Puppy parent

Puppy Parents

Puppy Parents are vital to our training programme. Being a Puppy Parent for Hounds for Heroes is a full-time commitment. Puppy Parents help to establish the foundations of training and early experiences that are critical developing happy dogs who are ready to move onto their advanced training. Our puppies learn through praise, play and positive reinforcement. To find out more about the stages of training click here.

The role of the Puppy Parent includes:

To provide a secure and happy home to care for a puppy from the age of 8 weeks.
Puppies generally stay with Puppy Parents for 12-14 months. Hounds for Heroes may decide to move the puppy earlier than this.
To attend a weekly puppy class and commit to 1:1 sessions with the puppy trainer.
To introduce the puppy to the experience of learning in a positive way.
To follow the Hounds for Heroes puppy socialisation & training plan.
To follow Hounds for Heroes positive training methods.
To keep the puppy’s health records up to date and visit the vet as required.
To be open and honest with the puppy trainer with information about the puppy.
To keep a photo album of the puppy’s time with you to give to their future Partner.

You will be supported by our training team so you do not need to have lots of experience or qualifications to look after one of our puppies in training but you will need to meet certain criteria:

Be prepared to follow Hounds for Heroes training plan.
Preferably live within a 25-mile radius of a training hub (Petersfield / Portsmouth) – reasonable travelling expenses can be claimed.
Be at home most of the day as pups in early stages of training must not be left for longer than 1 hour.
Be able to attend weekly classes and one to one training sessions with the puppy trainer.
Be able to carry and care for a young puppy in the early weeks
Have regular access to a car to attend any of the following; classes, the local town or for vet visits.
Have time on a daily basis to provide the puppy with socialisation activities and training
Preferably have no more than 2 dogs that live with you or visit on a regular basis
Have a fully fenced/secure dog-friendly garden
Be prepared to fence off an area of your garden for a toilet area for the puppy

Hounds for Heroes provide food and equipment for each puppy and cover the cost of veterinary bills and pet insurance.

To apply complete the form below.

Puppy Parent/Fosterer Application Form

Fill out this form to begin your journey to becoming a puppy parent or fosterer for our amazing dogs.

Which of the following are you interested in?

Your details

Title

First name

Last name

Address

Postcode

Email address

Phone number

About your home

Is your home rented?

If yes, do you have permission to have pets? (we will need to see evidence of this)

Do you work, this includes working from home and any voluntary work you might do?

Number of hours per day

Number of days per week

Number and age(s) of any children living at home or who visit regularly

Have you ever owned a dog?

Do you currently own any dogs?

Tell us about your dogs

Age(s) and Breed(s):

How long have they been living with you?

Health and/or Behavioural considerations:

Do you have any other pets that will interact with a puppy?

If yes please give details

Do you have a private/not-shared back garden?

Tell us about your garden

What type of fencing/boundary does it have:

What height is the boundary?

Are there any areas in the garden that may pose a risk/hazard to a young puppy? i.e. ponds, steps. Please give details:

Do you have a front garden?

Is it secure?

How busy is the road you live on?

Do you have regular access to a suitable car to transport a puppy?

Do you have experience of puppy walking / training classes?

Please give details i.e. pet dog classes or other assistance dog organisations:

Contact details

How did you hear about Hounds for Heroes?

How would you like us to contact you?

Home telephone

Mobile

Please specify the most convenient time for us to call you

Personal details

Your personal details will be kept securely on our database so that we can process your application. We will not disclose your information to any other person or organisation, except when required to by law or if we believe it is in your ‘vital interests’ to do so. For example, if you were taken ill during a puppy class. As part of GDPR requirements we need you to indicate by ticking the boxes below that you consent to us retaining your data and contacting you about your application.

Your details

About your home

Tell us about your dogs

Tell us about your garden

Contact details

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