldenQuest®, we have a wonderful program that allows all our breeding dogs to be in loving homes while still being a part of our breeding program.

The Guardian dogs are co-owned between you and GoldenQuest®. We own breeding rights and pay all breeding-related costs, while you get to also enjoy your best friend!


It's important that our Guardians live close to our farm, and we have different requirements for our male and female Guardians:

  • Male Guardians must live within 1 hour of our farm
  • Female Guardians must live within 1.5 hours of our farm


If you are interested, fill out the Guardian Interview, and our Guardian Director will get back to you soon!

Meet Our Available Guardians

Comfort Retriever® Guardians

"Our family owns the KC Chiefs. We have won the AFC West each year since we’ve had our Comfort Retriever, Chief. And this year—he finally won the Super Bowl! He’s the best dog ever too! Thank you!"

- The Hunt Family

Guardian Testimonials

Our GoldenQuest® experience through the guardian program was amazing. Watching Talia become a mom to all of her fur babies was so sweet. We chose to have the puppies in home and kept them until they went back to GQ. We loved getting to spend their beginning weeks with the pups – it felt like sacred time for us. The program was easy and definitely keeps the mom and babies a top priority.

Talia (NP7) -The Merideths

Lexington, KY

I have been part of the Guardian Family since January of 2017. I was hesitant to get a dog but have become quite the "Dog Mom!" We have bred three times and have loved every minute of it! My kids have learned so much responsibility while having puppies in our home. The staff has been extremely helpful through the care and training advice of our guardian dog!

Bryllie (LB4) and Journee (QJ2) -Jennifer Haselhoff
Wilmore, KY

Our family enjoys being a part of the GoldenQuest® family through our partnership with them in the Guardian Program. The staff at GoldenQuest® is patient, caring and professional every step of the way. They treat our Guardian like the special girl she is when she's in their care. We feel so lucky to have found our perfect Guardian to complete our family.

 Lily (MX6) -Johnnie Bishop
Lexington, KY

I have been part of the Guardian Family since January of 2017. I was hesitant to get a dog but have become quite the "Dog Mom!" We have bred three times and have loved every minute of it! My kids have learned so much responsibility while having puppies in our home. The staff has been extremely helpful through the care and training advice of our guardian dog!

Bryllie (LB4) and Journee (QJ2) -Jennifer Haselhoff
Wilmore, KY

Our family enjoys being a part of the GoldenQuest family through our partnership with them in the Guardian Program. The staff at GoldenQuest is patient, caring and professional every step of the way. They treat our Guardian like the special girl she is when she's in their care. We feel so lucky to have found our perfect Guardian to complete our family.

 Lily (MX6) -Johnnie Bishop
Lexington, KY

My two dogs are the sweetest and smartest dogs! They are so easy to train and are great with all people – big and small, familiar and strangers. They get along so well with other dogs, and we get compliments on them everywhere we go for how pretty and well-behaved they are.

Sadie (LG2) and Rosie (NN7) -The Millburns
Lexington, KY

Howdy Partners! Just a word about the Guardian Program at GoldenQuest®. It’s a heaping good time. After you take your Guardian home, you ride herd. Three litters, and the little filly is yours! It’s the best rodeo you’ll ever be apart of. So come on, join the Guardian Program and make your day! 

Darla (JE4) and Venus (PV6) -The Huffmans
Lexington, KY

Guardian FAQ

  • What are the requirements to be a Guardian?

    To own a Guardian, most importantly, you must love dogs. The other most common requirements would be being able to bring your Guardian in for advanced scheduled testing (males and females will need this), advanced scheduled blood draws when in season (females only will need to do this), and advanced scheduled breeding (males and females will need to come in for this). 

  • Where can Guardian’s live?

    • Females: up to 1.5 hours from Versailles 
    • Males: Up to 1 hour from Versailles 

  • Am I limited to anything with a Guardian?

    Absolutely not, we want to make things as “normal” as possible for you and your best friend! For Veterinary care, we cover breeding related costs, but you also can bring your Guardian to GoldenQuest for discounted medical/preventative/wellness/dental services from our Vet Techs and Veterinarian. You can also pick a veterinarian of your choosing, whichever is the preferred. Same thing with travel, we don’t want you or your Guardian to be restricted from life. We have many Guardians who travel all the time. Because of this, we will give advanced schedules for things from testing dates, to expected heat cycle dates so our Guardian families have as much of a heads-up as possible to plan accordingly. We also have boarding options, if you are needing to leave your Guardian with us while you travel, if you are unable to make other arrangements. 

