Teaching "Down"

As you know, when training a dog, there are several different methods to teaching a behavior or a command. When it comes to our dogs first learning a specific gesture we prefer to use positive reinforcement. Which includes a clicker, small soft treats (or their meal time food) and a happy ready to work pup. There is a communication barrier between us and our k9 kids. They do not understand what you are asking of them UNLESS you show them. Dogs in general are not naturally defiant so if you have to keep repeating a command to your dog over and over and over, that means your dog does not fully understand what you are asking of them. To learn more about clicker training please take time to visit one of our favorite sites Karen Pryor Clicker Training. 

Today we are working with rescue dog Uma. She is learning the basic concept of the "down". We start off by getting her attention and luring her into the position we want, which is - down. At this time you will not be saying the word "down". You want your dog to get the gesture/motion of "down" first. When you give the hand single and your dog downs a few times, then you will be adding the word. Now, some dogs take a while to understand what it is you are trying to get them to do, so have patience and allow the dog some time to think.  You may have to click and reward for the dog just looking at the floor. Eventually, that will bring the dog closer and closer to a "down". It's like a puzzle, you have to figure out all the piece to make it come together. You have to figure out how to HELP your dog understand this new command. It takes time and lots of patience.

Once your dog is getting the hang of the "down" motion, you will then add the vocal command "down" with the hand gesture. Click and treat for them going into position. Keep training sessions short. If you notice your pup getting bored get their attention, lure them into a down and end on a good note. Try again later on :)

Over time your dog will get better and better at understanding what you want of them. You will be able to replace the clicker with the vocal "marker word" - YES and their treat will be a pat on the head or back from you.

Quick break down:
1) Have on hand clicker, treats (or meal feeding) and a ready to work pup.
2) Get your dogs attention
3) Lure your dog towards the ground. When they go into a down (or even look at the ground) CLICK & TREAT.
4) Lure your dog to the ground a few times with OUT saying a word.
5) When they start to grasp the "down" motion THEN add the word "DOWN".
6) Keep sessions short & end on a good note
7) Have patience
8) Have FUN!
9) Do this often

Here is a video of Uma learning the basics of DOWN

**FUN TIP FOR BLIND OR DEAF DOGS:

If you have a deaf dog, use a small flash light in place of your marker/clicker. Flash the light towards their eyes and then treat. Deaf dogs also pick up on face expression so be happy when your dog is learning and gets what you ask of them. Some times we use a "thumbs up" for the dogs we are working with as a marker.

If you have a blind dog, hold the treats to your dogs nose and slowly bring your hand with the treat to the ground. Let your dog try to get it out of your hand, you will see their body get lower and lower to the floor. When they "down" click and open your hand so they can have their reward. 

Tie Downs

Brad Pit & Johnny Royal: "Ha Ha, Uma's on a tie down."

Tie down is another "structure" method we use for the new dogs that enter our program. A tie down, helps the dogs adjust to in door living. It comes in very handy to us since we can not have the dog on leash with us at all times. (Not when chasing a 3 year old and a few other dogs around). 

The tie down's allow us to be hands free, but it also allows the new dog to be involved in all that is going on in our home. Our mentor dogs can walk freely around the new dog with out getting pounced on for play ever 5 seconds, our kiddo can walk passed without having his snack taken off of him or be smothered in kisses every 2 seconds.

Tie downs are a useful tool to help manage dogs that may jump on people, that need house breaking , play a bit too rough with us or our dogs and for dogs that like to jumping on furniture as they please. Tie downs limit your dog's "rude or inappropriate behaviors" and get them adjusted to every day in door living with the rest of the family. Another plus is that, they can be used for is meeting the resident dogs and even the cat.

To make a tie down get a 4-5 foot piece of cable wrapped in plastic with clips at both ends. Attach one end to an eye-bolt and screw it into the baseboard of your wall. Attach the other end to your dog's flat buckle collar or martingale. With Uma we used an extra leash we had and wrapped it around a very heavy piece of furniture. (She doesn't chew the leash other wise we would use the cable like we had to for Johnny when he first came into our program.)

