6 Tips for Dog Fosters
Fostering can be such a great win for homeless dogs and adopters.
Not only is a home environment FAR less stressful for the dog than the shelter, but living in a home means we can get more information about what the dog is actually like in a home — his target environment.
Bringing an unfamiliar dog (often, one with little to no training history) into your home can be a challenge, though! Many dogs may have Rowdy Dog behaviors such as jumping, mouthing, and barking, and can be restless or destructive.
Here are my six top tips for helping smooth the transition, encourage good behavior, and make fostering a success for everyone.
#1: Capture Downs
This is such a simple thing, but it makes a really big impact on behavior!
Wear a treat bag filled with treats
Keep an eye on your foster
Anytime you see him volunteer to lie Down, silently put a treat on the floor by his feet
With enough repetition, you’ll find that your foster starts volunteering to lie Down more and more often. This is a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE part of resolving those Rowdy Dog behaviors.
#2: Ditch the Dog Bowl
I’m all about daily enrichment for all dogs. One of the easiest ways to do this is to feed all meals out of something other than a traditional dog bowl.*
I love the Toppl by West Paw for its versatility and easy cleaning.
You don’t necessarily need a special toy, though. Household items such a towels, cardboard boxes, and empty recyclables can be transformed into enrichment feeders with a little creativity. Click here for a step-by-step guide for 5 Boredom Buster mealtime activities.
*I do not typically recommend feeding via puzzles if the dog is struggling to eat out of a traditional bowl. We don’t need to make consumption harder for these dogs until they’ve demonstrated a willingness to consume when it’s easy.
#3: Utilize Baby Gates (and Expens)
A baby gate that blocks the front door helps prevent escapes
I LOVE my baby gates and expen. Like, seriously.
Blocking access to restricted areas is so much easier than repeatedly chasing the dog down and cleaning up after his messes and poor house manners.
These physical barriers are also a must if you’ve got a personal dog or kids in the home. A little (or a lot!) of separation time is generally best for everyone; gates make it easier.
PS: baby gates don’t have to be ugly!
#4: Invite Instead of Insist
Inviting your foster into invasive activities (instead of insisting he participate) can build trust as you give him a choice and respect his space.
What does Inviting look like, practically?
Dressing: when it’s time to put your foster’s collar, harness or leash on, take a few steps away and kneel down instead of going to him. Invite instead of Insist.
Petting: instead of going to him, take a few steps away and kneel down. “Do you want to interact, Max?”
#5: Prioritize Quiet Strolls over Brisk Walks
Transitioning to a new home (even a nice one where all his physical needs are met) is stressful for dogs. And if your foster is coming straight from a shelter environment, you know his stress level is already very high to begin with.
It can be tempting to get him out for exercise and an opportunity to “be a dog” once he’s in your care. Especially if his quality of life has been poor for weeks or months prior to coming to you.
However, it is 100% OKAY to not walk him for several days (if not a week or more) after he arrives. I might even argue that it’s advisable depending on the dog, your environment, and your own handling and behavior skills.
Delaying adventures off your property allows your foster to adjust to the newness of your home and family first — without also dealing with even more new environments, handling, equipment, etc. It gives you time to begin building the relationship you’ll need to successfully navigate the outside world.
When you do decide to take that first walk, select a very quiet space for him to sniff and explore. The goal should be serene strolling with lots of smelling. Not getting from Point A to Point B. Read more about “Sniffaris” here.
#6: Learn Dog Body Language
Part of the beauty of fostering is the information gained about the dog’s behavior in a home environment. The more you know about dog body language and behavior, the more accurate your observations and interpretations will be!
Misinterpretations of dog behavior are common; I talk about it in my post, “Good Dog or Silent Panic Attack?”
This article on 15 signs your dog is stressed is a great place to start learning what to look for and what it actually means.