Commitment to Foster Dogs

Commitment to Foster Dogs
It’s up to us to create success.  It’s up to us to manage safety for everyone involved.  It's up to use to train them.  It's up to us to help them recover and find a home of their own.  

Bottom Line -  It's up to us.

 

Unsupervised and without knowing both dogs well - this could have been very dangerous.

fos·ter   [faw-ster, fos-ter] 

verb (used with object) 

1. to promote the growth or development of; further; encourage: to foster new ideas. 

2. to bring up, raise, or rear, as a foster child.

3. to care for or cherish.

4. British . to place (a child) in a foster home.

5. Obsolete . to feed or nourish.

Replace Child with Dog – and we’re talking about Foster Dogs.

This topic has been on my mind for quite some time now.   The more involved I get in rescue the more I see of this issue and wonder how it’s possible that someone who wants to help an animal winds up being part of the problem.

Rescue dogs are not perfect.  There.  I said it.  Again.    If they were perfect whoever “owned” them first wouldn’t have dumped them at the shelter, left the alongside the road, or asked for them to be rehomed.   I used the word “owned’ intentionally.   Because whoever owned them did not promote growth and development or encourage these babies in any way!  

You’ll notice that it’s obsolete to say fostering is about food and nourishment – though in some foster dog’s lives, even food was not always provided. Owners of dogs do not really care for them at all, the dogs are property and sometimes treated with less value than their sofa.

Rescue groups are trying desperately to save lives.  And yet the problem grows – but that’s a discussion for another day.  

Rescuers are volunteers.   I can’t say I know of a single one that makes a living, or even a dime for that matter as a rescuer.  They have full time jobs and manage the rescue in their personal time.   Often at their own expense – financial and personal.

Rescue programs simply do not work without foster homes.  Getting a new foster to sign-up means another dog is saved!  Plain and simple fostering saves a life the very minute someone is approved to foster.  

That is until the foster gives up on the dog.  I've seen fosters threaten to put the dog on the side of the road at I485 or take him back to the shelter.    I've seen them demand the dog go within the hour.

Yes, it happens daily.   And when it does, the rescuers who are trying to save lives, are now trying find a spot for a dog who already is in a home.    They scramble to find a new place to send the dog for safe keeping.  These rejections of foster dog create a frenzy for everyone involved and other fosters and rescue directors are spending time that could be spend on new dogs and fundraising programs or their own personal lives “re-saving” the reject.

Remember we said rescue dogs are not perfect.  I don’t know what people expect when they agree to foster or when they adopt directly from the shelter.   Even though a temperament test can be done at the shelter – you have no idea really who that dog is when he’s pulled.      An “owner” is going to lie more often than not about their dog’s behavior when they need to rehome them – after all they want someone else to take him.  

Transitions are hard on dogs!  Some happy go lucky personalities just go with the flow.  But a dog who has not had proper socialization ever in his life, who was abused, neglected, has become fearful, shy, or even potentially aggressive may take a while to warm-up, to settle down, or to become his true self.

As a foster – your goal is to set the dog up for success.   It’s not about just food and shelter.  They may know nothing about living in a home.  It’s up to you to teach them.    Moving the problem to a new foster may not be the answer.  

 Dogs go through at least 3 transition periods – 3 days, 3 weeks and 3 months.   A lot happens in that time and the foster home is instrumental in managing those transition periods and helping the dog through them. 

From a trainer’s point here are a few things I have observations in the scenarios when things go south (this is not intended to be all inclusive)

1.      Precautions were not taken.

2.      Things move way too fast

3.      Pack Introductions were not done properly

4.      Rescue / Trainer Instructions not followed

5.      Foster  doesn't spend the necessary time crate training, house training, basic skills or working on behavioral issues.

Folks, I cannot tell you how important is to slow things down when you first bring home a dog.  Use the crate, more than you think is reasonable. Take time to crate train if necessary.   Take time to house-train if needed.  Take time to build a relationship between you and the dog before you introduce him to others.  Don’t open the front door and give him free reign of the house.  

