Dog Supply, Training and Health & Welfare Teams Head of Dog Supply, Training and Health & Welfare Chris Allen oversees several teams dedicated to sourcing, training and caring for our future Medical Alert Assistance Dogs and Bio Detection Dogs. His extensive experience working for Assistance Dog charities enables him to manage the range of tasks within the department and capitalise on opportunities to improve our service. Dog Supply Advisor Rebecca’s role is to source the puppies which we train to be lifesavers! She is responsible for ensuring our pups come from healthy parents with good dispositions, which involves a lot of research to aid selecting puppies from reputable breeders and rescues. Visiting a litter with toys to test their confidence, sense of smell and personality is a tough job, but someone has to do it! She also runs our breeding program, which includes some very unsociable hours and a lot of TLC. Sponsor a puppy Assistance Dog Trainers Our team of Trainers support our amazing volunteer Puppy Socialisers, who care for our pups in training. This involves guiding them through the early stages of settling into their home and toilet training, then teaching core obedience skills and building confidence in the many different environments an Assistance Dog will visit with their client. Finally, they focus on the tasks that change their clients’ lives; alerting to a specific odour (which indicates that a medical episode is imminent), retrieving emergency medical supplies and working with mobility aids. The trainers run regular classes, visit volunteers at home, in parks or shopping areas, and conduct 121 training with the pups. Medical Detection Dogs practice positive training techniques to ensure the best possible results while maintaining focus on the dogs’ wellbeing. Volunteer Dog Volunteer Recruitment and Training Assistant This role involves recruiting volunteers and supporting them to care for and train our puppies. The Assistant provides advice on what to expect, training on dog handling, and maintains training materials for the Puppy Socialiser volunteers. Health & Welfare The Health & Welfare team ensures all our dogs have the high standard of care they deserve. This ranges from exercising dogs and ensuring they have clean, comfy bedding and toys, to managing their healthcare needs: They oversee preventative treatments like vaccinations and regular flea & worming medication, provide a 24 hour emergency phone in case of emergencies, and work closely with vets to ensure any medical concerns are dealt with. They regularly review and update health protocols to make sure we are always providing the best care possible for our awe-inspiring dogs. Administration The Dog Supply, Training and Health & Welfare Teams have an Administrator to support their activities. This role includes managing supplies of food, training aides and toys, maintaining records and making sure the office runs smoothly so their colleagues can focus on the dogs’ welfare and training. Wishlist Manage Cookie Preferences