My first foster

[Shawn & Bella]

So please give me all your advice for fostering please......We are very excited we pick up Bentley in Atlanta on Saturday.....So get ready guys for all my questions......We are so  blessed to be able to help this dood in need.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

I hear ya there! We try to keep blankets on the couches that we can wash.. but with a baby in the house things would probably be a bit different. My stepson is 13 and I know my doodles are more sanitary than him:)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Adrianne, I'll back your statement by saying, I have been told this also and have experienced growling and insubordinate behavior trying to remove a dog off the bed AND the couch. Not a pleasant experience at all when they stare you in the face and growl.

Another suggestion--get them their own couch. Someone I know does this and it works. "Off my couch and bed--here is your couch doodle. If I want to cuddle, I'll come over to you."

[Donna K & Quincy]

I know lots of people don't allow their dogs on the furniture, but that is my one regret from when Quincy was a puppy, all that cuddle time I missed because I thought he shouldn't be on the furniture.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

And Miss These Times .......

[Frannie & Callie]

This is a MASSIVE fail for me! Harvey is the first foster who hasn't slept in my bed from night one. They do learn their doodle manners from their foster siblings and Callie sits on the sofa and sleeps in bed with me (she's such a good little snuggler!). I actually tried to let Harvey sleep in my bed last night, but he's not quite ready for that, so about 2am he went back into his crate with a huge dollop of cream cheese.

[Frannie & Callie]

That said, I'm aware that this may not be the best idea, since these are not my dogs. It's just very difficult to a) not treat dogs in one house the same way and b) not give affection to a foster when they want to receive it.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Just off the top of my head:

Think of this as your job. Be dedicated in providing a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment. You job is to prepare him for a forever home.

Be PATIENT. Put yourself in the dogs position. He is in a new home, new words, new smells, new commands, new place to potty, new food, nothing is familiar. He is now in a foriegn country. If you were dropped off in China today, and you knew no one, how would you be reacting.

Some are very afraid.

Let him explore to learn all he can. Let him be afraid, Let him mourn, and EXPECT NOTHING from him for yourself. Often, they have nothing to give you. They are trying to survive. You will be rewarded 100 times over as time goes on. Dogs take very small steps. Many take months. Don't blame yourself if he is not reacting to all you are doing for him. It takes a lot of time and love. A LOT

Some are just off the wall

Excited, playful, and have never learned ONE RULE or house manners. Set your boundaries with him. He will want to please and want to learn and it is important he start learning now. Seek out a trainer.

And most important, Accept and Respect Him For Who He Is, and Where He Has Been.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

OH... a few more.
You do not know this dog. Treat is as any dog, If he will allow it ( not to fearful and retreating ) keep him leashed and with you for several days. You may want to keep him leashed in the house at all times. The true dog that he is may take a few weeks to show. Keep a journal--like an assessment of potty, food, bathroom, toys--hard only or okay with soft, cat friendly, likes dislikes. It will help you, but also the people who are asking to adopt him. I sent documents of progress and character with my dogs.
Expect to re-potty train. Even the best potty trained dog will have accidents in a new home. They confused and nervous.
p.s. my dogs get on my furniture :)

Congratulations and Thank YOU!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

My dogs are on my furniture, bed and my lap (which is a sight when Charli just climbs up on my laptop) but my fosters never even attempted to.

[Frannie & Callie]

Yay! Bently is soooo lucky! I don't have much to add, but will say that the first day/night can be challenging, and it can also be a little sad. Follow the lead of the dog for the first few hours in your home (not letting them be bad or destructive of course) - let him sniff around, have the crate up, open, and prepared (maybe put a couple of treats in it) so he can explore that too. The dogs are all different. Bixby FD from minute one wanted to be in my lap and get all the love and affection I could possibly give (as long as I was upstairs - he was scared of the stairs that first day). Harvey FD spent the first night sniffing (and occasionally "marking") my house and he didn't even trust me enough to take a treat from me. So - I gave him his space and by the next day he was curious enough to come over to me to see what the deal was. NOW (and this is just two weeks later)- Harvey loves to be on the sofa with me, trusts me completely (he even let me brush him), comes to me for comfort if something scares him, and walks around with his tail and head held high because the consistency of attention, affection, and needs being met give him confidence. He just needed to get there on his terms.

You're doing a wonderful thing for Bentley - you're giving him the opportunity to be a real dog, and have a real home, and go to a real family who will love him the way he deserves to be loved. That's what makes the ups and downs of fostering worth it.

[Shawn & Bella]

So me and Bella just got back from Petsmart we decided Bentley needed his own leash and collar so we opted on a pretty red which should look beautiful since he is black.....We got our natures miracle not sure i purchased the rite kind....lol....????? Dentley's chew and yes the stinky bully sticks which really gross me out but I cant imagine if my mother just didnt give me things because they stunk.....lol..........So I am laughing as the furniture comments which I understand totally as I look at Bella chewing this disgusting bully stick on my bed...............ugggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......I just love Bella to lounge with me whether I am on my couch or bed so I hope that will not make me a bad foster mom.......Crate is up and I hope he will not mind Bella's hot pink crate just couldnt go purchase another just because of the color.....Am I horrible??????????? Keep the advice coming please....

Loves and Hugs and many licks

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, you are a horrible foster mom because you made your foster use a pink crate, LOL!!!!!!!
I don't think you need any more advice; you're doing just fine!