Dog Breeding Volunteer

Canine Partners is a registered charity that transforms the lives of people with physical disabilities by partnering them with assistance dogs. Our amazing dogs bring a greater independence and quality of life to their partners, offering support, security, companionship, and practical help with everyday household tasks.

By volunteering at Canine Partners, you contribute to something very special - ‘transforming the lives of people with physical disabilities by partnering them with assistance dogs’

About the opportunity

Would you like to help nurture the next generation of assistance dogs by caring for an incredible canine partner mum?

We’re seeking dedicated volunteers to provide loving homes for our canine mums and support them as they bring future assistance dogs into the world.

Canine Partners are looking for caring family homes within a reasonable distance of our National Training Centre, to offer a loving long-term family home to one of our Broods (Canine Partner mum’s), including supporting her throughout pregnancy and raising up to a maximum of four litters of puppies (one litter per year before being retired). Ideally you will live within one hour’s drive of LE12 9SR post code area.

By volunteering you will:

• Be a valued member of our charity
• Benefit from the companionship and enjoyment of having a dog in your life without the costs associated with dog ownership.
• Opportunity to develop your knowledge of early puppy development.
• Can meet like-minded people and build friendship groups
• 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

‘With out the continued hard work and support from our Dog Breeding Volunteers we would not be able to provide our clients with our life changing dogs’.

What is involved

This is considered a full-time volunteer role. The brood will live with you from approximately 14-18 months of age until retirement.

• With guidance support and advice from our breeding team maintain the brood's health and welfare, including maintaining a good weight and fitness level along with basic training and general obedience.
• Be available for and attend training sessions within the working week that will involve: home visits, virtual online training, one-to-ones
• Be available to take the brood for essential veterinary visits as required.
• The brood will have approximately two seasons per year and will stay at home during her season. Advice on management or any veterinary visits required during the season, will be given by our breeding team.
• The brood will have one litter per year from the age of two, up to a maximum of four litters. Each litter will be born within the home, and the puppies will remain with the brood until they are approximately eight weeks old and ready to go to their puppy parents (plenty of opportunities for puppy cuddles). Full support, guidance and training will be provided by our breeding team throughout the broods’ mating season, pregnancy, whelping and litter. Equipment for the litter is provided.
• Whilst the brood has a litter – we ask that pet dogs have restricted exercise (full information and guidance is given by the breeding team). This measure is to minimise the risk of infection to the litter.
• The dog breeding volunteer will have updates throughout each litters training.

What we require from you

• The primary dog breeding volunteer must be 18 years or over
• Have a dog friendly secure garden
• Be at home for most of the day and ideally live within one hour of LE12 9SR
• Though desirable, prior dog ownership is not required
• If you are a dog owner, you cannot have an entire male dog. Maximum of three pet dogs which will be assessed on a case-by-case basis considering the size of pet dogs, along with available space within in the property. Any pet dogs will be assessed as part of the home assessment.
• Time and stamina to provide the brood with a minimum of one hour's exercise per day (this can be completed in one or multiple walks).
• Time to provide training sessions to maintain basic obedience.
• Access to own transport to travel the brood on essential journeys such as veterinary appointments and pre-mating tests as required.
• Have time and stamina to devote to the brood and her litter. The brood cannot be routinely left for more than four hours in a day.
• Have space within the home for the brood and her litter.

Support and Training

• Induction process which includes submitting of application, telephone interview, home visit, training and handling sessions.
• Each volunteer is allocated a member of the Canine Partners breeding team as their first point of contact.
• Receive regular training, resources and other important information via your trainer; this may be in the format of physical copies, digital or in person.
• All equipment for the litter is provided.
• Our breeding team will offer continued support throughout the pregnancy and litter.
• Payment of expenditure such as mileage to and from a pre-mating test
• Access to our volunteer portal with many resources for your use.
• Invitation to join Official Canine Partners Community Facebook Group

Apply on our website: Become A Dog Breeding Volunteer

“I feel it’s a privilege to be a Dog Breeding volunteer for Canine Partners. I love dogs and have always wanted to rear a litter of puppies but never had the opportunity. So this was a unique opportunity to do this with the full support and expertise of the Canine Partners staff and to be a full-time foster parent to my wonderful Labrador bitch Gabby. Being a Dog Breeding volunteer is a very satisfying role to play as a volunteer.”

Judith

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.