Shelter or Foster Home Responsibility

Shelter Responsibility

First do no harm.
Next try very hard to create an environment that is more than the simple warehousing of dogs.

  • Observe dog closely
  • Provide as much individual attention as possible
  • Provide a housing situation that makes the dog comfortable
  • Provide enrichment opportunities
  • Same as foster responsibility when possible
    • Help dog settle in
    • Quickly reinforce generally good manners
    • Watch for demonstration of anxiety or excitability
    • Start right away to make positive associations (see how)
    • Continue to work on behavioral health
    • At the same time take care of physical health needs
    • Begin to prepare dog for changes
      • Expose to novel situations
      • Practice general good manners (see suggestions)
    • Handle dog gently and provide choices whenever possible (explain choices)
  • Try to be consistent from one handler to another, but appreciate that exposures to different people can be positive novel situations

Foster Home Responsibility

First do no harm.
Next try to provide all the advantages you would for a dog who you bred yourself.

  • Observe dog closely right from the start
  • Help dog settle in
  • Quickly reinforce generally good manners
  • Watch for demonstration of anxiety or excitability
    • Start right away to make positive associations (see how)
  • Continue to work on behavioral health
  • At the same time take care of physical health needs
  • Begin to prepare dog for changes
    • Expose to novel situation
  • Handle dog gently and provide choices whenever possible (explain choices)