Provide full-time care for a Breeding Dog
To create the next generation of Seeing Eye Dogs, a selection of our best and brightest dogs are chosen to become breeding dogs. These exceptional dogs require a loving home full-time for the duration of their breeding career, returning to the Seeing Eye Dogs kennel facility in Kensington, VIC for breeding activities.
Our male and female breeding dogs need homes from around the age of 12 months and could be in the program for a few months to a number of years, depending on the dog.
What’s involved in being a Breeding Dog Carer
Breeding Dog Carers are responsible for transporting our breeding dogs to the Seeing Eye Dogs kennel in Kensington and to veterinary appointments for all reproduction activities and related health checks.
A Breeding Dog Carer's role is to
- Provide a loving home and care for the duration of the dog’s breeding career
- Keep the dog fit and healthy at all times, with regular reporting of weight and condition required
- Transport the dog to appointments at veterinary clinics or Seeing Eye Dogs headquarters in Kensington as required. In some instances, this may be within 24hrs notice due to the time-critical nature of reproduction activities such as matings. Male dogs are usually required an average of at least six times per year for matings. Females require additional health checks and ultrasounds and must be brought into the kennels whenever in season and when birthing/whelping.
- Follow the Seeing Eye Dogs protocol of husbandry under guidance of staff and veterinarians
You will need to
- Be physically fit enough to take a large dog on a brisk walk each day for approximately 45 - 60 minutes and clean up after them as required
- Notify Seeing Eye Dogs if you become injured or unable to care for the dog for medical reasons, temporarily or otherwise
- Complete a reference and background check including a police check, working with children check and maintain compliance throughout your period of volunteering
- Accept global and breeding carer agreements and agree to follow all directions and recommendations from Seeing Eye Dogs staff members
- Obtain approval from Seeing Eye Dogs before travelling with the dog and/or housing with any other pet on the same property. The dog can not be housed with any desexed dogs of the opposite gender as this would compromise their breeding duties.
- Understand that breeding dogs have passed their assessments to become qualified Seeing Eye Dogs and may be reassigned into formal training or used for another purpose at any stage if required.
- Be available for visits from your Seeing Eye Dogs staff member during business hours (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm).
You will receive
- All equipment, food and vet care necessary, at no cost to you
- Ongoing support and training
- Rewarding companionship with a difference, knowing your care for this pup or dog is contributing to the greater Seeing Eye Dogs cause
Eligibility for Breeding Carers
Carers for breeding dogs must:
- Live in Victoria in the local area of Melbourne, Merri-bek, Darebin, Moonee Valley, Bendigo, Maribyrnong, Yarra, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, Bayside or Kingston. We are also accepting applications from the suburbs of Point Cook, Truganina, Laverton North, Williams Landing, Bulla, Sunbury, Diggers Rest, Gisborne, Woodend, Kyneton and Karlsruhe
- Love dogs! We prefer our breeding carers to have prior dog-handling experience to assist in keeping healthy dogs and following animal husbandry best-practices
- Be aged 18 or above at the time of application
- Hold a current drivers licence and have immediate car access to transport the dog to Seeing Eye Dogs breeding facilities, veterinary appointments and other locations as required
- Have time to dedicate to training, exercising and socialising and meetings with Seeing Eye Dogs staff during business hours
- Have no convictions of animal cruelty in Australia or elsewhere
- Speak fluent English
