Taking in and training inapt dog (8)
I believe the answer is:
adopting
'taking in' is the definition.
('adopt' can be a synonym of 'take in')
'training inapt dog' is the wordplay.
'training' indicates anagramming the letters (to train can mean to grow something into a shape).
'inapt'+'dog'='inaptdog'
'inaptdog' with letters rearranged gives 'ADOPTING'.
'and' is the link.
(Another definition for adopting that I've seen is " Taking on (another's child)".)
I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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