Fostering A GSD - Page 1

Hello Everyone,

I recently started voluteering at my local Humane Society and was thinking about fostering. I talked a little bit to the main staff leader about it, but she is now out of town on vaccation for 10 days and I have tons of questions for her or anyone that has fostered. I was thinking about fostering "Julie."

Her breakdown:
Female GSD
Spayed and Up to Date on Shots
Good with kids, cats and dogs
Special Food is Needed as she has a skin condition (no other dogs can get it. She has had it since she was a pup) CANNOT HAVE CANNED FOOD
About 5 Years
Man Shy
She wouldn't love on anyone. I went in today & yesterday, and she wouldn't come up to the front of her kennel for anyone except me. (She must of known I love GSDs)
Housebroken-will go to the door or jump on her kennel door and bark at me ("let me out, please!")
Cannot be around Livestock (Reason for owners giving her up)
She does not know how to play at all. She is very laid back and quiet. (Nothing like my shepherd.) No energy. I think she is a bit older than 5 maybe close to 6 1/2 or 7.
Black/Tan, tall but skinny and lanky...not build the way a GSD should be from a good breeding

A little bit about my family in case you need to know:
10 Year Old Brother, my mother and myself
Female GSD unspayed, Sadie 2 1/2 years old
Chihuahua/Poodle mix, Cujo 5 months (not neutered but has a DR appointment on Sept 10th)
Cat, Tiger who is 2 years
We have five arces and I take the dogs out for a walk, jog or run daily for 2-4 miles around our neighborhood. It really depends on if Cujo goes, as he is so little he gets tired so fast and wants to be carried. Not fenced, but have a outside kennel which is I think a 15 X 20. We live in the country but will be going into town for obedience training along with therapy work. We have talked about doing it as a family for months and all agree that we think we should, but not sure what dog to start with. Julie of course, caught my eyes as her being a pure GSD and everyone that comes in looks at her, and walks away because she lays down in the back as if she wants nothing to do with them. Would be only at my house by herself for 2-3 hours a day, but of course of two dogs and beloved cat will be with her.

So I have some questions like I usually do. If anyone has fostered, what have you seen as far as good and bad experiences? Ideas for best food for Julie with a skin condition? Any good ideas on how to teach her to play? (The Humane Society has three really big kennel runs outside. I think they are about 50 X 30, where the dog can run, play ball, wrestle, walk, etc. I have taken Julie out every few dogs. I think I counted take 5, one at a time, and then go get Julie, then do 5 and let Julie out. I brushed her out today and it took me over 20 minutes to do. She loved on me, but wanted nothing to do with anyone else. She won't even play ball! The staff was impressed with me actually getting inside her kennel to brush her out. The manager stopped by and noticed Julie giving me kisses, and told me about fostering her. She thinks it would be great for the both of us.)  Do you think I should crate her while gone? If so, should I try it while being at home first and then when I am out?

Now that I started writing this, I forgot all my questions. =) I will just ask as the questions come into my head again.
Feel free to ask anything about Julie or my family.
Thanks
RockyMud



 

*chuckles*  I think if you choose to "foster" Julie.. you're gunna add another dog.  Dukie came for a 2 week foster... that was 2 years ago...  

Congratulations on your new dog!

I'd want to know what KIND of skin condition she has... is it demodex? Food allergy, thyroid, auto immune... etc.  Also it's the content of the food, not whether it's canned or dry that would cause trouble.  You should get copies of her medical records and talk them over with your vet so you are sure you understand the cause, treatment and future of the issue. Most generally skin allergies are cause by the source of protein in the food... ie Chicken, so she has to have fish or lamb etc... It could also be thyroid, meaning lifetime meds... or it could be from stress.  Klytie and Duke both came here on Clonicalm and had horrible coats from the stress of  being in a kennel/pound environment.  Here at home we were able to stop it within a month. Duke also doesn't care for men, unless they talk and walk softer, and raise their voices... Given a lil time for adjustment he's now warmingup to people in just a few hours, rather than weeks... but when paniced I'm still his safety net.

