Puppy
Support Volunteers support our Puppy Training
Regions, to provide short term care and holiday cover for puppies/dogs from 8
weeks onwards. This ranges from a day cover to a few weeks care, maintaining
the basic care and individual exercise requirements of the puppy as well as
helping them to adapt to living with different carers and routines. To maintain
basic training according to Canine Partners’ methods and continue behaviour
plans for their development age, such as toilet training and loose lead
walking, both in the home and in residential areas.
By volunteering you will:
- Be a valued member of our Charity
- Know that you are integrally involved in the care
and training of a dog that will change the life of a person waiting for their
Canine Partner
- Benefit from the companionship and enjoyment of
having a dog in your life without lifelong commitment or costs associated with
dog ownership
- Can meet like-minded people
- Opportunity to develop your knowledge of puppy
development and training
What's Involved?
- Care
for a dog in your home as a temporary placement. This can range from days,
weekends, weeks, months, depending on the charity’s needs.
- Be available for: - Virtual online
training - One-to-ones in
the community - Group sessions in
the community
- Attend classes to learn and keep up to date
with the techniques being used
- Maintain basic training and obedience in the
home and local residential areas
- Be available for
pre-planned holiday and emergency cover
- Attend vet visits
when necessary
- Maintaining the
dog’s health and welfare and, via support and training, to recognise
behaviour/health concerns and report them immediately to your Canine Partners
trainer
What skills do I need?
- The primary puppy
volunteer must be 18 years of age or over.
- You will need to
reside in a house/bungalow/ground floor flat with a dog friendly secure garden
(non-shared). Please note that we are unable to accept a townhouse for puppies
under the age of 6 months due to health and safety risks to the volunteer and
puppy.
- If you are a dog
owner with no more than two pet dogs of suitable temperament, as assessed
during the home check, you are welcome to apply. They must be over 18 months of age and have
lived within the home for at least six months.
- Commit to attend regular group classes even
when without a dog (once a month) to maintain knowledge and application of the
training expected when the dogs are with you.
- Practical and physical role with the ability to
recognise your own limitations.’ For example,
lifting and carrying a 12kg puppy
- Settling the puppy/dog
into a new home requires time and patience. It can take a while for them to
feel completely relaxed. Settling in period will be different with each
puppy/dog.
- Keep in touch with your staff point of contact with regular
updates
- Access to own transport to travel to vet
appointments and meet your trainer, as required
- Understand that the dog in your care remains
under the ownership of Canine Partners, and as such advice from Canine Partners
representatives should be followed.
