Volunteer Puppy Socialiser

Posted for Dogs for Good

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The role of the Puppy Socialiser is to ensure that the puppy has a good foundation before it starts its training to become part of one of the Dogs for Good services.

As a Puppy Socialiser you will be required to take on a puppy and have him or her living in your home for between 16 and 18 months. You must have the time and commitment and be physically able to provide basic obedience training, socialisation and appropriate exercise required for a young dog.  To enable you to carry out this role, most equipment will be supplied by the Charity.

Appointment Requirements: You must successfully complete the appointment process (including acceptable personal references, home and garden check and acceptance of Dogs for Good policies).

Main tasks: 

• Maintain the health and welfare of a puppy in socialising in accordance with the guidelines.
• Provide ongoing basic obedience along with a gradual introduction to new environments, with the help and support of the Puppy Co-ordinators. 
• Adhere to advice and carry out any instructions given by the Puppy Co-ordinators, keeping them updated regularly on the progress of the dog. 
• Attend regular puppy training classes.
• Allow a Puppy Co-ordinator to visit you in your home to carry out regular assessments and support visits.
• To ensure, if and when appropriate, that the puppy receives emergency veterinary care as soon as possible and that Dogs for Good is informed at the earliest opportunity.

What you can expect from Dogs for Good In return for your valuable help, "we aim to ensure that volunteering for Dogs for Good is a fulfilling, fun and worthwhile experience. You'll have support from staff, with the opportunity to gain and develop skills and meet other volunteers.  We'll reimburse agreed out of pocket expenses in accordance with our expenses policy."

Skills

Although no experience is necessary as all relevant support and training will be provided, Puppy Socialisers are required to meet the following criteria: -

• You must be over 18 years old and live within one of the socialising areas
• You need to have a fully fenced, (guideline 5ft) safe and secure garden that is directly accessible from your house.  They are unable to accept socialisers who live in accommodation which is not on the ground floor.
• Any children within the home should be over the age of two years old, although younger children may be taken into consideration. 
• You should not leave puppies for any longer than 2 hours on a regular basis when they are young, increasing to 4 hours when they are older. 
• They are unable to accept applications from those working away from a puppy for more than 15 hours per week.
• Your circumstances and routine should be reasonably stable and consistent. 
• You are able to provide the puppy with regular exercise, contact with children, other dogs and cats. (No more than 2 dogs).
• You must drive and have a car suitable for a large dog, or have access at all times to someone who can drive

Additional Information & Criteria for the Puppy Socialiser Role: 

• Dogs for Good places puppies with volunteer puppy socialisers at around 8-10 weeks of age and the puppy lives with the socialiser full time until the puppy is around 16-18 months old.
• The socialising role is quite demanding, and socialisers need to have time and energy to dedicate to socialising and training a puppy. This also involves being available for Co-Ordinator visits both to the home and out and about in towns and rural areas.
• The Dogs for Good Puppy Co-Ordinator supports you all the way through socialising.
• Socialisers are required to attend monthly puppy classes during the week during the daytime.
• Dogs for Good covers the cost of food, insurance and vets’ bills. 
• Dogs for Good supplies a crate for puppy but asks that you supply soft bedding, toys and treats throughout the time a puppy is in the home. 
• Dogs for Good cannot cover costs of travel to and from visits and the centre.
• They can arrange temporary boarders for socialisers if you are going away or have an event on where you can’t take puppy with you, but ask for plenty of notice to arrange this.
• People not registered as volunteers with the charity are not permitted to look after the puppies and are not covered by insurance.

Details

Location

This opportunity has no specific location.

When do I need to be available?