Hi guys,

Just after your thoughts!!

My local rescue do weekend forstering for people who can't foster a dog permantly, you collect the dog on a fri and take it back sun.
With my OH working away, I'm around and don't do much apart from dog stuff the weekends he's not home (every other weekend) So I was thinking I could foster a dog for the weekend each time, my two are very chilled and friendly.
Now I'm torn on 2 things, what will it be like for the little doggie I take, to come and have a lovely weekend with me and my doggies, and then be sent back to kennels?
And what about my doggies, is it too much upheaval for them, to get a little friend for the weekend learn to accept him or her, then have them taken away?

I just want whats best for my dogs and the rescue doggies, so I'd appriciate any opinons/comments?

Thanks xxx

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Please help Bruno see his 4th Birthday...http://poshpussrescue.org/BRUNOAPPEALPAGE.aspx

I personally don't think that weekend fostering is a good idea for the mental welfare of the dogs in kennels when they have to go back.
How about taking them out for a good walk at weekends

Thats what I was thinking Rona, might see if thats an option.

xxx

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Please help Bruno see his 4th Birthday...http://poshpussrescue.org/BRUNOAPPEALPAGE.aspx

I dont think that is a good idea... its like having a child for the weekend and giving them back... poor dog wont know if he's coming or going !

Wouldnt it take longer for the dog to settle once he was permanently rehomed ?

Its a bad idea in my opinion ... but at least someone is trying to make things nicer for the rescue dogs

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re OP

i think it is an EXCELLENT thought, and well done U, too! > click <

the dogs get a break from kennels, they can learn or refresh their in-home skills, and the care staff get a slight break from care + clean-up duties... plus Ur dogs can practice their dog-social-skills, never a bad thing!

i would only add the caveat that having Ur dogs meet the visitor OFF of their property, if possible at the shelter to ensure that they hit it off, is a good ice-breaker; introducing a complete stranger-k9 to the resident-dog in the living room is never a really good idea, LOL... it makes a bad impression of invasion, not a visit.

once they have had an on-leash (Ur dog) intro thru a fence, with the potential visitor off-leash inside the fence, U can then decide if they all want to get closer acquainted; this may save some bloodshed, LOL, or just keep the dogs calmer vs instantly popping off leashes and letting them go manic! ;--)

if their off-leash play at the shelter / tennis court / other fenced area is happy, i would say that U are good to go... but i would also CRATE the resident dogs for the trip home from the shelter, and harness the visitor to prevent walkabouts or falls in the car.

once U get there, have someone else take the resident dogs to the backyard, then preferably join them after another fence hello...
to refresh their memory, LOL. this gives the visiting dog time to potty before entering the house... in case the dogs standards for housetraining have slipped.

have fun, i think it will be a blast for all parties!
cheers,
--- terry

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terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, TDF
*wolves R wolves, dogs R dogs, + primates R us.*
tmp, sept-2007

Personally I think it might unsettle the dogs.

I know its not the same, but befire I moved away from Glasgow I had a friend with a staffy x called Kirsty. She had bought the dog with her partner. Unfortunatley they broke up. And Kirsty stayed with my friend. But- she worked all weekend. So Kirsty went to stay with her 'dad' each weekend.
Kirsty soon became a completely different dog. She would not settle at home, and her 'dad' reported she started pacing all weekend, wouldn't eat or go walks.
We had a trial run of me going round 3x a day to my friends on a weekend to walk Kirsty and a further 3x a day to let her out for a wee- the erratic behaviour stopped.

x

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re post #7 - poisonGirl


hey, poison! :--)

i have seen it go both ways with shared-custody dogs -
many of the dogs just love having 2 homes, and some of these are not former-couples who have divorced, but friends or neighbors who share custody of one dog...
for apt-dwellers who work long-hours, this may be a workable solution to having any dog at all.

i know a few dogs whose 2 homes are entirely different - one with kids, one adults only, or one very-active with hiking, skiiing, jogging, etc, and one laid-back + passive. the dogs seem to make the transitions between them with aplomb. (shrug) they are happy to go to the next-place, and appear just as glad to get back *home* again.


there are several shelters in the USA that allow folks to *borrow* a dog for the day, just as if they were being a Big Sis/Big Bro to a child who needs mentoring.
they can take the dog along on any excursions, get them out to hike, take them swimming or to a park for a good gallop, and so on.
one shelter in Colorado has had 1 in 5 of the dogs that are *borrowed* by out-of-state vacationers who miss their own dog(s) at home, ADOPTED by the same person(s) who take them out for the day!

Ex:
one Colorado-shelter dog was adopted by a Texas couple, who were just missing their own dog, not contemplating getting another, when they borrowed this appealing scruffy-dog for the day --- they took her out all 3 days over the weekend, and put in to adopt her on Monday, LOL.

so if U do *borrow* or foster, be aware that to continue fostering, U have to let the foster / borrowed dog LEAVE - otherwise U will soon have a houseful, and there will be no room for fosters or shelter-pups on vacation.

cheers,
--- terry

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terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, TDF
*wolves R wolves, dogs R dogs, + primates R us.*
tmp, sept-2007

I'm not sure - it could give a dog a bit longer to find a new home, before the dreaded happens, but it would also be very heart breaking for you and the dog when it's time to say goodbye.

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Irish Red and White Setters - Nuala, Lottie & Taz
Irish Wolfhound - Ripley
cats - Larkin & Runyon
Degu - Carlisle

RIP Nutmeg, Nimrod & Keats

I would go with this.^^

The rescue that I assist would not disrupt the dog's kennel regime for the sake of a weekend but a walk is always appreciated. Such short-term fostering is only considered for emergencies and post-operative recovery.

For sure but, with shared custody, the dog has a relationship with each 'keeper'. Until that relationship is established the change and change-about of enviroment is likely to stress a dog.

There are many no-kill shelters. I suspect this may be one of them.