“Rescue Me” is a recurring column by Samantha Randall, editor of Top tips for dogs. She provides personal anecdotes and perspective on her life as a pet lover with a passion for rescuing cats and dogs. Today she discusses what it takes to be a great foster parent for a rescue dog.
Fostering dogs is a rewarding experience, but you need to be sure you’re ready for it before you start. As someone who has had the pleasure of fostering multiple dogs in the past, I have compiled a list of tips for aspiring foster dog parents.
Find a shelter or rescue organization that’s right for you
The first step to becoming a good adoptive parent for dogs is to connect with a shelter or rescue organization. To do this, look for different local shelters and rescues before aligning yourself with one.
Meet other volunteers and ask about their experience with different organizations. The goal is to ensure that the group maintains a good reputation, cares about animals and animal interests, and truly appreciates its volunteers and hard work.
It’s also important to find a shelter or shelter that will be there for you and help you along the way, especially if this is your first time adopting a dog.
Consider short-term hospitality
During the summer, when many regular dog foster parents go on vacation, there is a need for short-term foster parents to replace them. Consider being a temporary dog foster parent as a way to dip your feet in the water and learn the basics of dog fostering. If you find that the foster family is right for you, then you can become a full-time dog foster parent.
Prepare your home to welcome
Even if you already have a dog, there are certain things that are necessary to prepare your home for a new adoptive dog. The first thing to do is get all the necessary supplies a new dog might need, such as a dog bed, baby crate or gate for containment, dog brush, dog toys, treats training, etc.
Another important thing to do is protect your home from dogs, especially if you don’t already have one. Move electrical cords out of reach, dispose of all small sharp objects that can be swallowed, cover your garbage cans, keep cleaning supplies and medications out of reach, etc.
Talk to your rescue organization or shelter about their rules for adoptive dogs. Some of them do not allow dogs to be left in the yard unsupervised, as many rescue dogs are an escape risk.
Provide quality food
Many dogs that end up in shelters and shelters come from difficult backgrounds and have often been malnourished. The best way to ensure that the dog is healthy and to gain his confidence is to provide him with a balanced and quality diet.
Talk to the shelter or rescue about the dog’s old diet so you can make the change gradually and avoid any potential digestive issues.
Prepare for potty training
While some rescue dogs may already be potty trained, many are not. Even adult dogs that have lived in a house before may not be house trained. That’s why it’s best to assume that your new dog is untrained to avoid any unnecessary accidents. Keep in mind that this is a new environment for them and the stress may be too much to handle and cause them to forget about their training.
don’t think about profit
If you are thinking of adopting a dog to earn extra money, you will end up being disappointed. Any money you receive from a rescue organization should be used for the dog’s needs. Most rescue organizations operate on tight budgets, and while you won’t have to spend money on basic supplies or veterinary care yourself, you won’t earn any money either.
Let the dog settle down before you start training
Give your new friend time to settle in before you start teaching him some basic commands. When you see that the dog is comfortable in his new environment, start with positive reinforcement to teach him commands like wait to be fed, sit, stay, don’t pull on the leash, etc.
A dog that is house trained and knows the basic commands will be much more likely to be adopted, and these skills minimize the chances of being returned once adopted.
Pay attention to socialization
In one of my podcast episodes, we discussed socialization as one of the most crucial aspects of keeping pets. Whether you want to introduce the dog to another pet or a new human, you must do so in a controlled environment. This is especially true when you want to introduce the dog to another dog.
The best way is to provide dogs with plenty of outdoor space where they can roam and get to know each other in a low-stakes environment. If you can get another person to hold the other dog on a leash, you can control the situation by letting the dogs see and sniff each other, but not letting them get too close unless they are both calm and at ease.
Taking your dog to new places can also be a good way to socialize, but you also need to do it gradually and carefully.
Keep all records
Although your shelter or sanctuary will likely help you with veterinary exams and keep a record of basic information, you should also keep all records, information and bills responsibly as this can be very important to the dog’s future family. .
Write useful notes
As the adoptive parent, you will be asked to provide notes about the dog’s health and behavior and what you envision as the perfect home and environment for your adoptive dog.
When writing these notes, be as detailed as possible in order to paint an accurate picture of the dog that will help the rescue organization find the best family possible.
If your dog has behavioral issues, be honest about them. Of course, focus your notes on the dog’s good qualities and the progress it has made, but don’t forget about potential problems.
Playing the role of dog foster parent can be a perfect way to help rescue dogs and have a rewarding experience. But you can also use experience to determine if you’re ready to own a dog. Whatever your motivations for being an adoptive parent for a dog, being prepared will ensure that everyone wins.
