Canine Partners

What is a canine companion? 

A canine companion is placed in a home where there is an adult or a child with a physical disability or condition who would benefit from the companionship and emotional support a dog can provide, but where practical support from the dog is not required. These special dogs also give other social benefits of dog ownership, such as friendship and reduced loneliness. 

Our canine companions will have reached a level of socialisation and behaviour during our training programme but for various reasons, it has been identified that they are not suited to a working life. For their wellbeing, they are instead placed as a companion and able to provide an individual or family with all the associated benefits of dog ownership such as routine, regular activity, a sense of purpose, and reduced loneliness due to an increased feeling of being part of a community. 

All dogs and all canine companion homes are different, so these special dogs are still carefully matched with families or individuals, who after an initial settling-in period, would be fully adopted by their new family. It is therefore necessary that these families can meet all of the care needs and costs involved in having one of these dogs in their lives including providing adequate exercise and health care. 

Interested in finding out more?

To find out if you would be eligible to apply when we reopen to canine companion applications, please see our canine companion applicant information pack by clicking the button below: 

Download the canine companion applicant information pack

Next opening dates for first stage applications

How do I apply?

1. Read the Canine Companion Information Pack to ensure you meet our eligibility criteria
2. Check if you are located within the regions we are opening to first applications. We will be opening to specific areas and postcodes within the following regions;

   Hull, Bedford, West Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire, South Hampshire
   Please ensure you click here to check your location against the maps and postcodes of the exact areas we are opening to.
3. Check your availability to attend the Virtual Information Sessions. If you are selected to proceed to the second stage of application, there will be the opportunity to attend a virtual drop-in information and Q&A session to find out more about the programme and the assessment process. The dates for these sessions are:

   Monday 21 October 2024 – 1:30-3:00pm and Wednesday 23 October 2024 – 4:30-6:00pm
4. Apply by clicking the linkthat will be made available below during the opening times (12pm Tuesday 8 October – 12pm Thursday 10 October) where you will then complete a first-stage application form. For a first-stage application, you will only be asked to provide personal contact details, details of your location, details of the disability in the home and confirmation you have read our information pack and eligibility.

Please wait for this link to be made available and do not email us with your application, as this will not count.

First-stage selection process

There are only a limited number of places available to go through to final waiting list.

An independent computer software system will be used to impartially select a set number of eligible applicants, who will then be invited to the second-stage of the application process. Only one application submitted will be counted so only one form should be submitted per applicant.  

All first-stage applications received during the above opening times will receive an email confirming the outcome of their application by Thursday 17 October 2024.

If you are unable to use the link that will be provided on this page on the opening dates, please contact us on applicationsenquiries@caninepartners.org.uk or 01730 716042 beforehand and we will give you a number to call during the opening times, where the application can be submitted on your behalf.