Considering Fostering a Doodle? A must read for all!!

Considering Fostering a Doodle?

There are two articles that share most of the same information but are written by 2 different rescue organizations.

The first was written by Executive Director of the DRC, Jacqueline Yorke.

    While It is noble, commendable and appreciated that you are considering becoming a temporary foster for DRC, we feel that it's important for you to understand the responsibilties involved with fostering a doodle. Once the initial emergency of saving a dogs life is past, fostering like adoption, requires a tremendous amount of time, commitment, patience, flexibility and tolerance among other things. Fostering is not always easy. We hope that if you decide to foster for DRC that you will be willing to work with the dogs in your care and not only help them find their way to their new forever homes, but help them to also become wonderful family members.
    There are many reasons why a doodle ends up needing a new home. Some were purchased on a whim by people that didn’t understand the temperament and needs of the breed. Sometimes lifestyle changes such as job loss or divorce are a factor in a dogs re-homing. Other doodles lose their homes when their owners become too sick or elderly to provide them with the necessary care. Sometimes owners are forced to enter an assisted-living facility or they pass away.
    Others are given up by people who just no longer want them. Regardless of the reasons why a doodle finds it's way into rescue, the care that the dog will require while in a transitional foster home can at times involve more than just the provision of basic food, water and shelter.
    We are always looking for special loving foster homes and families that will provide not only the basics, but the extra care and attention that is sometimes necessary to insure that the doodles in our program become better companions and ultimately find their way to new forever homes.

Fostering Puppy Mill Survivors
    As mentioned above, there are many reasons why a doodle ends up needing a new home.
In the case of mill dogs, they have never had an actual home and are usually completely unfamiliar with human contact and life outside of their small cramped cages. Many have never felt the ground or grass beneath their feet. Many suffer from muscle atrophy and have never actually used their legs to do anything but stand within the confines of their cages. Many have never walked at all and need to learn how.
    Mill dogs are unfamiliar with human interaction, love, kindness, play, house manners etc. Many of these dogs were starved, physically abused, neglected and have had little or no veterinary care. They tend to be frightened, unsocialized, easily stressed and have difficulties with the concept of house training. Because of the lack of food available to them, many mill dogs have grown accustomed to eating their own feces and other non-edible substances. In most cases as a foster you will be providing these dogs with their very first experiences of life as a normal dog.
    Whatever the reasons, some doodles do come into rescue with “baggage.” A foster home should be prepared for anything and have a basic understanding of the techniques used to help dogs in transition adjust.
 

What Will Be Expected of Me If I Decide to Foster for DRC?
    Fostering can involve housetraining and/or crate training as well as introducing some basic obedience. Some will require special care, such as medical attention and you may be asked to take the foster dog to scheduled veterinary appointments. It could require giving them medication at certain times of the day or perhaps bathing them periodically. They may need to increase their weight and/or strength. They may be fearful or timid and/or have other issues such as fear, chewing, jumping, resource guarding, submissive urination, and separation anxiety. They may be sad, mourning for a beloved owner. They may have suffered cruelty or indifference. It all depends upon the dog.
    Fosters should be prepared to evaluate dog(s) and recognize issues if they exist and address them accordingly. This is all achieved through confidence building exercises, positive reinforcement training, and by providing the unconditional love and affection required to ensure the emotional stability of the dog and facilitate the breaking of bad habits.

Here are some important things to consider before applying to be a foster home:
    Make sure your entire family is in 100% agreement with the decision to bring a foster dog into your home and that they understand the responsibilities and possible problems that could occur while the dog is in your care.Will your spouse support your fostering? And will he or she pitch in to help? What about your kids? Will they pitch in? Will they be able to let their new furry friend go to their new home when the time comes?

Do you have the time to foster?
    A rescued doodle will need love and attention – and patience – so be prepared for the time commitment involved.You may be asked to foster from two weeks to two months, depending on circumstances. Foster parents don't need to be home 24 hours a day, but you might have to postpone that weekend getaway or family vacation if you're serious about fostering.

If you have other pets, will they be accepting of the rescued doodle?
    Some jealousy and ‘pack hierarchy’ behavior can almost always be expected – are you prepared to deal with this?

Do you have a safe place to keep the rescue separate from the other animals in your home if necessary?
    The dog may need an area where it can be quarantined from other pets for approx. a week in case it has any types of infections etc that may be passed to your own animals. All of your own animals should be up to date on vaccinations (rabies, DHPP, bordatella), have monthly flea treatments, and get along well with other animals.

Do you agree with crate training?
    You should be open to using a crate when you are not home or during the period of work on housetraining as dogs often will find the crate a secure spot. You need to be familiar with how to properly use a crate.

Do you have a nice white carpet?
    Be aware that the many of the dogs will not be housetrained and will require work in that area. They may soil your carpets and other flooring so be prepared to clean up messes.

Do you have children? Are your children respectful around pets?
    Some dogs can easily be hurt by children who don’t know how to treat them, while other dogs can be “over-enthusiastic” around small children, and are capable of knocking kids over while attempting to play. For the safety of both the dog and the children, we are quite cautious about placing dogs with families that have children under 12 years of age and generally will not place foster dogs in homes with very young children.

