09/21/2026
🐾 Little Bear Paws is looking for two exceptional guardian homes! 🐾
We currently have two very different girls we are considering for our future breeding program, and we’re looking for local families who would love them as their own while partnering with us as part of the Little Bear Paws guardian family.
A guardian dog lives permanently with her guardian family as their beloved pet. We retain breeding rights for a limited number of litters, cover breeding-related veterinary expenses, and once she retires from our program, she is spayed and becomes completely yours. There is no purchase price, but guardian homes are a significant commitment, so we are looking for families who genuinely want to be part of our program long-term.
❤️ Rumi — Red Tri Female
Rumi is one of our Charlie × Bodhi puppies and is currently presenting very strongly Australian Shepherd in both temperament and movement.
She is athletic, thoughtful, intelligent and observant. She has more independence than some of her littermates, with noticeable herding instincts and environmental awareness, but she is also very trainable and increasingly handler-focused. She learns quickly, enjoys having something to do, and has the kind of brain that I think will thrive with a family who enjoys training, hiking, activities, tricks, agility or simply giving their dog an active, engaged life.
She is confident without being reckless, recovers well from new experiences, and has a really interesting combination of working-dog energy and the ability to settle. Structurally and temperamentally, she is a very special puppy and one I would be completely happy keeping myself if the right guardian home does not come along.
I currently expect Rumi to mature around 25–30 pounds.
🫐 Madame Blueberry — Blue Merle Female
Blueberry is our newest addition and came to us from another breeder only a few days ago. Her mom is approximately 20 pounds and her dad is around 10 pounds, so I currently expect her to mature somewhere near 15 pounds.
She is a gorgeous blue merle with two blue eyes and an incredibly sweet, gentle personality.
Right now, Blueberry is a little hesitant in new situations and very attached to her people. My initial impression is that she did not receive quite the same level of early environmental exposure and socialization that our Little Bear Paws puppies normally do, so we are taking things slowly and allowing her to first feel safe and comfortable here.
She is affectionate, soft, playful and very gentle. I expect her to become a smart little lapdog with moderate energy, rather than a high-drive working dog. She currently borders on timid, although some of that may simply be lack of exposure rather than her permanent temperament.
Her ideal guardian will be someone patient and confident who understands how to help a softer puppy experience the world without overwhelming her — someone who will gently build her confidence, take her places, train her, and help her come out of her shell.
🏡 What we look for in guardian homes
Our guardian families generally need to live within approximately 100 miles of Ixonia, Wisconsin, remain in regular communication with us, maintain excellent routine veterinary care and training, and be willing to work cooperatively with us during breeding cycles and litters.
Most importantly, these dogs need to be your family dogs first. We are not looking for kennels or temporary placements. We are looking for families who want a deeply loved companion and are excited about being part of an ethical, intentional breeding program.
If either Rumi or Madame Blueberry sounds like she might fit your family, please send me a message telling me a little about your household, other pets, dog experience, lifestyle, location, and what you’re hoping for in a dog.
You can also learn more about our guardian program at LittleBearPaws.com. 💕