If you use "Uma's way" MAKE SURE that your dog can not pull the furniture around the house or chew on it. Tie downs should only be used when you are home as well, this way you can keep an eye on your pup and make sure they are not getting themselves into any trouble.

In the dogs tie down space, put their bed and some chew toys to keep them buys. Frozen Stuffed Kongs work well as they are learning to adjust.

Let us know how this works for you and if you have any other tips regarding tie downs :)

A Cat Toy for Dogs

The flirt pole is a super-sized cat toy made for our canine buddies

Made of 5ft - 6ft PVC pipe (on the thinner side), 13ft - 15ft rope (adjust as needed), & a favorite toy of your dog's. Total cost? About $9.00 - $12.00!

Besides the treadmill & nose work, this is one of our favorite tools for tiring out our dogs. It is used for basic obedience, training, & positive reinforcement. All the while making the time with your dog fun, exciting, & rewarding!

*To make:
after stringing the rope through the PVC pipe 'pole', simply tie a knot at one end & tie the toy with the other end. 

*Your dog should already be familiar with the following commands:

sit, stay/wait, look, down, leave it/drop it, & take it.

When using the flirt pole, make sure your dog does not grab the toy without your command.

If he/she does, stop the game & calmly ask your dog to leave it/drop it. Remain patient & non-interactive until he/she does so & then start over from a sit or down.

The combination of mind stimulation & exercise will make for

 a very happy & content pup by the end of the session.

& the best part. . .the reward C:

ENJOY!

Busy Bulls & a Box

As you all know, treat/food dispensing dog toys can be a bit pricey at time. Unless you find a killer deal on amazon. Even then, they tend to add up (especially with chewers). So what do we do to keep our fur kids happy and busy while we save up?

We utilize what we have at home.

Thankfully, our dogs are easy to please and appreciate anything we do for them. Which in turn makes it very easy for us humans to accommodate to their need for some mind stimulation. Here is a fun way to use a few things you may have laying around the house. It will keep those fur kids occupied, especially on a days you prefer to be indoors. No to mention, it will keep up entertained. ;)


What you will need to gather up:


1. An empty box - size depends on your dog











2. A old blanket, sheet or shirt. - You can use any type of cloth you may have laying around and do not care about. It gets a bit torn and tattered with what is about to go on. The amount of cloth items you use is up to you.




3. We use the kibble we feed our dogs. - You can use treats, baby carrots or anything your dogs finds tasty. You will want to use a good amount to keep your dog occupied and interested, so that is why we use their meal time measurements.







4. Put the kibble / treats in the cloth - You will want to tuck it, roll it, twist it and add it to different sections of the cloth you are using so your pups will have to dig through it and have a bit of a challenge.

5. Place the cloth with the treats inside the box and a few extras - Place some kibble/treats throughout the box, on and around the cloth.










6. Fold the top of the box closed - Ask your pup to "sit", to "down" or to "wait" for their game to begin. Once they are waiting patently,  tell them to take it or get it. . .

Bella Vita

Brad Pit

Make sure you visit our Face Book page and www.modifiedk9.org

Thanks all for looking. 

Eye Contact - Teaching your dog to focus on you.

Eye Contact: 

Teaching our dogs to "look at us" is a very simple command for them to learn. Not only is it a great mind stimulation game, works on name recognition, increased the bond you have with your dog, but it will also help teach your dog NOT to pull on his/her leash while out on walks and makes it easier for you to communicate with your dog when there are pesky distractions around that may normally get your dog in a tizzy. 

Teaching your dog to look at you should be an every day interaction. 

The best way to teach your dog a new command is with as little (if any) distraction as possible. 

For this post we chose to use the dogs name - some people prefer to use the command "LOOK". Either can be done by following the below. 

What you will need:

- Leash 
- Clicker
- Soft high value treats 
- Willing dog wanting those treats ;)

Ok, Ready to learn how to teach your dogs to focus on you!?

#1 With little to no distractions, start with your dog on a leash, sitting or standing in front of you, place the treats in your left hand. Wait patiently. The INSTANT that your dog looks or even glaces up at your face, CLICK & then TREAT.