Are you willing to accept a dog with some behavioural issues?

    Some dogs have experienced emotional or physical trauma, while others have never received adequate socialization or training. Others have absolutely no issues. It depends on the dog and the circumstances.

Are you willing to surrender a dog to it's new forever home even after you have created a strong bond with that dog?
    This is one of the most difficult aspects of being a foster caretaker, but it is inevitable. For many foster parents, the single biggest concern about fostering is falling in love. It takes a very special person to open their hearts to one of these dogs, to love and nurture them for a period of time, and then give them up when their new permanent home is found.
    We won’t lie to you.There are usually some tears when your foster pet leaves but there is also an immense feeling of satisfaction. It is especially rewarding to get an update from the new home and hear them brag about the most wonderful dog in the whole world, and know that it was your love and care that helped to make them such a special pet. Keep in mind, that if you choose to adopt a doodle that you're fostering, you may be at your limit of household pets and consequently you may not be able to continue to foster other doodles in need.
    When you foster a DRC doodle, you have the full support of the entire organization. We are always available to assist you and answer your questions and address your concerns at any time of the day or night. We in turn will rely on your experience and opinions when the time comes to select your foster doodle's new forever home. After all you know the dog, his or her issues, habits and personality best and we will always take your recommendations into consideration. DRC adopters and fosters alike become part of our BIG family so you will be able to stay in contact with your foster doodle's adoptive family and see that dog's progress.
    Please remember, it takes two weeks to a month for a dog to adjust to a new environment and it may not always be practical or possible to move a dog to another foster home at a moment’s notice so you must be flexible.

Still ready to foster? We hope so!

“You may not be able to save every dog in the world, but

to the one you save, you are the world.”

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This is a copy of an article from FosterDogs.com

What's It All About?

   A Doodle may require a foster home after they have spent several weeks or months at the shelter without being adopted. This gives the dog a chance to recover from the stress of being kenneled. Additionally, the foster volunteer has the opportunity to work with the dog to correct some of the behavior problems that may have led to the dog's surrender.

   Medium-to-large, adolescent, untrained dogs are prime candidates for foster homes. They may be overlooked at the shelter because they are too big, unruly, or ordinary-looking. They are past the adorable puppy stage, but still have plenty of puppy energy that needs an outlet. Given enough time, and some basic training, these dogs that might otherwise be euthanized for lack of space now have a chance at finding permanent, loving homes.

    Aside from regular day-to-day care (feeding, grooming, exercise), the responsibilities of a foster home may include basic training (housetraining, walking on leash, sit, down); behavior modification (to correct problems such as jumping, mouthing, barking, destructive chewing, dashing through doors); socialization and temperament evaluation (to determine whether the dog is good with different types of people and other animals); medical care (dispensing medication, taking the dog to vet appointments), and of course plenty of playtime and snuggling.

    After the dog has been nursed back to health, evaluated, and trained, the search begins for a permanent home. Prospective adopters will have the opportunity to come and meet the dog in a home setting.

    Fostering a dog may seem like a formidable task, but it's a very tangible way to make a difference. Everyone benefits: The foster volunteer gets to spend time with a special dog, and the kennel gains space for a new dog. The foster dog gets a break from kennel life and a second chance at becoming a cherished pet. The new owners get a dog that is better adapted to home life, and therefore has a better chance of remaining in the new home permanently.

What Fostering Is Not

    Some people view fostering as a trial period to determine whether they want to adopt a dog permanently. Some start out with the right intentions, but become too attached to the dog and are unable to give it up. Others are only willing to foster one particular dog that they already feel an attachment to. Some potential adopters think fostering is a good way to get a free dog, free vet care and supplies.

    So how do you prevent yourself from becoming too attached? Don’t think of a foster dog as "mine." Each dog already belongs to someone else -- it just so happens that you haven't met that person yet. The dogs just stay with you until their special person is able to come and take them home. Another foster volunteer looks for minor, arbitrary faults in each new dog: "Oh, well, we don't need another male." "This one's nice, but we already have a white one." And of course the easiest way to keep from getting too attached is to remember that there is another dog that needs my help after this one goes home

    Fostering is not a way to get a free dog. It is not a trial period before adoption. And it certainly isn't easy. Fostering is a way to help a dog that really needs you. At times, it's incredibly stressful. It requires dedication, hard work, serious time commitments, lots of stain remover, and -- above all -- an understanding of the purpose of the process. If you can't give your heart to a dog and then let it go when it doesn't need you anymore, you probably shouldn't get involved.

    So what IS fostering? It's the most rewarding thing you ever do for a Doodle.

What kind of training do I need?

    Ideally, a foster volunteer should have some general experience with dogs. You should be familiar with basic dog care and training.

What should I do before bringing the foster home?

    Your own dogs and your fosters should be vaccinated for rabies, distemper, parvo, and other common diseases, as recommended by your vet. The bordatella (kennel cough) vaccine may also be recommended. There is a good chance that your foster could be harboring a disease, and it isn't wise to unnecessarily risk your own pets' health. It would be ideal to keep incoming dogs separate from your own pets for a period of time if you have the space to do so (and this is a must if you are pulling dogs that haven't been fully vetted), but this isn't always realistic since the foster dog will be living in your home as a member of the family.