RockyMud - thank you for taking the time and effort to foster.  I'm on my second foster and love it.  It's great seeing the dogs grow and better themselves. 

Our current foster came to us having not been around other dogs, so she didn't know how to play.  In fact, when I played with my own dogs, she went at them as if they were doing something wrong.  Several months later she is able to play with my dogs and other dogs that have been brought into the house.  Your foster will learn from the other dogs as well.

She was also not completely filled out as we were told that her vet said she may never completely fill out because of malnourishment when she was young.  This malnourishment left her with multiple fractured teeth.  Through diet her health is much improved and at nine years old she acts more like she's four or five.  She actively plays with each of our dogs and is enjoying life.

Any dog coming into my house is controlled by the owner or is on a leash that I or one of my family members maintains.  The leash is a requirement until I determine the new visitor is not a harm to my animals, my family or my belongings.  I have even tied the leash to my waste to make sure I don't lose track of the leash. 

In addition to the leash, any time I cannot put complete attention to the dog, I have him/her in a crate.  The dog is created when we're away and at night.  So, to answer your question about crating - yes, crate the dog when needed.

I am suspect of any dog with 'allergies' and the requirement for a specific food.  Allergies in dogs are an indication of a compromised immune system, typically caused by things we humans are lead to believe they need.  The recommended foods are typically over-priced foods exclusively provided by the vet (why does a diet or allergy food need to be prescription only???).  Translate that to MONEY for the vet.  From experience I have learned that a dog fed an appropriate prey-model, species-appropriate diet can make remarkable progress in determining it's the garbage in the food their being fed that causes the problems.  In short - I suggest you consider a raw diet for the dog.  ALL dogs in my house, foster or my own, are raw fed.  Please let me know if you would like more information.

Regarding your own dog:  Why are you neutering a healthy 5 month old pup?  Please make sure you understand weigh out the risks and benefits:  http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf.  Unless there is a medical reason to neuter, I'd let the pup grow and continue to gain its health.

Overall, fostering is a wonderful thing.  It does involve heartache, so be prepared.  The heartache comes at the cost of turning the dog over when it is time.  It's not easy, but it's an awesome feeling to know that you have been able to take a dog and make it capable of living with a caring family for the rest of its life.

Good luck and keep us updated.

Windwalker-
My mother does not want any more dogs, just one to help out, but I have a feeling Julie has already picked my father and myself. We were the first ones to take her out for a week and my dad was impressed with what she knew. But she wouldn't go by my father. I was hoping to help with her that.

Gunnar-
I have always wanted to foster but at first my parents were against it. They didn't want me to fall in love and want them. Now that I am older, I can understand the process of fostering and the benefits it holds for animals. I will have to ask why the special dog food. It did not say on her chart. I will know in tomorrow, as Sunday they are closed =(.

In regards to my own dog, Cujo, the five month old, he will be six months Sept 1st. My vet recommend him getting neutered due to the fact that Sadie (GSD) was in heat in July (puts Cujo at 3-4 months) and he already knew what to do and was trying so hard to. He also spays everything and anything in eye reach. Another reason he is getting fixed is that he is a mix breed, and my family truly loves the German Shepherd, but just loves Cujo. He is really thinks he is a mini GSD. =D It will also be better for him as a loved pet only.
RockyMud

I am very active in rescue, and I can tell you that fosters are desperately needed all across the USA. So many people are losing their homes, having to move, and apartments do not allow dogs over 30 pounds. Our GSDS are very much victims of foreclosure. I have lost count of how many wonderful GSDS that have been turned into their local shelters, because of foreclosure. We have pulled so many this week, yet its just a spit in the bucket. If you can open your home to a foster, God Bless! So many lives are being lost, that is just heartbreaking :(

To funny, I agree, congrats on your new dog.

Make sure you introduce your other dogs off site and walk them together 1st before you bring her home. She may with the attention you are giving her begin to think you belong to her and her alone. It is a wonderful thing to resuce them, but so hard to let them go. Some of them with the realities they have faced will bond to kindess very tightly. To see the gentle side of them and know what they have been through, can make you weep. I wish you the best. Also an Ob class for her would be a great gift to her, she would learn to trust in someone else to make the decissions for her.

