 Barked: Sat Feb 23, '13 12:12pm PST |
 | |  | | I acclimate all my dogs to a crate. That way I can safely leave them somewhere without worrying about what they might get into while I'm gone.
For the first week, I don't let my foster dog and my resident dog meet. They live separate lives. This allows them to get used to being in the new location and smelling the other dog but there is no stress of meeting. The first week is spent letting the foster dog get used to me, my routine, and allowing me time to figure out who they are too. I do my best to not do anything super stressful during that time. No nail trims, baths, or trips out into the world. They just stay home and figure me out.  After all, they've just been through a LOT getting to my home.
Foster dogs spend a lot of time in the x-pen. That way they can be out and with me in the home but can't get into trouble. This allows me to prevent any destruction and potty accidents while they adjust to their new settings. I do allow supervised time out in the house where they can play and bond with me while they have my undivided attention. If I need to get stuff done, however, they're in the x-pen.
After a week, I start to do some more formal training (during week one, I basically just do self-control stuff like food bowl manners and waiting at doors so I have some control). I also slowly introduce the foster to my own dog. Short sessions with the foster in the x-pen for his safety jic and my dog free.
Once we've made it past the 2 week mark, I start actively taking my foster more places so he can experience the world since he now has more trust in me. This allows me to figure out who he is a bit more too since he's no longer in the comfort of my home.
Fostering isn't always easy. Sometimes you're told one thing by the shelter/rescue/foster and the dog turns out to not be what you expect. Sawyer, my current foster, is like that. I was told he was lively and energetic and likes other dogs. While he is a crazy, fun-loving puppy at home; he is very reserved and a bit fearful out in the world. He's also actually dog-selective and a bit fearful when dogs are in his space for too long. It's sometimes hard to get a good read on a dog unless you take him out of his comfort zone and stress him a little bit. I certainly wouldn't hold it against anyone if they took in a foster, discovered he was not a good fit for their household, and had to have the rescue take him back. Rescuing itself is all about finding the perfect match and not everyone is it!Edited by author Sat Feb 23, '13 12:14pm PST
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