Guide Dog in Training Fosterers - how long did you have to wait?

[Frazzledmum77]

Just curious as to whether my experience is typical or whether something is wrong.

Applied to foster a Guide Dog in training (26 weeks) in July, interviewed August, attended (first available) training day in Oct … since the all I have had is one offer of emergency weekend respite (couldn’t do as has already made plans). I did chase in November and was told there were new dogs coming in December, but in the end they went to other people. I’m just wondering is this length of time typical? Everyone was so excited back in October but fading now.

For context, I know it’s a matching process not ‘first come first served’, but there was a campaign last year for more fosterers in the area so I assumed quite a few dogs needing placements. I do think there might be a shortage of trainers though, based on what I was told in November.

We tick all the boxes environment-wise (enclosed garden, surface options for spending, quiet place to sleep and rest, sensible teenage children) but have zero experience with dogs. I am wondering if this is the real reason (despite the marketing) and also wondering at this stage if it will happen at all! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Your message could have been written by myself. We expressed interest in May 2023 we did the application notified all our referees went on the training course and then complete radio silence. We have some exp. However we have not been offered any placement at all. Initially I was ensuring we had availability to help out at short notice, but now we are just getting on with daily life. Our children have given up hope. I would have liked to give up my time to help but don't feel needed. I haven't received any updates from guide dogs about why there is no placements.

@starbutterfly2023 (Lovely name!) thank you for posting. Well, another month has passed and still heard nothing. I’ve decided not to follow up this month (contacted them for updates Nov, Dec, Jan). My kids have totally moved on. We were so excited in Oct/Nov and like yourself we spent time getting the house ‘ready’. No bad thing really as we cleared out a lot of junk and got some cupboards made which are lovely, so it was a good energiser. But still … sad to have no news. I checked last night after seeing an FB post and you can still apply as a fosterer in my area (Bristol) which seems very strange to me … why are they taking new applicants if I am still waiting 7 months after applying? I just don’t get it.

Thanks for your response. I have just done a quick search online and they are still recruiting volunteers in our local area too. We were so excited and I did the online training course with my children who are preteens. When we didn't get offered any placements I kept telling myself that perhaps some of the dogs can't be placed with children. However when I was interviewed I was led to believe they were in desperate need of volunteers and I was offered a training course straight away which I attended. We have stopped talking about it too, and after seeing your post am thinking it's unlikely to happen. Am sad because we were committed to volunteering with them.

We have just applied to be a respite fosterer - but been given details of a completely different role for which we don't meet the criteria (rehoming volunteer) - not holding out much hope!

My experience has been totally different. I applied at Christmas 2023. Was asked to complete the online training in March. Attended the 2 day group face to face training 3 weeks ago. I've had my foster dog for a week and a half now.
Maybe it's simply dependent on how many people they have on their fostering waiting lists in the particular training centre area?

Thanks @Animalsarethebest. Sadly we’ve still heard nothing. 11 months since applying.

It's because you have children. If there is a childless foster home available, it will always be preferable to your home. It's sad, but lots of dogs get returned quickly because it doesn't work out with the kids, and they don't want to take that risk. Also, children bond with those dogs and then there's all that drama they have to deal with when the dog gets adopted. I know of one family where the teenage son scratched the car of possible adopters, and the rescue worker was not really surprised, just resigned. Often, the families keep their foster dog, which is nice for the dog, but it's not in the interest of the rescue organisation, because it means that there's one less reliable fosterer for them to turn to. It doesn't help that you have no experience with dogs, the more difficult cases will be sent elsewhere, to people with experience.

Source: my own experiences with fostering and stories the rescue workers used to tell when I did it.

Thank you. An honest response! It’s what I thought, just don’t know why they bother recruiting people with kids/no experience then. They should be more honest in the recruitment. Having said that, I’ve met fosterers at coffee evenings who have kids younger than mine, but maybe they had bags of experience or right place right time. Or proved themselves first through respite care (we were only offered that once, very last minute and couldn’t accept as we were away that weekend). I’m not sure what you mean by rescue workers and adoptions though - this is for Guide Dogs in training? Not rescues. Appreciate they still have their quirks and personalities. My kids aren’t car scratchers and they know the deal - I’m not after a forever foster, just wanted to volunteer for a good cause.

It often comes down to right place right time, yes. And they probably want to keep some additional options open.
Sorry, the rescue and adoption bit was from my own experiences. I don't really know anything about fostering guide dogs in training, but used to foster for rescue organisations. The dogs were rescued (usually abroad) and the organisation would try to avoid putting them in kennels, so there was a network of "fosterers". The people who adopted those dogs had a chance to meet and get to know them before adoption and I was able to get to know, assess and train the dog (just a little), and I had a little say in whether the people were a good fit for the dog.

If it’s actual guide dogs, it depends if there is spaces in the scheme you are joining (usually by area) it might be some dogs are heading off to training the do go a bit older than they used to though. So just waiting for a space, but it Can also dependl on staffing as I know in Scotland there are many gaps due to mat leave/retirement for supervisors so people will be covering 2 schemes etc. and they won’t take more dogs on in that time. I had youngish kids when I did it, wasn’t a problem.

I got one off to training and took another half way due to the original people the woman was unwell and had to give up, the dog was terrified of traffic so he was hard work lovely though and sadly was withdrawn so we did get the option to keep him. I then had a baby so didn’t do it again, I did take some for weekends in emergencies but haven’t done it for years now. But do know a bit about guide dogs due to a family member who works with them. Hopefully you’ll get a puppy soon, it’s tough to do all that work and say goodbye after it’s all done, but lovely to see them in their new job. You don’t meet the guide dog owners it’s all done via your guide dog supervisor, they then go on to Forfar in Scotland or England centre to complete their training before being matched up. Some go on to be stud dogs or assistant dogs for other charities too. Can imagine it’s frustrating though.

We applied to foster Guide Dogs in training, did all the foster training and then heard nothing. Six months down the line, got a phone call from a Guide Dog trainer who lives locally and now had a fresh dog just come to her for training so needed a foster the next week. That trainer also had a foster family that had 2 children (aged 8-10ish) so children are not a no-no. So it all depends when a trainer takes on a new dog, and what fosterers are available on that day. We effectively belonged to that trainer so would only be in line for a dog when she got a new one. The trainer then went on maternity leave and since then we've been fostering dogs that are withdrawn from training awaiting adoption, there's no shortage of them and they're all lovely. Of course we can only do that role because we're at home basically full-time. Managed to become "failed fosterers" too along the way, adopting a black Lab bitch who was just too cute for us to let go, so now we've got her and a foster dog.

Thanks @AnotherOldGuy. Sounds a really positive experience. Sadly we’ve heard nothing. 12 months since applying/9 months since training. I’m currently applying for full time jobs and if I get one that requires working on site then fostering won’t be possible (although weekend respite still would be). A missed opportunity on both sides I think, but I know there is no shortage of would be fosterers around here (and GD continue to advertise as urgently needed).