** You may have to be on your toes with this one, as some of the glances may be quick. The faster you are at catching them, the faster the dog will pick up and the glances will get longer.

**If the dog is a bit scattered and looking all over the room, you can make a sound to help pull your dogs attention up toward your face/eyes. 

#2 After your dog eats the treat let a few "seconds" elapse and wait for your dog to look at something else that is not you.
 

#3 Once your dog picks up what you are trying to get him/her to do (look at your eyes), say your dog’s name (or "look"). The second he/she looks up at your face, Click for eye contact & Treat. 


#4 Repeat steps 1-3 until your dog is looking up at you every single time you say his name. (or the "look" command) 


To summarize:
Every time your dog looks at you when you say his/her name, Mark that moment and give him/her that tasty Treat. 


SIDE NOTE:

In the beginning - For some dogs, it may help to hold the treat between your eyes to get your dog to focus on your face.

** But make sure you do NOT rewarding your dog for following your hand from the treat bag up to your eyes.

- ONLY reward your dog for those times that your dog looks away (at something other than you or the treats) and then back at you.

____________________________

Tips:

-Do this ( Before ) your dog eats his/her meal. You want them a bit hungry for an extra boost of attention. ;)

-Be consistent: if you reward your dog for EVERY time he looks at you  - when you say his/her name - you will have their undivided attention. 

-Keep beginning training sessions short and sweet, no more than 5 minutes when first introducing a new behavior.  

** When your dog gets bored you will have a hard time ending on a "positive note". So, stay on your toes and keep it fun!

-Start off in one spot, try not to move around a lot. 

-Do these steps a few times a day until your dog does not hesitate to look up you at your face/eye when you say his/her name, then take it out doors and repeat steps 1 - 4.

- When moving to a new location it may seem like the dog is backtracking . Have patience and help your pup be successful in that environment. You never want to start training in a highly active area. Work your (their) way up to it. You both will have a better chance at succeeding this way. 

REMEMBER ALWAYS: 

Have patience & be consistent.

When you have time also Check out this fun article: 

"Your Dog is Watching You"

Come when called. - Recall Game

We use the clicker (or marker) during a lot of our training sessions. When we use the clicker we never us it to attract our dogs attention. The clicker is used when our dogs are doing the exact action we want.

Today we are going to fill you in on a fun game we do with our pups to teach them how to come when called. This exercise will help your dog understand to come to you every time you call them.

Pick a spot that is safe, fenced in or even start in your home so your pup can't get away from you if they get distracted. Start off with two people standing about 8-10 feet apart from one another. Each person will have some soft, small sized treats and a clicker. We like to use Natural Balance food rolls for our dogs training.

When everyone is ready start calling your pup with the word "come" or "here". Make sure everyone uses the same word in a happy tone. When the pup comes to you click, put your hand on the dogs collar and give him/her the treat.

As your pup learns the game, start increasing the distance and the distractions. You will want to start of at a short distance with little to no distraction at first to help your dog succeed in this game. Have fun and make the training sessions short. Making sessions short will keep your pups attention and your pup will learn to stay focused. Too long of a session and your pup can get distracted easy. You always want to end on a good note and the command you asked of your dog.

Tips on when to call your dog:

-Never call your dog for negative/bad things
-Never call your dog and then lock him up for the day to go to work or leave the house.
-Never call your dog to come in from play time, instead go get him.
-DO call your dog for positive/good things like dinner time, treats, walks, car rides, games, play, cuddle time ;)

When you teach your dog to come when called remember you may need it one day to save your dogs life so every time you call your dog it MUST be related to something positive. Then watch them come flying into your arms.

How do you tire out 3 dogs in one word?...

The answer:

!! BALL !!

It is amazing how something as simple as a ball will provide hours of play, stimulation, exercise and happiness.  With just a ball, you can work on your pups "sit", "wait" and "come" commands as well. A few hours of ball time with your pups will give YOU a few hours of down time in the end. ;)

Check out Bella Vita, Johnny Royal and Brad Pit's ball time and the ear to ear smiles it has created. Not to mention some very pooped pups in the end.

