Puppy Support Volunteer

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

‘Without the continued hard work and support from our puppy volunteers, we would not be able to provide our clients with our life changing dogs.’

What is 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
• Raise awareness of Canine Partners

What we require from you

• 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.

Support and Training

• Induction process which includes submitting of an information form, telephone interview, home visit, training, and handling sessions
• Each volunteer is allocated a Canine Partners Puppy Training Coordinator as their first point of contact.
• Receive regular training, resources, and other essential information via your Puppy Training Coordinator, this may be in the format of verbal instructions, physical copies, digital instructions, video, and webinar resources or in person.
• No previous dog ownership experience is needed but you must meet the criteria listed above to be considered.
• Holiday cover and appointments cover can be arranged.
• Payment of expenditure such as mileage to and from a training session with a Canine Partner representative
• Access to our volunteer portal with many resources for your use.
• Invitation to join our Official Canine Partners Community Facebook Group