Grade: Volunteer

Salary: Volunteer

Closing date: 13th August 2019

West Midlands Police – Dog Section Puppy Development Programme Puppy Fosterer  

Who we are:   West Midlands Police has established one of the largest and most successful Police Puppy Development Programmes around. Our programme holds circa 50 breeding females of a variety of breeds and aims to produce over 100 puppies each year.   In order to maintain the highest levels of animal welfare and breeding practices, we are members of the British Kennel Club’s Assured Breeder Scheme.   Each puppy goes through a detailed and structured development plan as part of the programme, starting with an early neuro-stimulation and socialisation programme which begins from the moment they are born. The puppy also undergoes a series of assessments, at various age benchmarks, to ensure the highest levels of development are being achieved.      The programme’s aim is to develop operational police dogs for use within our own Force, but we also supply the majority of UK police forces. In addition, it also develops dogs which are sold to government agencies and institutions, defence, police and private organisations across the globe who rely on our expertise to develop working dogs for their needs.  

Why we need your help:   The Puppy Development Programme relies on the support of volunteers to assist with caring for, training and developing our puppies/young dogs. Each puppy/young dog attends regular training sessions at our Dog Training Centre in Balsall Common, which relies on our volunteers making the puppies/young dogs available & transporting them to and from our Dog Training Centre.   We are looking for volunteers to support a variety of roles within the Puppy Development Programme.   As a Puppy Fosterer you will be required to care for a puppy from 8 weeks old until they are 14 months old, following a structured Puppy Development Programme where both you and the dog are assessed at regular intervals.      

• You will need to have experience or a very keen interest in training dogs
• You and your family will need to be able to live with a large, strong & energetic dog.
• You will need to have unrestricted, personal access to a suitable vehicle for safe transportation of the dog.
• You will need to have suitable home environment to allow a large dog crate to be housed. 
• You will need to provide a fully fenced (minimum of 6 foot fences) & a secure garden area for the dog.
• You will need to be able to attend regular training sessions - which are held during the day - with your dog.
• You will need to have plenty of spare time to keep your dog mentally & physically exercised.
• You will need to ensure that the dog is not left for more than 3-4 hours at any time, other than overnight.

More information about the requirements can be found at - https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/specialist-teams/our-dogs/puppy-fostering