Police Respond to Vicious Dog in Baltimore City

Here at Mk9, we receive a lot of emails and messages about Pit Bull and Pit Bull type dogs. News reports and stories from all over. From both sides of the spectrum as well. The good, and the bad. When we find the ones we believe will do good to help further the education of the general public, we "Share" them with hopes that people will be influenced, and motivated to see Pit Bulls and their owners for what they are, and not what the Media would make them out to be.

Today, we received a rather interesting story from a gentleman in Baltimore. It was a story about a Vicious Dog call, and the Police Officer who answered it. The interesting part is, the gentleman who sent the story IS that Officer who answered the call. So here is the account, from the source;


Hey,

I'm a Police Officer in Baltimore City. I am originally from Wilkes-Barre, and I am a fan of your organization and Pit Bulls. Today I received a call while on duty about a vicious dog chasing kids. When I came on the scene, I noticed people yelling out their windows at the dog. I followed the dog into an ally to see how it was acting. Going on my own approach, being a dog lover, I got out of my car and called the "vicious dog" over to me. The dog came over with it's tail between it's legs and panting. I grabbed my water bottle and the dog sat down next to me and began licking my pants. I started giving the dog water. I brought the dog over and waited for the pound to show up. My partner was not a fan of dogs and was startled by my approach. I suggested to him that this dog cannot be put down, and should be taken to a shelter. We took it upon ourselves to take the dog to the shelter, and transported it in the back seat in the back of our patrol car. Then I decided that I wanted to keep the dog, and spoke to the shelter about the steps to take to adopt it. The dog was originally kept outside and was filthy, and now it just might have a new home. I know you like positive pictures so I have attached a few. Have a great day and keep up the good work!

Officer Dan Waskiewicz
Baltimore City Police

When we heard this story we could not help but SMILE, and maybe do a tail shake or two! :)

Then we got to thinking more about it. How awesome is this story! Not only does it have a happy ending to it, but there are also some major applause points:

Instead of assuming the dog to be vicious and shoot it dead, (as we see so many times before) he analyzes the situation, and sees a nervous dog that needs help.

Instead of letting animal control pick up the dog, and let it disappear, or be put down, he personally takes it to a shelter, IN HIS CRUISER!!!

Finally, he offers the pup a new forever home!

So we at Mk9 would like to say Thank You! Officer Dan, for taking the time to be patient and give a dog a chance. And step outside the stereo types and see this for what is was. A loose dog who was nervous, and needed someone to help. Not someone to yell at him and assume him to be dangerous.

Here is "Bo" with his new family. A perfect picture of a perfect ending or an amazing new beginning. 

Photo by Dan Waskiewicz

CHECK OUT THIS AWESOME UPDATE!!  We'll keep it a secret until you click the link ;)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150968546036956&set=a.277239856955.154351.58771761955&type=1&theater

And this :D
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150968544351956&set=a.277239856955.154351.58771761955&type=1&permPage=1

AND THIS!!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150958328476956&set=a.277239856955.154351.58771761955&type=1&theater

Dog Parks

We feel that dog parks are typically a poor idea for any dogs as a general rule (this doesn't mean we would ever condemn you for using them though!). As someone who has studied animal behaviors and displays for my entire life, i cringe when i watch dogs at dog parks. So many owners not paying attention to the slightest body posturing, bullying, humping, pooping, etc. Certain breeds are just more prone to being dominant to other dogs as well as low dog tolerance and flat out dog aggression. You can have a dog never exhibit an ounce of dog dominance or aggression....until the day another dog grabs ahold of it at the local dog park. It can also just be learned from the other dogs and the 'pack' environment dog parks usually create.

The most obvious reason, to me, for them being a less than amazing idea is how easy it is for larger dogs (of any breed or any background) to injure a smaller breed of dog, or a puppy (even in easy play). Most people say "these things happen" and "don't worry", but then you receive a vet bill totaling thousands of dollars, or a law suit, or the dog warden's visit. Unfortunately, we no longer live in a society where we can take people at their word. We also live in a society where, if you own a pitbull (or any of the other BSL-[breed specific legislation] targeted breeds), you are automatically expected to go above and beyond the precautions of the average dog owner. Is this a fair obstacle we must hurdle? Of course not, but it's simply the way things are in the world of BSL.