When a new dog arrives at my house – it is about a week before they are integrated into my pack, have visitors or go for outings.    For some fosters, it might be several weeks.   The first days he’s crated the majority of the time – coming out only to potty and take a walk.   After a few days he’s allow some play time in the yard alone with me – no other dogs or kids.   When I do move to pack intro initial meetings with other dogs are brief – very brief.  Controlled.  On-leash and outside.  When I do give him some time in the house – my dogs are in a different space.      Some dogs progress faster than others – but it’s all about knowing you can read that dog, control your own dogs, and manage the situation - -you simply cannot do that in the first few days in most cases when a dog doesn’t have skills, doesn’t understand your language, and may not trust you.

Supervise!   Don’t give him opportunities to pee in the house and create frustration for you.  Don't give him an opportunity to eat your shoes or sofa.   Eyes on him.

Supervise!   If children are in your home or visiting, it is not negotiable that you supervise with eyes on the dog at all times that child is present.   Crate the dog as needed. 

Supervise!   After you have done proper pack introductions – supervise them together in the house for days!   Watch out for resource guarding over toys, food, beds, etc.  Watch out for play that escalates too far or a dog that doesn't heed warnings or doesn't want to play.  Especially with different size dogs and different age dogs.

Supervise!   Interact them with 1:1 to train, socialize and otherwise address any issues they may be having.   We have to teach them the things they don't know.  Being frustrated because they don't already know them does no one any good!

If you cannot supervise – that foster dog needs to be in his crate!  Period. 

As they settle into your house and family – issues may arise that they have previously not demonstrated.  Your own dogs may respond differently.    If you are not certain how to resolve the issues you’re experiencing - -please ask someone for help. 

Your rescue director will do everything possible to give you the support you need.   Inexperience, inaccurate or incomplete assessments  and assumptions may lead you down a path that makes things worse.   Most things don’t get better own their own without training from us.  It’s not always difficult – when you have the right information.  Be open to following instructions and be patient.   Behavior don’t change overnight and they do require us to change sometimes and to be consistent.  Be open to learning something different – especially if what you’re trying isn’t working.   Sometimes what worked for 1 dog won’t work for the next.     Be willing to invest some time and effort, maybe even a bit of money for toys, training tools, a crate, etc – if that’s what will make things better for everyone.

Please know that most problems will NOT get better on their own.  But that with proper guidance, proper response from you as the handler, they can often be resolved quickly and easily if addressed early and are not allowed to escalation or become rehearsed behaviors.

Before you agree to foster – consider what you are truly willing to do and truly capable of.  If your foster dog has issues – what are you prepared to do?  If it were your own personal dog – what would you do? Would you abandon your own dog and kick him out of the house?   Above all – don’t fail the dog again.   Don’t be part of the cycle that finds them shuffled to yet another home.   It confuses them.  It frustrates them.  It creates setbacks.   It may make problems worse, especially for dogs with fear, abandonment, or anxiety issues.  

Severe behavioral issues will be addressed through training, medical treatment, or other means the rescue director can advise you on.     The rescue will support you to provide support to that dog.  With a little direction and willingness to implement it – even if it’s somewhat inconvenient – you can create a resolution and see that dog transform right before you in a short time.

What doesn’t work for anyone is demanding the dog be kicked out of the home again that night.   When that occurs – it’s not fostering – it’s perpetuation of the problem.   Tire him out with physical exercise and mental stimulation (training, food puzzles, games, etc).   Crate the dog apart from other dogs or family members he may take issue with.   Take a training class with the dog – ask your rescue director about it. 

Discuss your expectations and non-negotiable issues with the coordinator before you become a foster or before the dog is pulled.   No one expects you to keep a dangerous dog or to put family members at risk when severe issues are present.   If as a foster it’s not a good match for your experience, your kids, or your cat – there isn’t a rescue coordinator out there who will insist that dog stays with you.   Know that a few days of crating may be necessary to give the rescue group a chance to respond to the request.  In an all foster program – there is often nowhere to move the dog immediately.   Each foster vacancy is typically filled with the next pull from the shelter.  Everyone should want what is best for the dog.    

Be willing to promote the growth or development of; further; encourage: to foster new ideas

I hope every day that more fosters (and adopters) are found.   I also know it is work.  It can be tiring.  It could be expensive.   It could be risky.    It’s up to us to create success.  It’s up to us to manage safety for everyone involved.

