Supervisor, Breeding Stock in Carleton Place, Ontario at Canadian National Institute for the Blind

Position Title: Supervisor, Breeding Stock

CNIB Guide Dogs Canine Campus (Home-based)

Reports To: Manager, Early Canine Development

I. Scope and Summary of Primary Responsibilities

The Supervisor, Breeding Stock is responsible for the care of all breeding dogs (brood and stud dogs) in the CNIB Guide Dogs program and for finding safe, suitable volunteer homes for them.

This role trains and supports volunteers who care for mother dogs before, during and after they give birth, teaches volunteers how to deliver early socialization, and keeps accurate records for all dogs on caseload.

This is a hands on role that includes attending puppy births, caring for newborn puppies, and using positive reinforcement to teach basic skills such as obedience, house training and good manners in the first eight weeks of life. These early experiences prepare puppies for success in the Puppy Program.

The Supervisor, Breeding Stock also works closely with the Puppy Development Team to match each puppy with the most suitable volunteer home.

• Recruit, screen and onboard breeder carers (whelping homes), stud carers and breeding stock boarders in a defined area, including interviews, property inspections, contracts and documentation.
• Maintain engagement with active and wait listed volunteers, and work with the Specialist, CNIB Guide Dogs to determine the volume of recruitment required.
• Train volunteers in obedience, socialization and the health and behaviour needs of breeding dogs, and provide ongoing support, coaching and performance feedback.
• Visit breeder carers weekly, with a minimum of one in person visit each month. Visits must be in person from two weeks before whelping until puppies are eight weeks old. Other visits may be virtual.
• Provide relief support to volunteers as needed, including problem solving and demonstrating techniques when a dog reacts poorly.
• Organize and deliver supplies to volunteer homes, including whelping and cleaning supplies, food, preventatives, medications and socialization equipment, and remove items when no longer needed.
• Manage mating and reproductive cycles, including supervising natural matings and artificial insemination, and identifying abnormalities that may affect a successful mating.
• Attend whelps in person, administer medications, liaise with WhelpWise and the veterinary team, and escalate to an emergency clinic when required.
• Keep all assigned dogs current on vaccines, preventatives, microchipping, health testing and travel certificates by booking and coordinating veterinary appointments.
• Monitor the health, weight and behaviour of dogs on caseload and refer health or temperament concerns promptly.
• Transport breeding stock to and from volunteer homes, the Canine Campus and external providers.
• Assess dogs and puppies on caseload using Puppy BART and other internal assessments, and prepare progress reports.
• Work with trainers and the Puppy Development Team to place puppies in suitable volunteer homes and to transition dogs into the breeding program or puppy clubs.
• Maintain accurate and current records in Salesforce Dog Tracker and IWDR to meet CNIB Guide Dogs, IGDF and ADI standards.
• Provide updates to puppy raisers and quarterly donor updates for dogs in the breeding program.
• Maintain brood and stud dog protocols, policies and procedures.
• Report and document all accidents and incidents involving dogs or third parties in line with health and safety policies.
• Comply with CNIB terms and conditions, policies, procedures, codes of conduct, quality standards and applicable external regulations.

III. Qualifications

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

• Proficiency in canine handling, behaviour and cooperative care using positive reinforcement methods.
• Sound judgment, strong communication and team building skills, and the ability to make timely decisions.
• Professional, compassionate approach when working with staff, veterinarians, volunteers and the public.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of the role, including lifting, bending, walking long distances, and handling dogs of varying breeds, ages and temperaments.
• Ability to administer medications. Ability to draw blood is an asset.
• Current Ontario driver's licence.

Experience and Education

• Formal knowledge of canine reproduction is an asset.
• Previous experience whelping a litter is an asset.
• Registered Veterinary Technician or Veterinary Assistant experience is an asset.

Work Environment

• Occasional long or flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, based on whelping and breeding schedules.
• Volunteer whelping homes.
• CNIB Canine Campus dog pods, facilities and agile office areas.
• CNIB Canine Campus property, including training vans.
• Exposure to kennel noise, cleaning and antibacterial solutions, and animal dander and hair in confined spaces such as vans and kennels.

CNIB is committed to accommodating applicants with disabilities and will work with applicants requesting accommodations at any stage of the hiring process.