BRINGING HOME YOUR NEW FOSTER
These next few days will be critical for your foster. It is important to have realistic expectations; It is imperative you allow a dog time to adjust.
Pre-FOSTER prep
Start by dog-proofing the area where your pooch will spend most of his time: Pickup toys and other small loose items; put shoes and clothes out of reach; make sure the trash is in an inaccessible spot; store household chemicals on high shelves; remove plants, rugs, and breakables; tape wires & cords to baseboards; set up a crate, and install baby gates if necessary to block off certain rooms, stairs, door entrances.
Make sure EVERYONE in the home is on the same page about accepting a new animal! Open doors/gates/windows, medicine/dangerous loose items left out in accessible places, are some ways a foster dog can get lost or hurt in a new foster home. Place Sticky notes on entry ways, fridge, etc to remind housemates to shut doors and be careful when coming/leaving!
Do a yard check -- look for loose boards, faulty latches, hidden holes/gaps, and other places a dog may be able to escape.
MAKE SURE YOUR FOSTER DOG IS WALKED OUTSIDE WITH A SLIP LEAD or Martingale only (excluding young/small puppies). A slip lead is a safe, secure way to walk your new dog with control, while minimizing the risk of escaping. Will be provided by HFP.
Dogs coming out of the shelter or having lost a family are often nervous and will have no idea where they are or who you are. The first few weeks in a new home is the highest likelihood of flight risk. HFP dogs are NEVER allowed to be walked on a retractable/extendable leash!
PUPPIES MUST BE CARRIED IN PUBLIC SPACES OR CONTAINED TO YOUR HOME/BACKYARD ONLY UNTIL THEY HAVE COMPLETED THEIR DHPP SHOT SERIES.
HFP will provide: Bed, crate, leashes, harness, collar, food, safe treats, toys, monthly preventatives and set up a vet appointment within 1-2 weeks of arrival. These items are available for pick up at a location in Davis prior to fostering. If you have supplies and food that you would like to use for your foster dog, it is not required, but greatly appreciated!
day 1: PICKING UP YOUR DOG + Coming Home
Sometimes we are able to arrange transport to your home, but often times meetings will be done near Davis, Sacramento, or another easy access public location.
The first days can often be the most challenging as dogs can be very stressed due to the sudden change. Please do not expect or require too much of your foster dog too soon. Dogs need sufficient time to acclimate and decompress before introducing to strangers and animals outside the home
Driving: your dog should always be safely secured. Make sure your dog has a leash on during the drive and you have a hold of the leash before opening doors. If you are driving alone it may be smart to secure the dog by tethering or a dog seat belt or crate. Make sure the windows are never rolled down too far and the child safety settings are on.
Once home, immediately take your new dog to his designated potty area on leash.
Always accompany a dog in the backyard. Never leave a dog unattended.
If you plan on crate training your dog, leave the crate open in an accessible area so that he can go in whenever he feels like it in case he gets overwhelmed! The crate is not a tool for punishment, rather a safe space.
Make sure the children know that the crate is off limits. Please make sure you understand how / how not to properly use a crate before beginning; Don’t just use the crate for when you leave as they will come to associate it with your departure.
For the first few days or even weeks, remain calm around your dog, limiting too much excitement (no dog parks (Ever) or new children coming over, etc). Not only will this allow your dog to settle in easier, it will give you more one-on-one time to get to know him and his likes/dislikes.
Please keep in mind, your foster dog may be the product of a never-ending series of scrambled communications and unreal expectations that will require patience on your part. There is no such thing as overnight perfection & THE DOGS NEED TIME TO ADJUST AND IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT + ENFORCE RULES and BOUNDARIES .
The following weeks
Please make sure you read all of HFP’s Foster FAQS on our foster application before starting.
HFP Policies include: NO DOG PARKS; any introduction to animals outside the home is done so at your own risk. We do not require HFP dogs meet other animals or children. Some dogs are extremely comfortable and social in these new types of situations but others are not. Never force your foster dog to do something that makes him uncomfortable.
Children: children in the home should never be unaccompanied with a new dog. Be sure to monitor and facilitate all interactions between children/animal. Do not allow a child near the dogs bowl as he eats, or to take away treats/toys from the dog. We do not recommend or require introducing the dog to children outside the home.
Affection: Allow the dog to come to you on his/her own terms for affection. Most dogs are not comfortable w/ face to face contact or hugs. Many dogs are uncomfortable with hands going over the animals head and do better w/ pets from the chest and side.
Exercise: Exercise is one of the most important aspects of a healthy happy life for your dog. However, the vast majority of dogs are NOT getting enough mental and physical stimulation. For a medium size athletic breed dog, two 25 minute walks is the minimum needed activity. For the more active dogs, consider how you can add a more rigorous activity to your every day schedule as well (fetch, jogging, swimming, agility).
Staying in touch: Please make sure to send pictures and bio/updates to HFP periodically (no such thing as too much). If you are experiencing any behavioral issues or need any help please contact HFP first.
If you would like to adopt your foster dog, fosters have to complete the same requirements as prospective adopters and adoption donations.
Meet and greets w/ potential adopters: For more on meet and greets please review our policies and information here.