How to Foster Puppies: 7 Important Tips
Being a temporary guardian of a puppy involves a significant time commitment and patience as they need to be taken outside more regularly and fed/played with often. It can also be one of the most rewarding experiences of our life. This small animal is reliant on the stand-in parent for love, sustenance, and guidance and will return the favor with unconditional love and cuddling.
With an adult foster dog, Pont says that the foster’s job is to “assess their personality and behavior and to make sure that the best home for that dog can be found.” However, for foster puppies, she states that “foster parents get to help to form their personality and teach them what is and isn’t acceptable, how to react to situations and people around them.” Often, the rescue gets puppies without a mother available (deceased, missing, etc.) and the foster parent takes their place, teaching the puppies good behavior to help them become more adoptable.
Below are some helpful tips for how to foster puppies, including information on the preparation and training needed, costs and time commitment, veterinary visits, and additional details.
Before bringing your foster dog home, puppy proof your house so she doesn’t get into trouble. A general rule of thumb, according to Pont, is “if it’s below knee level, pick it up, from shoes and clothes to stuffed animals.” When the puppy is out of her crate, she will be loose in the house, at which point it’s imperative to keep an eye on her to ensure she doesn’t chew your furniture or pee on that priceless rug. Pont also recommends covering or elevating electrical cords, closing doors to basements or rooms that you don’t want the puppy going into, and securing outdoor areas so she doesn’t run out.
Various shelters/rescues operate differently when it comes to what is provided for the foster animal and her temporary parents. Some provide supplies such as food and toys, while others cover only medical expenses. In my situation, I provided Jazzy with food, toys, and bowls, while the rescue provided a leash, collar, and deworming and flea/tick medication. The rescue also covered a visit to the clinic to get her vaccinations and fecal test. Be prepared to spend anywhere from $100 to $300 on food, toys, and a crate. These will prove necessary to create the best environment for your foster puppy.
Crates seem confining and most people have a misconception of them being a form of punishment. However, dogs like to have a safe, “den-like” space to retreat to for some rest and alone time, away from the activities elsewhere in the house. Our foster puppy Jazzy loved getting into her crate whenever she was tired or needed a break. Sometimes, she’d entertain herself with toys and tire herself out before falling asleep in the crate. We helped her become accustomed to the crate by associating it with positive things, including feeding her inside the crate and giving her lots of praise when she was calmly inside.
“Everybody should have a warm, cozy place to feel safe,” says Pont, adding that it’s like putting a baby in the crib for a nap. Crating, according to Pont, is also a great way to secure the animal when you are not around, particularly in the beginning when she is unsure about her new surroundings.
In cases where you are caring for multiple foster puppies, confining them to a small area like a hallway with baby gates helps, suggests Rowell, who once cared for seven pups simultaneously. Rowell used Visqueen, a plastic landscape and construction barrier, to line the floor and walls about one foot deep. Then, she created little “stations”: a potty station with potty pads on one end, away from toys, beds, and water; a water station with a shallow, tip-proof water dish; and a bed station with a comfy puppy bed, and an open area for them to play.
What to consider before fostering a dog
Last year I made the mistake of fostering a dog I wasn’t prepared to handle. I was gone too often and she couldn’t be left alone.
A pet or human could get hurt.
There’s always a risk with bringing home a new dog or other pet. It will take some time to get to know her, and at any time she could bite a person, dog or cat.
There’s also the possibility your own dog could bite or attack the foster dog. Watch for signs of possessiveness or aggression from your own dog, not just the foster dog. After all, he is the one whose space is being invaded, and dogs are territorial.
Make sure you and the rescue organization are clear who will cover medical costs if a pet or human is hurt and needs to see a doctor. It’s a good idea to have a written contract signed by both sides.
There is a possibility your foster dog could bite a neighbor or visitor in your home, and you don’t want to be responsible.