Families help socialise dogs before training
Detector dogs work at all important entry points into New Zealand to find products that aren't allowed into New Zealand.
Detector dog puppies live with families for the first 14 months of their lives before they start their 13-week detector dog training. Families are responsible for raising and socialising the puppies, and provide early training.
Watch a video about fostering a puppy – YouTube
Foster families have to meet criteria
We have some minimum requirements to meet to become a puppy walker for us. You must:
- live in Auckland or Hamilton
- be able to keep the puppy company throughout the day
- have no children aged under 4 years
- have a large, fully fenced section with escape-proof fences at least 1.2 metres high
- not own more than one other dog
- have an adult at home for most of the day, every day.
We'll explain some of our other requirements after you apply.
Before a puppy can move in, the puppy development team will visit you and interview you and your family. We discuss details of the programme and will see if your home is a suitable place for the puppy to live.
Once a puppy is placed with your family, the team visits regularly to see how the puppy is doing, to answer questions, and to help solve any problems. The breeding and kennel manager is also only a phone call away.
MPI covers costs
For foster families, MPI covers all expenses for:
- food and equipment like collars, bowl, brush, leash, toys
- shampoo and flea treatment
- puppy identification coats
- the service record book
- all veterinary costs.
MPI also provides boarding at the MPI kennels when a family goes away on holidays.
MPI will not pay for damage done to your property.
How to apply
If you're interested in fostering a detector dog puppy, you need to live in Auckland or Hamilton and meet the minimum requirements.
Email us to apply to foster a detector dog puppy
Find out more
Follow MPI detector dogs on Facebook
Who to contact
If you have questions about the programme, email detector.dog@mpi.govt.nz