Being a first-time foster parent is a big responsibility, and there’s a lot to learn about how to make a dog feel safe, secure, and happy. As long as you enter the experience appreciating the time and effort it takes to be a good foster parent, you’ll do a good job.
Anytime a new foster or pet enters your home, give it time to adjust and get comfortable. Implementing a routine can help, as can making food and water accessible 24/7 in the beginning to establish trust. Dog-proof your home and prioritize the animal’s safety, keeping it separate from resident pets until everyone has adjusted to one another.
Trust our dog sitters and walkers with your foster dog in Georgia, and call Critter Sitters at (404) 793-6178.
What Are the Top Tips for New Dog Foster Parents?
As long as you’re armed with the top tips for being a first-time foster parent, you can establish a trusting, positive relationship with your foster dog for however long it’s in your care.
Follow the 3-3-3 Rule
Some fosters stay for 3 months or longer, while others find their forever homes much more quickly, sometimes within days of being placed in foster care. No matter how long you have your foster dog, follow the 3-3-3 rule as best as you can. This helps guide the adjustment period, reminding you to give the dog 3 days for decompression, 3 weeks to establish a routine, and 3 months to feel totally secure and safe.
Implement a Routine
Dogs, like most animals, thrive on routines. A new foster dog may have never had a routine to rely on, so it may take some getting used to. Walking and feeding your foster dog around the same times every day does wonders for its feelings of safety and security.
If you need help establishing a healthy routine, ask the shelter you are fostering with or the dog’s vet for advice.
Dog-Proof Your House
If you don’t already have a resident dog at home when you get your first foster, it’s time to dog-proof your home. That includes putting any toxic items, such as cleaning products, certain plants, and medicine, out of reach of the dog. You may also have to get in the habit of keeping toilet lids closed, too.
It may be a good idea to set up a designated room for the foster so it doesn’t get overwhelmed by being introduced to the entire house at once.
Prioritize Safety & Comfort
Always prioritize your foster dog’s safety and comfort, especially when you are first getting to know each other. Don’t leave your new foster alone with a resident pet; slowly introduce the animals to each other over time.
Help the dog trust you sooner by leaving some water and food accessible at all times so it doesn’t have to wonder where its next meal will come from.
Foster dogs taken in from the street may have different injuries or illnesses, so keep an eye out for concerning medical problems and take the dog to the vet at the first sign of any issue. Dogs often arrive at their foster parents’ homes on medications and with treatment plans, which you must follow for their health and safety.
Get Support
Reach out to friends or co-workers you know who have fostered animals in the past for tips on fostering dogs, cats, or other animals. Having a network of pet poster parents to rely on can help if you run into any problems and need advice.
FAQs About Being a New Dog Foster Parent in Georgia
What if You Need a Pet Sitter for Your Foster Dog?
If you need to leave town and want to know that your recent foster is in capable hands, turn to us for our dog sitting services in Georgia. We also offer dog walking services for foster parents.
What if You Need a Dog Walker for Your Foster Dog?
We can help you keep up your normal routine with your new foster by offering our dog walking services. If you can’t be there to continue the dog’s new walking routine on a particular day, Critter Sitters can be.
How Do You Become a New Dog Foster Parent?
You can become a new dog foster parent by contacting a shelter in your area in Georgia. You generally need to be 18 or older, be able to take the dog to vet visits, and agree to home check-ins. Shelters may also ask questions about your experience and the reasons you are fostering.
Can You Adopt as a Dog Foster Parent?
Foster parents fall in love with the dogs they foster all the time, and most shelters offer foster-to-adopt programs that make it easier for you to transition from a foster parent to a bona fide dog parent.
Should You Become a New Dog Foster Parent?
Fostering dogs isn’t for everyone; you need the time, dedication, and resources to support the animal, as well as the strength to send it to its forever home when the time comes.
Do You Need to Buy Supplies to Be a New Dog Foster Parent?
Generally, animal shelters provide the basic supplies you need to be a new dog foster parent, including food, leashes, collars, and even some toys. You can certainly go the extra mile and pick up a few items for your foster if you want to.
Do You Need to Find a Vet to Be a New Dog Foster Parent?
You won’t be responsible for finding a vet for the dog you are newly fostering in Georgia. You will have to take your foster dog to the vet periodically, especially if it has any existing medical conditions, but you aren’t responsible for the cost.
Call Us Today About Dog Walking & Sitting Services for Foster Dogs in Georgia
Schedule dog walking or pet sitting with Critter Sitters when you call us at (404) 793-6178 in Georgia.
