Comments on: What Makes a Dog Easy to Foster?

By: Lara Elizabeth

Lara Elizabeth — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 23:45:36 +0000

Ginny is darling! I love the stripe down her back!
I have had two foster dogs, a Chihuahua and a Norwegian Elkhound. Both were very well socialized and friendly to dogs and people and left my cat alone, although the Elkhound was extremely destructive. I learned so much from each one! Vlad the Chi taught me how awesome small dogs can be – before him I had no interest in anything under thirty pounds! Bjorn taught me the benefits of crate training, since it saved our house!

This was very timely since I am starting to consider whether it’s time to invite another foster into my home, as Ruby so loves playing with other dogs but situations like daycare and the dog park are too overwhelming for her. I have a soft spot for Northern breeds so am thinking I might foster for the American Eskimo rescue in the future.

By: BJ Pup

BJ Pup — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 05:00:55 +0000

I would love to foster a dog and have tried with NYC shelters. The Humane Society in NYC doesn’t foster and another one doesn’t need more foster parents.

By: Sand Spring Chesapeakes

Sand Spring Chesapeakes — Sat, 28 Dec 2013 20:12:31 +0000

Agreed! Ginny is so darn cute, someone will snatch her up.

By: Maggie

Maggie — Sat, 28 Dec 2013 20:02:57 +0000

I totally agree. Socialization makes it so much easier because the dog is usually open to new experiences. We have a foster, Molly, right now who is as friendly as a dog can possibly be, but… she has no social experience. At all. We’re pretty sure she was never allowed inside her home, so every single thing is new. But the little angel seems open to learning and excited to experience new things, so maybe it’s personality plus socialization. Either way, Ginny and Molly will make amazing pets for the right family!

By: houndstooth

houndstooth — Sat, 28 Dec 2013 19:42:31 +0000

I think sometimes it’s a combination of your personality and theirs and I also think that some dogs are just born easy to work with. Greyhounds as a breed are a good example of this because while most of them are socialized well with other people and Greyhounds, they are often not exposed to other things that most of us take for granted. When they retire most of them have never encountered stairs, other breeds of dogs or other animals. Some of them accept these changes and new experiences easily while others can be very fearful. You can even have this difference in dogs born in the same litter with the same experiences. Our second Greyhound was almost like dealing with someone with autism. He would have one phobia, we’d work through it and then he’d decide to fear something else. He was always a work in progress, but I learned a lot of patience and a lot of coping skills to deal with other dogs from him. I think there are some things that are genetic factors and others that come from environment.

By: Julie

Julie — Sat, 28 Dec 2013 16:00:36 +0000

We have always been very lucky – probably because we always fostered for the Golden Retriever rescue!! Taking care of my brother’s fearful dog Saydee was a challenge for us – we had no idea how to deal with her – she is so much happier at home with my brother NOT going for daily walks and being social – totally different than what we are used to.

Ginny is adorable! I hope she finds her forever home soon 🙂

By: slimdoggy

slimdoggy — Sat, 28 Dec 2013 14:27:09 +0000

We’ve fostered several dogs over the years and I have to agree with you – socialization is key. I see it even in our adoptees Becca, Jack & Maggie. Becca – well socialized as a service dog, Jack & Maggie, not socialized at all and it absolutely reflects in their behavior. Our hardest foster was a big yellow Lab, Mako. He spent his life in a small pen in his backyard with his brother – his bossy older brother. He was a real challenge for us because he did not know how to behave in a family situation with two other friendly dogs. And I’ll be honest, we were ill-prepared to deal with his growing aggression towards them and us. I know if he had been socialized or at least spent some time with a family, it would have been different for him. We ended up having to return him to the rescue organization for rehoming.