Fostering a dog is an incredibly generous way to help animals in need. By opening your home to a foster dog, you provide them with the comfort and attention they wouldn’t receive in a shelter; in turn, help them prepare for adoption. However, fostering isn’t just a way to see and play with cute puppies – it requires dedication, patience, and the right environment. Foster dogs need your help learning how to be good pups, and you must take this responsibility seriously. Once matched with a dog from a local shelter, you can help them through this significant transitional period and help them find their forever home.
Helping Your Foster Dog Adjust to Home Life
Transitioning from a shelter to a home can be overwhelming for many dogs, especially if they’ve spent extended time in the shelter system or never lived in a house before. Your primary role as a foster caregiver is to make this adjustment as smooth as possible, both for the dog and their eventual owner.
One of the first challenges is house training. Whether you’re fostering a puppy or an adult dog, you’ll need to establish a consistent bathroom routine. For dogs that were used to going outside whenever they needed to in a shelter environment, adjusting to holding their bladder and going at specific times can take some time. Be patient and consistent with them as they adapt to this new routine, and don’t rush the process. This is something you definitely want to get right.
Another important aspect of fostering is teaching basic commands and manners. Dogs with even a few foundational behaviors, like sitting on command or staying when asked, are much more attractive to potential adopters. It also makes living with the dog easier for both you and future owners. Focus on commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “come” as a starting point to help them gain confidence in their ability to learn and build toward future training.
There are more behaviors you need to instill in your foster dog within a home, but they aren’t as make-or-break.
Some eventual adopters may dislike dogs jumping on the couch for family time, while others embrace it. Some will feed their dog at set times, while others will let them feed freely throughout the day. You should teach your foster dogs to act in the way that vets and professional trainers recommend, but don’t let minor issues take up too much of your time. Start them on the right foot with the most important basics and let them grow into their own unique personality.
Fostering: Preparing Dogs for Adoption
Now, it’s time to look at the specifics of how you can prepare your dog for adoption. There are two key ways: socialization and limiting bad behavior.
Every adopted dog will be thrown into a new situation and have to deal with new people, sights, and sounds – you get the idea. Without proper socialization, dogs will not be ready for their forever home. Gradually introduce your foster to new environments, people, and other pets if you have them. This will help reduce fear or anxiety in different settings and allow them to become more comfortable in everyday situations. Many shelter dogs may not have had the opportunity to interact regularly with different kinds of people or experience new places, so it’s essential to expose them to these in a controlled and safe manner. You never know what type of home environment they will face when adopted and brought home.
You also need to be aware of behaviors that could deter potential adopters. We already touched on training as a potential upside, but there are other downsides to avoid. One common issue is jumping up for attention – a habit many dogs develop in shelters when excited to see staff members. While the behavior may seem playful, it can be off-putting or even unsafe for potential adopters. Shelter dogs are also prone to bolting when let out of a room or cage, potentially placing themselves in scary, dangerous situations. Part of your job as a foster is to limit these behaviors to instill confidence in adopters to take the next step and adopt a new member of the family.
Training can be difficult, especially when you are also juggling all of your other responsibilities as a foster owner. The professional trainers at Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training can help your foster dog start their adoption journey with success through obedience and training classes in the Bradenton area. Call today to speak to our team and learn how we can help!
