Non Weim Question - Fostering

Ellinorianne · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:51 pm Post subject: Non Weim Question - Fostering

So, I may be fostering a Doxie for a bit to help out a rescue. She's a sweet girl who is five.

I know this sounds silly but what do you do, introduce her to the house? Show her where to go potty etc? I know it's silly but what do you do with new fosters?

Thanks Smile

weimdogmom · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:24 pm Post subject:

Treat her like she is your own dog.

If she is already house trained, you may need to just figure out how she will let you know she needs to go out. Accidents would not be unusal, though, even if she is house trained. She may or may not need help with manners -- no begging, etc. A large part of fostering is getting them ready for their new home. You will get to know her and so help the rescue decide what a good forever home for her will be like. (Kids or not, lots of exercise or couch pup and such)

Thank you for fostering!!

Ellinorianne · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:37 pm Post subject:

weimdogmom · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:01 pm Post subject:

She's beautiful and does look like a very sweet girl.

Yes. For some reason, black dogs and black cats seem to have a much more difficult time getting adopted.

When will you start fostering Kona?

Ellinorianne · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:12 pm Post subject:

Probably some time this week. The woman who runs the rescue lives not far from us, just a couple of miles probably. She's so glad to have someone interested in Kona, she said she's perfect and can't quite get why she's not already with her forever home.

Their vet thinks she's about five years old, but I'm wondering if she's older, although I've also read that graying can start as early as two years and it's so much easier to see on black fur.

Charlotte and I are so very excited and we both just loved how sweet she was.

luana80it · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 5:35 am Post subject:

i am a little confused though. didn't you give sophie away because having a dog with your illness was too much? what is the difference if you get a rescue dog? it might be even more difficult since the dog comes with a past.
just wondering...

kamfam · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:56 am Post subject:

You'll need to set some boundaries - the whole idea with fostering (IMO) is that the dog needs to be cared for and socialized, etc, but NOT be treated like a family member. If she bonds to you, then she's adopted out, she's going to feel as though she being given up again. The greatness in doing this, is that when she finds her forever home that feeling will stay Very Happy

! ( It is MWR policy that fosters are NOT to be treated the same as the family dogs. They are to be fed in their crates, sleep in their crates, and taken outside for potty separately. Playtime is the only exception. It sounds kinda harsh, but if you really think about it, it makes perfect sense.)

It's great that you want to do this, but it will most likely be work - unfortunately, there is ususally quite a bit of baggage that comes along and you'll need to make a commitment to help work through it.

weimdogmom · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:12 am Post subject:

It's interesting, the different thoughts on fostering... The rescue here some other fosters that I know, they do treat the dog like a member of the family. They eat together (if possible), potty together, learn the house rules, are just treated like a member of the family. The only difference, though, is that 'usually' the foster might be crated at night and when there is no human supervision... at least until a little more is known about the dog.

But I can see what you are saying about the dog feeling like they are being given up again if they are treated the same as the family dogs. It may be harder on the dog when they are adopted going to another new home (and it certainly would be more difficult for the people who had been fostering).

Would this apply to dogs who become long term fosters... especially those with special needs and senior dogs?

It seems that there might be less "foster failure" if more rescues did recommend that the dogs not be treated like a member of the family. The foster family would still be sad to see them go...

Thank you for posting MWR policy on fostering. I do think there are some good ideas there.

wildlifecr13 · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:18 am Post subject:

i too see some strange disconnect between giving away sophie then getting another dog. just because you miss and want a dog, doesnt mean you have the right environment for one.
my folks have a doxie. she is very sweet, but also a royal pain in the *bum* at times. they are very hard headed (perhaps more so than weims) and they also have a hunting drive (she caught a chipmunk at full run once).
I would think long and hard before jumping into another dog or a breed that has such a stubborn streak. I havent met a doxie that i didnt like, but i also havent met one that didnt think it owned the joint.

AmazingGrayce · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:37 am Post subject:

i would definitely reconsider fostering. Its a huge commitment and whether a dog is big or small...a lot of foster dogs have many issues as well....no matter what they person who surrendered them say. When I fostered for the weim rescue in Illinois I was told the dog was crate trained, potty trained etc...I left him the first day and he bit a hole in his wire crate, got out and pooped EVERYWHERE in my house and than proceeded to run around the house spreading it everywhere. This happened several times for @ 2 weeks before the foster coordinator and I found a solution of an airline crate, with zip ties, and bungee cords to keep him from breaking free.

As rewarding and great as fostering is (I cant wait to be a position to do it again) it can be VERY stressful. Im just not sure if you just gave a dog up because it was too difficult and stressful with all that was going on that fostering a dog is really going to be fair to you or the dog.

Im not judging and Id usually just stay out of stuff like this but I was very surprised to read this post that you would be bringing in a foster dog after making such a big and very difficult decision that Sophie would be better off in another home. It all just seems very fresh and recent...and unless the illness and such that was the result of you adoptiing out sophie have resolved you really should reconsider this idea.

kamfam · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 9:03 am Post subject:

LunaBrown · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 9:19 am Post subject:

weimdogmom · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 9:33 am Post subject:

Oops... I guess I got this off track from the original question...

Maybe we should start a new thread about, say "Pros/cons of fostering"?

Ellinorianne · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:07 am Post subject:

weim2mom · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:28 am Post subject: