Guardian Program
Most of our breeding dogs now live in guardian homes locally or in Sydney, Wollongong and Canberra. This program began in the early days of the very first COVID-19 lockdown in NSW.
Friends and family members living in Sydney who were struggling with the lockdown started asking if we had a dog or a puppy they could mind temporarily for some canine company.
As luck would have it, we had a gorgeous litter of O’Connell mini-retriever puppies that we were keeping as future breeders. The puppies went off to various homes in Sydney to keep our family and friends company.
Everyone fell in love with their puppies and wanted to keep them forever (seems obvious in hindsight), and so the Covid Pups Guardian program was born. The guardian program has been a great success so far.
Not only do our guardians get to have a beautiful free pet, but our breeding dogs get to live with a family right from puppyhood, rather than having to adapt when they retire from breeding.
Our guardians are mostly O’Connell Retrievers girls. We have guardian male O’Connell Retrievers and sometimes Moyen Poodles but these boys need to live reasonably close by so we look for homes for them in Bathurst, Orange, Lithgow or Oberon.
Guardians Available
Maple – DOB: 5/5/2026
Maple was born on the 5th of May – so she is three months old at the time of posting. She will be spending her time in a family home until she finds a guardian. She is a sweet gentle puppy. Her mother Pippa is a valuable member of our breeding program and a much [...]
Ally – DOB: 2/3/26
Ally has spent a few months in a foster family but is now looking for a permanent guardian home during her cycles between litters and to eventually retire to when her time being a mum is done. She is a lovely, friendly, outgoing girl who isn't going to grow very big- maybe around 12-14kg.
Lexi – DOB: 9/3/2024
Lexi is the daughter of Stanly (Kate’s “best dog in the world”) and she is a lovely girl who spent 12 months in a guardian home and so is very well socialised. She’s a lovely gentle dog and has had one litter of puppies already and will be due to come in to season again [...]
Nora – DOB: 13/2/2024
Nora spent her first 18 months with a family and is a very well socialised happy, sensible girl. She will have her second litter in late May 26 and will be available for a guardian home at the end of July 26
Opal – DOB: 30/5/2024
Opal has lived most of her life here in the kennel but did have a brief visit to Sydney where she was fitting in very well. She has had one litter already and is a calm and sensible girl. She is due to come on to season again in May-June 2026 and will not need [...]
Cindy – DOB 17/6/2025
Cindy looks for all the world like a small golden retriever – except for her one blue eye (a sign that she is carrying the merle gene). She spent several months in a foster home and returned here in January. She’s a lovely friendly young dog, and is house trained and sits when she’s asked. [...]