Another much more common reason, is the laziness of other dog owners. If someone cannot watch their own dog's behavior, do you think they're going to be cleaning up after their dog? Not likely. The list of diseases transmitted via the simple sniff or step into a pile of waste is scary. You have no way of knowing for certain if these dogs in question have had all vaccines. Some dog parks want proof of certain vaccinations these days, and that is an awesome approach, but not fool-proof. This whole area is the one that I find most scary, as well as most unappealing, and just gross.

A third point to touch on is just setting your dog up for failure. I have known many dogs who never react after a first altercation or attack from another dog.I have also known dogs who have been completely ruined after an early serious altercation in their lives. It can have an adverse reaction in a dog's life, and can always make a dog anticipate the worst. This can in turn, CREATE fights that are stated by your own dog now thanks to that first ever highly negative reaction.

Every breed of dog has a specific genetic makeup. Each breed has certain temperament traits that have defined them for centuries. However, the genetic gene pool for "pit bulls" (american staffordshire terriers, staffordshire bull terriers, american pit bull terriers, and every single mix thereof) has been so watered down by unscrupulous breeding with no care to standard, that it has created dogs who lull you into a false sense of security with their behaviors towards canine friends. It has also made people who have adopted pit bull mixes for 10-20 years feel as if every single pit bull will be just like those 2 or 3 dogs they got lucky with. That is just that though.....a lucky streak on their part.

After being a life long akita owner, and adopting my first pit bull 7 years ago already, I once established that I would never be a dog park frequenter. At first this was an idea that really upset me, until I actually visited my first dog park. All I had to do was sit there and simply watch everyone else for a few hours. It was enough to provide a panic attack and make me feel blessed to have never been a regular at one. ;)

Things like doggie play dates with a small group of familiar dogs, or even only one other dog, are amazing alternatives to dog parks. Then you and someone you trust can handle every issue and situation that could arise. You can easily stop dogs when needed or break up any scuffles. You can also feel safe knowing no diseases will be transmitted if it's someone you have known for quite some time and feel totally confident in trusting. The keyword to me for doggie play dates, is TRUST. Make sure this is with someone you can trust, or an environment you can easily control if you need to be the one in charge.

Another fantastic option is a run/jog or a hike with canine friends and their owners, where all dogs are leashed. This enables positive interactions as well as the highest level of control. Dogs can easily focus on the other scents and sights in these ventures too, and not focus so seriously on another dog. See our Pit Bull PowWow outings.

The last thing I want to finish with is this: It will not kill your dog to never make doggie friends outside his or her house. Pit bulls and many breeds similar to them in temperament care about one thing above all else....YOU and interacting with you. All of the dog parks, play dates, and canine travels in the world cannot hold a candle to the joy little Fido gets from hanging out with you. So get outside and interactive with him/her, take in this gorgeous late spring weather, and most importantly bring a leash to guarantee the safety of pooches around you (especially your own pooch)!

Written by: Nikki Stixx

Time to store the food bowls. . .

We are putting those bad boy bowls up on a shelf, out of reach. . .
Why?

Well, there will be no more "free" meals for our pups.  Dogs in general like to search for their food, they love to work and the mind stimulation is great for a healthy dog. Our normal routine in the mk9 home is to ask our dogs to sit or down before they receive their meals, but we are stepping up the game a bit. Now they will have to work for their entire meal, in a fun tasty way.

What we are about to show you works well for people on the run and don't have a lot of time to do training until their dogs entire meal is finished. This also works well for dogs that are racer eaters (gobble their food in 2 bites), dogs that like to dump their dishes or dogs that get board with their food (picky eaters).

"We can treat boredom using constructive discontent (hunger) to expend energy, and stimulate intelligent problem solving, resulting in pets that are physically healthy, smarter, and more emotionally fulfilled." - Dr Tripp

What you will need is:

-Large (or) x large size Kong Ball (black), Kong Wobbler or a feeding puzzle that your dog really loves.
The reason for these choices instead of your dogs average food bowl, is there is CHALLENGE involved.

