What is a hart+ dog?
A hart+ dog is a dog that is adoptable but has special
training needs. Some of these special training needs may be
resolved quickly in the right home, some may require ongoing work,
and some may require lifelong training. To ensure that hart+ dogs
receive the additional supports they require when they move to
their furever homes, hart will take extra steps through the
adoption process. The right home exists for all hart+ dogs.
How will hart find the right home for hart+
dogs?
The hart+adoption program uses a modified adoption process that is
designed to ensure that the potential adopter is aware of the
special training needs of the dog. The potential adopter will work
closely with both the foster home and the trainer working with the
hart+ dog to ensure the appropriate transfer of information,
strategies, and skills to maximize the chances of a successful and
lifetime adoption for that hart+ dog. The modified adoption process
will be as follows:
Step 1: Adoption Application
Step 2: Phone Screening
- You will be contacted by a member of hart's Behaviour Team to
complete a phone screening. This is an opportunity to discuss your
application, share information about the behavioural needs of the
hart+ dog, and determine whether there is a potential for a good
match between you and the hart+ dog.
Step 3: Meeting the Foster Parent, hart+ Dog, and
Trainer/Behaviouralist
- Once the phone screening is complete, the foster parent for the
hart+ dog will contact you to set up a time to discuss the hart+
dog, preferably by phone.
- You will then arrange to meet the foster parent and the hart+
dog in-person. If appropriate, the trainer/behaviouralist working
with the hart+ dog may also be present at this first meeting.
Step 4: Graduated Home Visits
- If the first in-person meeting goes well, you will have
graduated home visits with the hart+ dog. hart reserves the right
to modify the graduated home visit process according to the needs
of the specific hart+ dog. Generally, there will be a minimum of
three home visits as follows:
- One 3 to 4 hour day or evening (not overnight) visit.
- One overnight visit.
- One 3 to 4 day visit.
Step 5: Continued Sessions with hart+ Dog and
Trainer/Behaviouralist
- Throughout the graduated home visits, you may be asked to
continue to attend sessions with the trainer/behaviouralist working
with the hart+ dog.
Step 6: Finalizing the Adoption and Post-Adoption
Training
- Adoption may only be approved when all of these steps have been
completed.
- You will attend one or two post-adoption sessions with the
trainer/behaviouralist.
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