  • What is the difference between males and females?

    Both genders make wonderful pets and are considered equally trainable and affectionate. Temperament/personality depends on each individual dog, regardless of their gender.

  • How long is the commitment?

    • Females: after 3 litters of two or more puppies (Golden Retrievers and Poodles after 4 litters), no older than 5 years of age she will retire 
    • Males: after replacement offspring is selected and able to breed, no older than 5 years of age he will retire

  • How often would I need to bring my Guardian to GoldenQuest®?

    • Males will be needed 2-3 times a year for (advanced) scheduled testing, and for breeding which varies, but won’t be needed until testing is completed at 12+ months of age
    • Females will be needed 2-3 times a year for (advanced) scheduled testing. Females also will need to come in one to two times a year (depending on their heat cycle) for breeding related visits. These visits will cover blood draws to breeding and last an average of 1-2 weeks on an every other day rotation. 
    • We always want to help where we can, so at times, when needed and available, we also offer drop off options for your Guardian to help with these needed visits. 

  • What happens when my female Guardian has puppies?

    You have multiple options! 

    • You can have the puppies at your home (where you have all items needed, and full staff support virtually and in person available, as well as a whole litter of incentives you get to enjoy)

    • You can always bring your Guardian to stay with us during the birthing process where we will take care of mom and pups from birth to go home and keep you updated with photos, visits, text messages, etc.

    • You can also do both! If there are some parts of the process that you are more comfortable with than others, you can always do some of the process at home, then bring mom and puppies to us until they are ready to go home, or vice versa.

  • Where are you located?

    We are located on the beautiful countryside of Versailles, Kentucky.

  • Pricing?

    All Guardians are priced at $500

More Details About Our Guardian Program

It is important to us at GoldenQuest® to build a program that supports the Guardian families and our dogs in the breeding program.

Our goal is to have a great relationship with the families involved. Our Guardian dogs are amazing and carefully chosen and we work hard to produce Comfort Retrievers® that go on to be amazing pets, therapy dogs, emotional support dogs all over the world.


All Guardian dogs are owned by GoldenQuest®, when they complete the program and are released, they will be completely owned by the Guardian family at that point. Yearly shots are a part of the contract and can be covered by us in the 2 visits a year offered to you while in the program. 


The breeding costs such as genetic testing (hips, elbows, knees, heart and eyes) will be covered by GoldenQuest®. These appointments will be scheduled by us, and we give you as much of a heads up as possible for your easiest convenience.

"Our family owns the KC Chiefs. We have won the AFC West each year since we’ve had our Comfort Retriever, Chief. And this year—he finally won the Super Bowl! He’s the best dog ever too! Thank you!"

- The Hunt Family

Guardian Kits

Our Guardians are just as important to us as our Pets, so they too come home with a Backpack full of goodies for their first day home!

Guardian Backpack Essentials for their first day home.

  • Personal bag for your pet’s belongings
  • Transition bag of Pro Plan Sport for your Pet to continue, or to assist with transitioning to a different food
  • Personally picked toy for your Pet
  • Clicker to assist with continuing clicker training with your Pet if you so choose
  • Fitted collar for your Pet, with personal tag(s) attached before they go home
  • Matching leash
  • ID Tags- They have a 1-800 number on it, so there is no long-distance call to return your pup if you’re traveling. They state needs meds, so the finder is encouraged not to keep the pup but return it to the owner.
  • Microchip information (Included instructions and registration information)
  • All medical records needed for your vet
  • Available extras: Life’s Abundance (3 and 7.5lb. bags), Pro Plan (6lb. bag), Grade A non-bleached Elk Antlers, Retriever crates.

Female Guardian Birthing Kit (sent home with expecting mamas)

  • Folder with instructions
  • 24/7 support of staff before, during, and after birthing process both virtually and in person 
  • Birthing pool
  • Whelping box
  • Heating Pad
  • Grass potty pad
  • Accessories for puppies (i.e., thermometer, nail clippers, gloves, collars, scale, weight tracker sheets, etc.)
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