-Next you will need your dogs food that you normally feed.

-For Kong Balls we like to add a bit of Peanut butter (optional) to the top to hold in the dog food.

Food puzzles for your pups will vary in difficulty when getting the food out, pick something that best suits your dogs personality. For example: if your pup is a bit over weight or very clever at getting the food out you may want a harder food puzzle like Canine Genius. If your pup is on the thinner side or gets easily frustrated we recommend starting with an easy puzzle or kong ball. If you like to add a bit more variety to their meal time hide the feeding puzzles around your home.

NOTE:
- If you have more then one dog in your home, make sure all dogs are separated during feeding time. We wouldn't want to set our fur kids up for failure by placing a high value item in the middle of two or more driven dogs. So, put your pups in their own crates or designate a specific room for each.

-Do you feed your dog canned/wet food?
If you do, freeze the food in the puzzles or place the feeding puzzle in a x large bowl which makes it more difficult to get the food and keeps the room cleaner. ;)

Here is a list of some of our favorite feeding puzzles.

If anyone would like to donate any of the below feeders to the mk9 rescue dogs we would be grateful.  

Email mk9karen@hotmail.com for address or more details. Thanks all ;)

• Kong toys  
• Molecuball Treat Ball 

• Busy Buddy Toys 
• Crazy Ball 

"Having a job to do, a challenge, a problem to solve that is within your abilities to do is what keeps us alive, aware and engaged in our lives and the same is true for our canine companions." - Dr. Marty Becker 

We ((LOVE)) routine! -and so do the dogs!

A solid strict schedule = structure, patience & obedience 

Even after a short time the new kid Johnny is picking up on our routine.

We try as best as we can to keep the pups schedule the same every day.
They wake up at a certain time, go out at a certain time, eat at a certain time, train at a certain, play at a certain time and even cuddle at a certain time.

With a schedule along with the "nothing is free" method we help the dogs become more balanced, calm and content.

They get to know what is coming next.
This schedule helps them replace their anxiety or bad behavior issues with patience and understanding of how things run around here.

We are the leaders and they are our pup scouts.

Feeding time:

After the pups all do their business they head back to their crates, their food is placed in front of them and they are told to WAIT as we close the door and do the same for the next pup.

After all the food is down, doors are closed and they are "waiting" nicely we tell them all "OK" and they are free to enjoy their meal.

NOTE:
We feed ALL of our dogs in their crates at ALL times.
This allows them space to eat their food as they will with out being burdened by another dog or devouring their food in a fast manner because there is another dog scouting out their meal.

Crating at feeding time will prevent any unnecessary spats and after they finish their meal they get to relax & digest until it is time to go out for their morning walks and training session.

Frozen Stuffed Kongs

Froze Stuffed Kongs are a wonderful thing when we have a busy day ahead and need an extra few minutes to do laundry, dishes, check your emails or what have you.  The night before you go to bed and after the pups are settled in for the night. Collect all the Kongs you have laying around your house or in their crates.  Stuff them with your pups favorite canned dog food and some peanut butter.  Then place all the Kongs in the freezer until the next morning. It is that simple.

Frozen Kongs are great for when we have new dogs starting on tie downs and getting use to their crates.  Keeps them busy for some time which leaves you free  to catch up on some work or much needed rest. Esp if your a foster parent. ;)

Check out Johnny Royal and his first ever Frozen Kong. Kept him busy for about an hour this morning. No lie - an entire HOUR! With an active 2 year old son in our house we have no time for rest so the extra hour made time for some Lego building adventures.
YAY for Frozen Stuffed Kongs!

Safety Clip For Extra Measures

When getting ready for our outings one of these first things we do is make sure all of our pups collars and harnesses are fitted properly (not too tight, never too loose). When that is all secure we do one extra step that may save you and the pups from an "oops" moment.

We add a safety clip to the end of the leash which
attached to the harness or no slip martingale collars.  You can get the clips at any sporting good store, super market or you can even find them in your dollar general stores. They are usually any where from  $5.00 to $10.00 depending on the clasp.

