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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Any tips from experienced fosterers?

17 replies

FungalLurkins · 30/01/2022 17:25

I've just been home checked and officially approved as a fosterer by a (breed specific) rescue so could be called upon at any point now.

I've researched and obviously have quite a good idea what is involved but I don't know anyone personally who has fostered before so just thought I would ask here for any tips or advice from experienced folk who might be kind enough to share with me.

Thank you

OP posts:

Danja2010 · 30/01/2022 17:28

Cathy Glass is an author that writes about her fostering experiences. I think you would gain a lot of insight reading her books.

MrsGinnyM · 30/01/2022 17:28

Be prepared for some of them never to leave you!

MrsGinnyM · 30/01/2022 17:29

@Danja2010

Cathy Glass is an author that writes about her fostering experiences. I think you would gain a lot of insight reading her books.

Dogs here, not children.

MrsGinnyM · 30/01/2022 17:30

It might be helpful to know the breed or at least type of breed?

Original poster

FungalLurkins · 30/01/2022 17:36

Oh yes, sorry. I meant to put the breed as it makes a huge difference I know! I will be fostering pugs. While not a breed I approve of being bred for obvious reasons it is practically one that makes sense for my set up and obviously I am in favour of them being rescued/rehomed.

I realise the chances of having to deal with health issues are very high though and I will have to learn about skin fold cleaning etc

OP posts:

onepieceoflollipop · 30/01/2022 17:42

Have you seen bubblebecca pugs? she has a large grumble made up mainly of fostered and rescued pugs. Some are disabled and many need to stay with her permanently due to abuse/illness/disability and being unsafe for re-homing. She is on the usual social media e.g. Facebook

Original poster

FungalLurkins · 30/01/2022 17:48

Ooh thanks @onepieceoflollipop that sounds great. Will check it out.

I really hope the PP who thought I was referring to fostering children didn't read the bit about the "breed specific rescue"

OP posts:

onepieceoflollipop · 30/01/2022 17:51

@FungalLurkins
You’re welcome.
I have one small rescued pug myself (permanent not fostered).

Original poster

FungalLurkins · 30/01/2022 17:56

Ooh photo please! I should also probably have mentioned that I have an (adopted) resident dog too. He is part pug but not very puggy. Part of the reason I chose the breed though as his mum was one so he is very drawn to them (or at least I have chosen to believe that's why!)

OP posts:

StillSmallVoice · 30/01/2022 18:02

I fostered a greyhound at the beginning of the first lockdown. A failed foster. Beware. He's snoozing at my feet right now.

onepieceoflollipop · 30/01/2022 18:35

Aaah can’t send photos via pm (just checked) and I don’t put any photos up on the site

Bebeschitt · 30/01/2022 18:41

We signed up to breed specific foster last year and received a foster dog 5 days later. That was 10 months ago.
We failed miserably.
So, no advice from us. We are rubbish.
Good luck!

Original poster

FungalLurkins · 30/01/2022 18:45

@onepieceoflollipop no worries, thanks for trying!

@Bebeschitt what do you mean that you failed? That you ended up keeping the foster or something less heartwarming!?

OP posts:

StillSmallVoice · 30/01/2022 20:24

Failed foster is shorthand for saying you fell in love and couldn't let them go, so adopted. ❤️

Original poster

FungalLurkins · 30/01/2022 20:33

Oh good! I assumed so, just wanted to check in case there had actually been some sort of awful incident in which case my congratulations would be quite insensitive...

Right, so biggest takeaway from this thread seems to be that I should prepare to fail?

OP posts:

CMOTDibbler · 30/01/2022 20:44

I've been fostering for 5 years now - up to a year old (I must be nuts tbh).
We try and find as much as possible about them as quickly as possible because that is key in getting them the right home. So they come into town with us, into cafes, round the market and have various 'stunt' people who we can check common triggers (men in hats, men with beards, scooters etc) with and who are happy to ply the fosters with treats.
I try and remember that my job is to help them find their forever sofa which isn't mine (and I've never failed yet, but I did already have two dogs), and so I teach them to ask to get on the sofa, to sleep on their own at night downstairs if humanly possible, sit nicely for their food and we work very hard on walking and toilet training.
With time, we have a big box of collars/coats/bowls/toys/puzzle feeders and a selection of food and medication so we can deal with things quickly. Possibly not so much of a problem for pugs, but loads of ours come in with giardia and we are now always on very high alert for that to knock it on the head quickly.
For the rescue I foster for, if you can take a lovely photo of your fosterling it will attract vastly more attention for the dog. Get down at their level, choose a nice background and so one.
It can be incredibly hard at time, but so rewarding, and I love seeing 'my' pups go to their forever homes and hearing about them long term

Bebeschitt · 30/01/2022 21:12

Oh sorry!
Happily failed and she is snoring on the sofa next to me. As soon as she walked in I knew she was staying. She was home. I'm no fosterer 😂

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