Please come and talk to me about fostering

[Blackpuddingbertha]

We have an 18 month old labradoodle who loves company of both the human and dog variety. I'm not sure we're up for getting a second dog as I think our holiday and dog sitting favours may dry up with two. However, I think fostering may be an option and I'd love to be able to offer a home to a dog who needs it, even if only temporarily. But I think I need to understand the full picture rather than my rose tinted version. And I need to have all the facts before I discuss the idea with DH.

So our situation: We both work from home and are generally able work our diaries so that someone is here. This doesn't always work though but BerthaDog only ever gets left for a couple of hours at a time. We use a dog walker a couple of times a week just to ease the time pressure on us work-wise (plus BerthaDog loves the company when walking with other dogs) as BerthaDog needs at least two good walks a day.

We have a large enclosed garden which backs onto woodland and a field. No other pets apart from chickens that BerthaDog would dearly like to play with but is not allowed to.

Two DDs, age 6 & 7.

I've been having a look at poodle rescues with a mind to fostering standard poodles which I think struggle to get fostered. BerthaDog is pretty much as poodle as you can get for a cross breed so we're well aware of poodle quirks and energy levels.

Could some experienced fosterers please come and tell me how it is and whether this is a good idea?

I am not an experienced fosterer as I've only done it once so far. I saw a dog on the Action Aid for Animals website. She was in a pound in Croatia and on Death Row as her allotted time was running out.

I contacted the rescue lady in Croatia and asked loads of questions about her temperament, energy levels, getting on with other dogs/children etc. I needed an easy dog as I'm not an experienced owner (looked after friends and brother's dogs) and wanted to be sure she'd be ok with my daughter (14 yrs old).

Anyway, it was a very positive experience for me, we had her for 7 weeks and then she went to her new home. I will definitely foster again, my OH wants to wait til after Christmas and when the weather is warmer. I would like to foster again as soon after Christmas as possible!

As you've already got a dog, it would be a good idea to search for a local rescue so your dog and any foster dog can meet on neutral ground beforehand, although your idea of standard poodles is fantastic, as I'm sure they are difficult to find homes for... good luck!

What breed are you looking at fostering? As a former fosterer, now an adopter, the best advice I was given was to do more regarding the exercise routine. It may help to see the dog's exercise routine as yours as well. The

I have 2 staffies and although they don't have the same exercise requirements as a husky, DH and I do make sure we walk them at least 3 times a day for a minimum of 45-60mins each time, due to their stamina. We do this even though they only need an hour of vigorous exercise a day.

Fostering is good because a dog who has to leave it's home, for whatever reason, will generally become stressed. Just holding the dog and cuddling it will help you to connect with it. It also helps to calm the dog down a bit. I had to do this for 3 days solid, but gradually left my 2 for short periods, then built the length of time up. To minimise boredom or stress chewing, muzzles can be used. My adopted male staffy used to chew everything. We bought a muzzle and he loves it. At first, he was wary, but he came round to it very quickly. All dogs need love, affection, respect, patience, a stable environment, food and to know where they stand in the hierarchy (you are boss). Once they settle into a stable, preferably a forever home, environment and are shown love and affection, they will soon become accustomed to their new way of life. Fostering can change your life and knowing that you have provided the temporary stability the dog needs before being transferred, and subsequently adopted, can be the proudest moment of you journey through canine parenthood.

I hope this helps you see thing from a different perspective.

Thank you both. Did either of you foster with another dog in the house or young DC? Some rescues I've looked at won't foster where there are children and some will, some won't if you work, some will. Some wont let them be left with, or walked by, anyone else which rules out our dog walker & family assistance. There seems to be a lot of differences out there.

I foster sighthounds with young children and other dogs. The children and dogs actually handle it better than I do. The whippet will pine for a few days if she's been particularly close to the foster, but we are able to compensate for this by letting her sleep with us and arranging extra doggy play dates for her.

The children are very matter of fact about it and while they love and remember all of the fosters we've had, they enjoy them finding a new home and moving on because they know they've contributed to "saving" a dog and that their foster finding a forever home means that there is a space open to save the next one.

We often get younger dogs, dd2 loves playing with them and training them, she was thoroughly unimpressed with the last one because "he is boring, all he ever does is sleep and when I try and play with him, he won't even get off his bed" (she's not allowed to go near their beds, she has to call them to come to her to get them to play/train) She couldn't wait for him to find his home, she is overjoyed with our newest addition, who is a saluki/whippet pup and will play for hours, but she's still asked Santa to find her a home so we can save another dog.

As you have a doodle already, have you considered fostering for the Labradoodle Trust? We got our Daisy from there and we love her to bits, but we're also so so grateful to the family who fostered her - we keep in touch and see them at LT events.

We fostered for a collie rescue once and god it was hard. We got so attached to one little guy that we were on the verge of adopting him, but he had a tough start and my brother was at the stage where he didn't understand that dogs had boundaries, so the dog snapped once - never bit - but my brother demanded that we send him back. I hated him for ages, I was so devestated that Talli had to go back. But he was found a home a few days later and we were thrilled that he got to go somewhere with experience of looking after troubled collies especially - it is tough but SO rewarding, I can't recommend it highly enough.

The Labradoodle Trust has a website, might be worth checking them out? They're a fantastic charity and Barb really does care about the dogs they rescue - she has about seven poodles and doodles of her own They have a great support network for adopters, fosterers and all doodle owners in general too :)

Thank you. Will certainly look at the Labradoodle Trust website as well.

My first foster dog is still here 5 years later. Be warned. I just couldn't let her go.
I may be a failed fosterer, but I do have the best dog in the world.

DH isn't convinced. He is worried that he will become too attached and want to keep them. Obviously he needs to think it's a good idea too so that's the end of that. will keep bringing it up occasionally though just in case he changes his mind