At one time or another  we have had dogs bounce around in excitement on the end of their leash and unhook the leash clip to the collar leaving us with a leash in hand and NO dog. The dog is off in another direction running after a rabbit, bird or what have you. The feeling is not a good feeling so we have added an extra safety measure to make sure this doesn't happen. We feel a bit better as well using this simple trick with our leash reactive dogs. We always want an extra hand when it comes to making sure they stay at our side ;)

Once you have the clips the next steps are extremely simple.  Attach the clip from your leash to your collar or harness. You want to make sure the openings of the 2 clips are facing opposite directions.

Shown on a Freedom No-Pull Harness

Shown on a Martingale no slip collar - Awesome collar handmade by Sirius Republic

And there you have it. Easy as that!! Check out our friends at Sirius Republic and get your clips ordered.
Who would of thought a $6.00 clip could save hundreds of dollars in medical bills... "dog for bid" your pup ever got away and got hurt.

The simple things are what makes us sm:)e.
Happy outings all.

Want to Become a Foster? Start by Finding the Right Rescue Group

Fostering is not a task to take lightly.  Not only are you opening your heart and home but you are introducing an entirely new world for the dog that will be entering your life.  A game plan should be in place BEFORE you bring home your new friend.  Although you are not starting out as the dog's "forever" home, fostering is still a long-term commitment. Be ready to make this amazing commitment!

Today, we're focusing on the importance of choosing the right rescue group. Fostering for a quality rescue group is probably the most important aspect of your fostering journey.

*A successful foster experience requires a good relationship with the rescue group you are working with.
*An important goal of the rescue group should be making the right dog/family match. The rescue group should take matching foster dogs with foster families very seriously.
*Stay clear of groups that will toss any dog your way before getting to know you and/or the dog.

A QUALITY RESCUE GROUP - WHAT ELSE DOES THAT MEAN?

Quality rescue groups will ASK you the right questions!

An experienced group will WANT to know about your environment/life, how many family members are living with you and if they will be helping with or at least accepting of a foster dog. They will want to know about the other animals you have (how many and what kind). They will want to determine for themselves if those animals will be accepting of another animal and go over options if they are not. They will want to know if you have the knowledge of fostering in general and for the specific breed you may be choosing (side note here - no experience does not mean you don't qualify! It just means that a good group will take this, and everything else, into consideration when finding the right match). An experienced rescue group will want to know if you are willing and able to follow their guidelines for fostering one of their dogs. They'll want to know if you'll be willing to communicate concerns that may arise during your journey with your new friend. They will want to make you aware that it can take time to find a forever family and will want to know if you are completely on board.

*Bottom line - they will want to find out everything they can about you just as much as you want to find out about them!

GO TEAM! Fostering is a team effort.

Look for a group that will give you the support and guidance you will need during the entire time your foster dog is with you.  This is a group effort and you should never feel as if you are taking this on alone.  This journey is a huge responsibility that all parties need to take seriously (all parties = you, people in your home, and people of the rescue you decide to go with). The more seriously all parties take fostering, the more likely you all will successfully reach your goals - getting the dog home-ready and finding the right forever home!

WHAT ELSE SHOULD I FIND OUT?

Fostering is a two-way relationship - what questions should YOU ask?

Make sure you ask the group you are going to foster for how they will aid in this foster experience:

-What will they supply to get you started? (crate, bowls, blankets, collar, leash etc. . .)
-Will they take care of the foster dog's medical/vet needs?
-Will they help you with obedience & home-ready training?
-What will they do with the dog when/if your family goes on vacation? Or has an emergency?
-How will they help you address issues that may arise?
-Will they be available for questions at any time regarding your foster dog?
And any other questions that you can think of that will help you enter this situation with confidence.

The experience.

Fostering is a fun and very rewarding experience. You will grow and learn right along with your foster dog. You will feel joy and love and your new friend will feel it, too.  It may not be easy at first but you are learning and so is the dog you just saved.  Be patient. Be kind. Ask questions. Learn. Enjoy.

Happy fostering everyone. 1 home = 1 life saved!