Marjorie-
I agree. There are too many dogs out there and the way the economy is going, it does not look like it will end any time soon. I just want to help out. I was only at the Humane Society for about 3 1/2 hours yesterday, and I could not believe how many dogs were brought in. There was I think about 6 within that time frame. Each one was brought in due to the owners not having the money to keep them. I also cannot believe how some people can be so cruel to animals. There is a 16 wk old Pit Bull mix, who came in weighing about 10 pounds. As of yesterday, for only being there for less than five days, he is up to 27 pounds. He was a stray but had a collar inbedded into his neck. It is truly sad.

1Doggie2-
I am actually getting really excited. I was told "no" more dogs when I started Friday...but it doesn't seem to be working. lol. Especially with Julie and now there is Bailey but Bailey, I cannot foster due to him not liking other dogs. Bailey is a Golden Retriever mix. I personally looked up some breeds to match his mix and think Collie and Husky are in there too. Mainly Collie and Golden. I think Julie has bonded with me and knows that I will be there every day until she finds a home or until I can convince mom into getting her or Fostering.

Any ways, I was told there is a class that I have to take before fostering so now comes one of the hard parts, waiting for the class to start as sometimes I get too excited!

For the obedience class, I am getting ready to refresh Sadie's basic obedience with taking basics again in a group setting. Do you think I should do private lessons or group lessons with Julie?

RockyMud

This is a picture of Julie when she arrived at the GCHS (Genesee County Humane Society) in Burton, MI. I will try and get a better one of her on Monday. I do know that she was in the Flint Journal on Saturday (8/23/08).

As far as privates or group, do what you can afford. If you are comfortable handling and ob, group is fine and it also provides some social time in a controlled enviroment. My first GSD was a rescue, who was used to take out the owners frustrating day. She was very hand shy. She taught me alot about the breed. She hand a gentle side to her that made me melt. I thought I understood dogs until I got her. She bite someone with a hand coming at her to pet her, and then had a bite record in our county. I loved her enough to locate a good home for her with an old Indain who had lost his wolf and got her out of the county, because if she bite again she would have been put down, My family I could not trust to keep the doors shut, etc, kids were preteens. That was something I just could not bear. There is not a day that goes by I do not wish I had just moved with her. Was very funny, I would check up on her and he would tell me how special and what an old soul she was. He lived in a very small town and everyone knew her, Because she was so well trained and the biting, they did not mind because she only bit the "jerks" so it was fine with them. After I secured a safe place for her, I vowed never would this happen to me again, I wanted the knowledge to be able help them when in need. I also learned that sometimes because of their background, they may never be a "safe dog" and would need special handling. I have missed her every day for over 10 years.

1doggie2-
I am sorry to hear that you had to find her a new home, but it sounds like she is enjoying herself. I was told to wait a few days and see if any other Shepherds came in. (The manager told me to wait until the team leader came back from vacation and to think about fostering all week.) I am looking up obedience classes and the Humane Society will actually be paying for the class for Julie. Any class I take her to, as a foster will be paid for from donations.

I actually have about 15 hours until the Humane Society opens and I will be going up there to help out. I do have to say that for only being there for about two days has really changed how I feel about certain breeds. There are some many Lab, Pit Bull and Chow mixes. The leader, Terry, said that 4 out of 5 dogs that are brought in were either a Lab, Pit Bull, Chow or a mix of lab/pit. 

On Saturday, I was there for 3.5 hours, and knew almost all the dog's personalities, but for some I could not remember what breed they were. A volunteer who has been working at the shelter for about five years, told me to get a small notebook and make notes about each dog's personality, energy level, obedience, sex, name, age, etc. I think that may help out. She also told me, that if I was to take notes and someone asked about a certain dog, take out the notes and let them read for themselves. Helping out is a very rewarding process.

Thanks so much,
RockyMud