See article on Pack Introductions

Someone told me today about a potentially off-color joke from Chris Rock.   It’s said that he speaks about the tiger incident with Siegfried and Roy  -- “The Tiger went Tiger” – why is everyone surprised by this.

The Dog is a Dog.   And you have to teach him to live in our world.  

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The K9 Coach
980-339-8064
www.thek9-coach.com
info@thek9-coach.com

Not all dogs fit all families. Not all families need a dog.

 

 Not all dogs fit all families.   Not all families need a dog.

Don't get me wrong, I think dogs are one of the greatest creatures on the planet.  I think they can bring a lot of joy and companionship to a home.     I, along with many of my friends and peers, work really hard to save dogs from a miserable lonely death in a gas chamber, and try to find them good homes.   We hardly make a dent in the over population of dogs and the number of dogs dying daily.   And yet, breeders (if you can call a backyard breeder than) continue to churn our puppies for profit, and to see the cute factor to the uneducated public.

This is Poppy -- She is NOT the dog in this story.

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by a client who had just brought home an adorable puppy.  The breed won't be named here, but suffice it to say, it was a working breed.   Before that puppy was 4 months old, this family was overwhelmed.  

Potty training takes work.   He pulls on his leash.    He gets into everything.   He drools water on the floor when he drinks.   He chases my "kid".   He chases the cat.   He jumps.  He nips.   He barks at the neighbors. 

He's a puppy.   What did you expect?  He's like a toddler that you have to teach how to live in your home.  You have to teach him life skills and manners.  He's smart and he needs interaction and activity.  He's bored.   

We think he's aggressive.    He nips at us all the time.   He's afraid to be on the sidewalk.    He's afraid to ride in car?  Well, the only time he ever rode in the car was the day we brought him home -- we haven't taken him to ride because he's afraid.  He never sits down.   The only way we can control him is to crate him.    I don't want a crate in my house.    I don't want to have to have him on a leash in the house.   My husband isn't helping much.   And the excuses continued....

After a few weeks of private training and a series of Group Training, the owner was just not satisifed with his progress.   I explained often, they had to participate -- daily, as a way of life.  I finally took the dog in for "free" board and train / observation.   The dog was darn near perfect.  Beautifully trained in his obedience skills.   Playful with other puppies.   Happy go lucky.   Relaxed. 

They never claimed him to come back home.   With him out of the house, they decided they didn't want him.  He was too much work and caused too much stress when he was there  Instead, he was returned to his breeder (per their contract) who will resell him for another profit.  After all, he's well trained, well-balanced and healthy.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

Despite my repeated attempts to coach the owners on being consistent with the dog, practicing his obedience skills, the need to socialize the dog, and the need to demonstrate some consistent leadership with him -- they didn't.   They didn't have time.  They didn't make time. Training lessons were often interrupted to attend to the questions and needs of the child in the home.  Clearly the dog was not a priority.  

We wanted a dog that would just be part of the family.     Why did you get this breed of dog?  This size?   This working breed?  This energy level?   

They simply did not do their research.  They adopted an image of a dog and an adorable factor.  They wanted a perfectd dog from day one.  They did not expect the level of work it takes to teach a dog how to be part ofo othe family -- and this dog was SMART!

They would send him outside  and wonder why he only wanted to come back in the house.   They wondered why he was getting into "papers" on the kids play table instead of chewing his toys.

He was bored.  No one was playing with him.  A short walk everyday was not enough physical exercise and he was getting no mental stimulation.

As a reminder -- this is a working breed dog.  He needed a job.  He needed to be challenged, exercised and to play everyday.   Not for hours on end, but certainly more than a few minutes a day.

THE LESSON:

Don't buy or adopt a dog because it's cute or because your friend has such a great dog.  Don't adopt the breed you had as a kid if you don't understand what it took to create that well-balanced dog.  Do your home work.  Know what the dog was bred to do and how they will fit into your lifestyle and if you can accommodate their developmental needs, training needs, exercise needs, as well as their medical and grooming needs.  

A dog is a commitment for their lifetime.  They are not exchangeable like a pair of pants.  

Adopt/Rescue -- don't support backyard breeders and puppy mills.

Spay/Neuter -- 10,000 dogs a day die due to overpopulation

Foster, Volunteer, Donate, Educate.   Do Something!