Charity calls for Milton Keynes dog-lovers to become puppy socialisers

The charity provides highly-trained assistance dogs to help people with physical disabilities and families who have a child with autism.

It has today launched an appeal to recruit people in Milton Keynes to love, care for, nurture and socialise puppies who will then go on to transform people’s lives.

From the age of eight weeks, each puppy must spend between 12 and 18 months being socialised before they can be specially trained.

The job is ideal for dog lovers with plenty of time on their hands, said a spokesman.

The role involves taking the puppy into day-to-day situations such as going to supermarkets, local shops, travelling on buses and trains, and visiting cafes and restaurants after lockdown restrictions lift.

Puppy socialisers are also tasked with getting the puppy used to traffic, crossing roads and visiting crowded and rural areas

Dogs For Good, which also provides support dogs for people with learning disabilities and dementia, say volunteers must have a long-term commitment for the role, and people on currently on furlough but due to return to work will be unsuitable .

Volunteer Abbey Chung became a puppy co-ordinator in 2014 after meeting someone from the charity at her previous workplace, an animal rescue centre.

She now looks after 30 puppies and their socialisers in Oxfordshire and the surrounding areas.

Abbey said: “Puppy Socialisers get a real sense of pride when they see the dog they’ve had from eight weeks going out and giving somebody independence. It just makes them really proud.

“During the first year of a puppy’s life they have all the fun and get the chance to meet lots of new people and find out what the charity is all about.

“Our socialisers love feeling like they are part of the bigger family at Dogs for Good and knowing they are doing something worthwhile. It’s also great to see the end result.”

Yasmin Smyth from Milton Keynes is 61 and has been a puppy socialiser for 14 years. She is currently on her tenth puppy.

Mother to three grown up children, her youngest was six years old when she began volunteering with Dogs for Good.

She said: “The children have all enjoyed having a new puppy each year and they help to teach them how to sit, stand and wait.

“Saying goodbye to the puppies is always hard, I usually have a tear in my eye, but we often see them again when they become assistance dogs because we look after them when clients go on holiday.

“The dogs love seeing the children again and slot back into their old routine straight away.

“The children always knew they weren’t ‘our’ puppies and understand that they go on to help someone who really needs them.

“Watching them work when they leave and seeing the bond between them and their client is brilliant. It’s very rewarding and Dogs for Good offers a lot of support whenever you need it.”

Due to current social distancing rules Dogs for Good is unable to give its usual face-to-face support but they will need to conduct a home check via video link. Telephone and online support will also be available with videos to demonstrate certain activities.

Although no experience is necessary, puppy socialisers are required to meet the following criteria:

You should live within one of our specified puppy scheme areas

You have a fully-fenced safe and secure garden

You are away from the puppy for no more than two hours (in the first few weeks) and four hours (for the remaining time you have the puppy) per day

Have no more than two existing pet dogs

Able to spend some time every day on activities to socialise the puppy

You are able to provide the puppy with regular contact with children, other dogs and cats.

For more information, see here .