Dog fostering - anyone got any advice?

[Whohashiddenthebiscuits]

I volunteered us as dog fosterers 2 weeks back after reading a rather emotive post from our local rescue about a dog potentially being PTS as they were in desperate shortage of fosterers.

I hate the idea of any healthy animal being PTS so after discussion with my DH volunteered us as fosterers.

We had the house check yesterday which seemed to go fine and we were upfront about what we could cope with (small dog who liked other dogs and kids) and what we couldn’t.

While we still will go ahead with this, I’ve got a bit of an attack of nerves about what we could be letting ourselves and DDog in for. DD also seems to think that there is the potential we could keep any of these dogs which I’m not keen on as we already have 2 pets and the onus is always on me in reality to look after them!

Any advice from anyone who has fostered on how to make it work? Did you find you got emotionally attached?

I foster, and its important to know that while it is incredibly rewarding, it is really hard work and has a big impact on your life. Some dogs fit in seamlessly, and some can push you to the limit of coping. They may also think they'd be OK with other dogs and children, but in your particular house this might not work out so well - all sorts of things can trigger a dog.
You all have to be really on board as well. Everyones enthusiastic about fostering until the dog steals their airpods/ best shoes or they stand in the Nth puddle that day.
We get attached, absolutely, but seeing the dogs go onto their forever homes is amazing and I love hearing about their new lives and seeing them blossom

@CMOTDibbler, thank for that, appreciate the honesty. I think what we’ll do is give it a trial of two dogs and if we don’t think we’re up to it, bow out with apologies but if it’s working, keep on with it. Some of these dogs quite obviously are going to have issues ours doesn’t.. but then ours I’m sure would be devastated to be separated from us and wind up in a strangers home with dogs she didn’t know. So it’s got to be expected!

I foster and agree that it is very rewarding. I also have my own dogs so I am very happy to hand over the fosters when they have found a suitable home. We keep in touch with many of the dogs and it is great to see how they are getting on.

I have failed a few times and kept the fosters but only a few

Small dogs can be small in size but very large in personality and noise so do be prepared to feel like you have a housefull at times. I would make it very clear to DD what your intentions are and what is the purpose of the fostering eg go prepare the dog to go to the correct home.

Fostering can be hard work - in my case I tend to get dogs with "issues" as I have experience with dogs and also the space to help to rehabilitate them.

Each dog will be a new learning experience for you.

I foster too and for the right rescue it's really rewarding. The best are where you are expected to give a pretty detailed report on what the dog is like and have input into the kind of if home it would suit. I also prefer being able to talk to the potential adopters.

Depending on where the digs are from they may not be house trained (ex breeding bitches, street dogs) so it's not unlike having a puppy even though they are older dogs.

Some will be pretty shell shocked and quiet to start with so it's real important to give them space and time to settle. More than you think. Especially with a DC - they are not a fully made pet like their current dog and might not want to interact/play very much at all.

I've got a failed foster- though that one was one of my car fosters. So far I've resisted with the dogs - though I've got a very cute puppy arriving on the 11th...

How old is your DD, as that might be a relevant factor?

We fostered briefly earlier this year but quickly failed and adopted the first dog who had came to us when the rescue contacted us to say she wasn’t settling in her new home. She arrived with us very overweight, overgrown nails, and we were told she wasn’t house trained. More likely that she hadn’t been walked so wasn’t getting the opportunity she needed to toilet outside.

Some fosters are very brief - we had one just for an afternoon as an attempt at rehoming her went wrong. She was petrified so I just left her to it while I worked and let her decompress. She perked up when DH got home. Another had been badly neglected, hugely underweight, gorgeous girl, but massively reactive to other dogs.

Stair gates and house leads might prove useful initially until you can suss out their personality a bit. I was really surprised how quickly dogs settled in and learned to trust. The 3/3/3 rule is worth being aware of/prepared for.

It’s a lovely thing to do though, enjoy it!

Initially keeping them on lead sounds a good idea. DD is 13.

Very sad reading about neglect - humans can be just awful.

TBH, if you expect them to have lots of issues (sleep, toilet training, separation anxiety, behaviour, resource guarding, reactive when out and about and so on) then you might be pleasantly surprised when they don't but you have to be prepared for some of them not to be very lovable for weeks or for your family life to not continue as normal.
Does your dd have friends round? You'll need to be prepared to be very firm about leaving any fosters alone as it can be super overwhelming for them

She does and good point - although they do usually disappear off. Thanks @CMOTDibbler, that sounds like a pragmatic approach to take