BECOME A BREEDER CARETAKER
There are many ways to help change lives, but PADS Breeder Caretakers are a passionate group who will tell you that they have the best (though sometimes most intense!) volunteer role at PADS. They are also quick to remind that they do it again and again because of the many rewards.
Some of those rewards include supporting a sweet momma dog (chosen because she’s ‘the cream of the crop’ in terms of health and temperament!) through her breeding career, as well as welcoming tiny, blind and deaf newborns into your home and helping them transform over 8 weeks into playful, curious, confident assistance dog candidates. PADS covers all costs related to supporting the breeding dog – from vet care and medical clearances to dog food and equipment. We are with you every step of the way with training, support and a caring community of fellow breeder caretakers.
We’re looking for volunteers who:
- are willing to host a female breeding dog (“brood”) full time, and raise her litters in their home for 9 weeks at a time
- house the brood and raise the puppies inside the house
- are willing to learn and follow PADS policies and guidelines for the care and rearing of our smallest pups
- live within a 1.5 hour drive of our Burnaby Campus and Burquitlam vet clinic (while the dam is in heat and throughout her pregnancy, there are regular checkups and tests to be done)
- have a home with access to the outdoors (i.e. house, townhouse, ground level condo with private outdoor space)
- can be home (or have another adult household member home) every day for the entire 8 weeks the litter is on the ground OR are willing to welcome trained ‘litter sitter’ volunteers in their home to care for puppies when they are out or at work
PADS breeding dogs are:
- generally Labrador Retrievers or Labs crossed with Golden Retrievers, and occasionally Golden Retrievers
- Between 18 – 24 months when selected for breeding
- Health and temperament tested both for their own welfare, and to maximize the chances that their puppies will have superior health and assistance dog temperament
- Bred to similarly health and temperament-tested males with low levels of inbreeding to promote genetic diversity and population health
- allowed to have a maximum of 4 litters during their breeding career
- retired by the time they are 6 years old, so they can enjoy a long, happy, healthy retirement (usually as a beloved pet with their Breeder Caretakers, who are given first option to adopt them once their career with PADS has concluded)
NOTE: While we also have Breeder Caretakers volunteers for our male dogs as well, we are very rarely in need of new volunteers for this role, since most of the time, Puppy-Raisers whose pup is chosen to become a stud dog move into a Breeder Caretaking role with them.
Want more information about what happens in your home while you have a litter on the ground? Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPSaB7sRpaE
Puppy-Raising and Breeder Caretaking are of the most labour intensive of our volunteer roles, but each has distinct differences, so depending on your lifestyle and preferences, let us help you find the right fit!
| Role | Puppy-Raising | Breeder Caretaking |
| Length of time (per puppy/litter) | 15-19 months |
9 weeks for each litter Up to 4 years for the breeding female Maximum of 4 litters |
| UpBeing ‘out in public’ | Puppy-Raisers are out in public with their pups in training every day, so they get a lot of attention and have lots of chances to talk about PADS and their pup — this is great for those who are outgoing and love meeting new people. |
In between breedings, breeders have the same public access rights as puppies-in-training, however they are not required to accompany you everywhere. This is ideal for those who prefer to stay at home and focus just on the dogs. When in heat, and while raising a litter, their public access is suspended. |
| Ability to take time off from volunteering | While our pups can (and are encouraged to!) go to sitters regularly, we prefer that our raisers not take multiple long vacations (4+ weeks) during their time with one of our pups. | Since our broods have at most 2 litters a year, our Breeder Caretakers can take long vacations several times a year, as long as they are coordinated with when a litter may be born and ‘on the ground’. Even if they don’t take vacations between litters, many of our Breeder Caretakers appreciate the rhythm of this role — quiet and easy for most of the year, with two months of intense work while the pups are with them. |
| Impact of Volunteering |
When a puppy you’ve raised goes into Advanced Training and eventually gets matched with a client, it is an amazing feeling to see how one dog can completely change someone’s life!
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Breeding dogs make an exponential impact. Over the years, the dam and puppies they cared for go on impact dozens or even hundreds of lives, not only at PADS, but at other Assistance Dog Schools across North America and around the world! |
| Work or School |
Suitable for both students (18+ years old) and those who work full time, with employer or school’s permission. Work and/or school are great socialization opportunities for many of our puppies-in-training, who may accompany a client to their school or place of work. | Great opportunity for those who work from home (or are able to work from home while the litter is on the ground), individuals who work part time, families with offset shifts, retirees, stay at home parents, etc who have a flexible schedule. Litter sitters can come in a couple of times a week, for appointments, commitments and errands out of the house (or just to have an extra set of hands!) |
| Connection with PADS Dogs | Our Raisers have the pleasure of seeing one dog go from puppy-hood to late adolescence — but once they are about 18 months old, they generally have to say goodbye as the dog moves on to their next step (advanced training, breeding program, released to become a pet, or re-career). | Our Breeder Caretakers get to care for and love one breeding female throughout her whole career, and are welcome to adopt her once she retires. |
| Volunteer Training and Support |
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| Apply Now! |
Apply to Become a Puppy-Raiser | Apply to Become a Breeder Caretaker |