    Make sure you have a well-fitted collar and ID tag for the foster dog. Remember that this dog doesn't know you yet and might get spooked and run. Take all possible precautions. Better safe than sorry!

    You will have to treat the new dog like a puppy at first. Puppy proof the house before he arrives. If he is young or has not been raised in a house, he might be destructive and not housetrained. You should set up a crate for him with bedding that can be easily cleaned or thrown away if soiled or chewed (like old towels).

    If you choose not to use a crate, you should have a small, dog-safe room (like a laundry room) for when you cannot watch the dog. If you use an outdoor kennel for unsupervised time, make sure it is very secure (a cover or top is recommended) and be sure to provide appropriate shelter, shade, bedding, and clean water.

How do I introduce the foster to the resident animals?

    If you're lucky, the rescue group will have already found out whether the dog gets along with other dogs and cats. If you aren't very familiar with dog to dog communication, you should do the introductions under the supervision of someone who is -- such as other members of your rescue group. In the meantime, it's well worth it to become a student of canine communication. Spend time in dog parks watching how dogs interact. Invest in some books and videos on the subject.

    You should introduce the foster dog to your own dog in a neutral location if possible. If you are concerned about either of the dogs' potential reactions, you might want to try introducing them on opposite sides of a chain link fence. I prefer to let dogs meet off leash when possible so that their body language is natural and not hindered by the leash.

    I introduce most of my fosters to my own dogs one at a time in my fenced yard, starting with my friendliest, most stable dog first. I try not to intervene more than necessary while the dogs are getting to know one another. A squirt bottle can be a useful deterent to correct inappropriate behavior.

    This method has worked for me because I know what to expect from my own dogs. You know your own dog better than anyone else, and you will soon be fairly astute at predicting his reactions to the various fosters that you bring home.

　Unless you have reason to suspect bloodshed, you can expect most dogs to work things out pretty quickly without any major issues. You will notice a lot of circling and sniffing. You may initially see some posturing and growling but in most cases it will be mostly noise, and usually sounds much worse than it really is. If the dogs approach each other stiffly with a direct stare, ears erect and tails held high, you may be in for a serious confrontation and should intervene.

    If the dogs seem basically okay with each other but still slightly uncomfortable, a leash walk side by side often seems to help. You may need to enlist a helper and start with the dogs under good control at a close heel and several feet apart. After a few walks like this, even my grumpy "bitch" Echo has been able to accept all of my foster dogs and I can easily walk them side by side. I don't know why this method works, but I have had good success with it.

     Soon the dogs might begin to play with each other. If not, they will usually at least tolerate each other's presence. Even if the dogs seem to get along, it's a good idea to keep them separated when you are not around to keep an eye on things. Crates are a worthwhile investment, even if you haven't used one with your own dog. I have one in nearly every room in the house. Baby gates are also good to have on hand.

    If you have cats or other small animals, please be careful. Use common sense and think about what the various breeds have been bred for. I once fostered a coonhound who was surrendered for killing the family's pet rabbit. Although I'm sure it was devastating for the family, they couldn't have been too surprised at that outcome. If you wish to introduce your foster dog to your resident cat, keep the dog on a leash. Small pets should have their own safe, dog-free retreats in your home. Baby gates are good because your cat can jump over (or sneak under) them. There are also some gates on the market that have small kitty access doors. Be sure the cat's food and litterbox are in a dog-free zone, or you might find that your beloved kitty is not eating or going to the bathroom because it's trying to avoid the scary new dog. Above all, never leave them alone together.  

What are my responsibilities?

   You will need to provide basic care such as food, water, shelter, grooming, and exercise. Your foster dog will need his own leash, collar, bowl, and toys. You will probably need to give the dog a bath when he arrives (unless the dog just had surgery -- if so, you may need to wait a few days), and be sure to check for fleas. If the dog is sick, you might have to give medications or transport the dog to vet appointments. The cost of vet care is typically covered by the shelter or rescue group, but all arrangements must be made through the group. If you choose to take the dog to a different vet without approval, you may be responsible for paying the bill. This is because most shelters and rescues either have a vet on staff, or have made arrangements with a specific vet who will treat all their rescue dogs at a reduced fee.

    It's also important to provide some training. Housetraining is an essential skill for the dog to master. Crate training is useful, especially for young, destructive, or unhousetrained dogs. Basic manners such as appropriate greeting behavior, walking nicely on a leash, and coming when called will make your foster dog more adoptable and help to ensure his success in his new home. You might make the dog more appealing to potential adopters by teaching a fun trick, like shake hands, fetch, or take a bow.

    By far the most important thing you need to provide is love and attention. Whether your foster came from a loving home or an abusive situation, he will probably be confused and anxious. Spend time cuddling, fetching, playing tug, and just hanging out watching TV together. Be patient; it might take him a few days or weeks to really settle in.

Info from FosterDogs.com