Overview
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
Canine Partners are looking for caring family homes within a reasonable distance
of our Midlands Training Centre, to offer a loving home to one of our Brood Bitches
(Canine Partner mum’s), supporting her throughout pregnancy and raising a litter
of puppies (the brood will have approximately four litters (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
You will get a well-socialised dog to live with you as part of your family, with all the
support, guidance and advice you need to continue her training
Meet new people and build new friendship groups
Enjoyable and satisfying, builds your confidence, skills, and self esteem
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 Brood Bitch Holders, we
would not be able to provide our clients with our life changing dogs’.
What is involved
This is considered a full time role. The brood will live with you from
approximately aged from 14-18 months old until retirement. The brood will
have one litter per year from the age of two, up to a maximum of four litters.
The 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.
Be available for and attend training sessions that will involve:
o home visits
o virtual online training
o one-to-ones
Maintain the broods general obedience, recall and lead walking, along with
ensuring that our broods maintain the correct weight and fitness, following
the support and advice of our breeding team.
Maintain the broods general obedience, recall and lead walking, along with
ensuring that our broods maintain the correct weight and fitness, following
the support and advice of our breeding team.
Be available to take the brood for essential veterinary visits as required
The brood bitch will have approximately two seasons per year and will stay
at home during her season. Advice on management during the season will
be given by our breeding team. The brood bitch holder will need to update
the breeding team when the brood starts her season. During a mating
season (once per year up to a maximum of four litters) the breeding team
will notify the brood bitch holder on essential veterinary visits and trips that
are required.
Once the brood has been confirmed pregnant the breeding team will
arrange various visits, to bring out the equipment required for the birth and
the litter. Full support and training leading up to the birth (whelping) will be
provided.
The breeding team will be on hand to provide full support and training
during the broods first whelping and 24/7 phone support is provided by our
breeding team throughout the eight week period with the litter.
The litter will stay at home with the brood until they are eight weeks old and
ready to go to their puppy parents, you will have plenty of opportunities for
puppy cuddles. Weekly visits will be arranged by the breeding team to
train/support and advise on socialisation and health monitoring of both the
brood and her puppies.
Whilst the brood has a litter – pet dogs must have exercise within the house
and garden for the first five days of the puppies lives and thereafter must
have pavement lead walks, away from other dogs, until the puppies leave at
eight weeks. This measure is to minimise the risk of infection to the litter.
The breeding team will arrange a follow up visit with the brood a couple of
weeks after the litter has been moved, to check the health of the brood and
discuss the litter.
The brood bitch holder will have updates throughout each litters training.
What we require from you
The primary brood bitch holder 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. Any pet dogs
will be assessed as part of the home assessment.
Time and stamina to provide the brood with a minimum of one hours
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 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 bitch 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 support continued support throughout the
pregnancy and litter.
Payment of expenditure such as mileage to and from a pre-mating test
Invitation to join Official Canine Partners Community Facebook Group
