| − | *''' Do you have time for a foster dog?''' Again: these dogs typically arrive knowing ''nothing''. For at least the first few days or weeks, you will have to manage them closely to ensure they don't get in trouble while you teach them how to live politely with people. Your foster pup may be stressed or fearful upon arrival and need a lot of gentle, one-on-one attention to help come out of her shell. Can you devote several hours a day to the dog? | + | *''' Do you have time for a foster dog?''' Again: expect your foster pups to arrive knowing ''nothing''. For at least the first few days or weeks, you will have to manage them closely to ensure they don't get in trouble while you teach them how to live politely with people. Your foster pup may be stressed or fearful upon arrival and need a lot of gentle, one-on-one attention to help come out of her shell. Can you devote several hours a day to the dog? |
| − | *''' Can you tolerate the noise and mess?''' Not a trivial question! Twice I've come close to losing my mind over fosters, and both times it was as a result of persistent poopy problems inside the house. Not all of us have tile-floored puppy rooms (I sure don't), and cleaning up fifteen puddles of diarrhea in a day can fray your sanity ''fast''. The crate wailing, the potty issues, the casual destruction of personal belongings... are you willing to absorb the frustration and the damage to your bank account? If you live in close proximity to your neighbors, and they're likely to be bothered by barking, that can be a significant consideration as well. | + | *''' Can you tolerate the noise and mess?''' Not a trivial question! Twice I've come close to losing my mind over fosters, and both times it was as a result of persistent poopy problems inside the house. Not all of us have tile-floored puppy rooms (I sure don't), and cleaning up fifteen puddles of diarrhea in a day can fray your sanity ''fast''. The crate wailing, the potty issues, the casual destruction of personal belongings... are you willing to absorb the frustration and the damage to your bank account? If you live in close proximity to your neighbors, and they're likely to be bothered by barking or yowling in the crate, that can be a significant consideration as well. |