possible foster for my dog? - Page 1

My life is going through an unexpected transitional period. I don't want to give up my German Shepherd Dog, but she can't stay with me right now. She is a west german showline, 1 and a half year old girl who up-to-date on all shots, obedience trained, house-broken, and well socialized with dogs and kids.

I'm looking for a temporary home for her while things get straightened out. I don't have a timeline, althought I'm thinking it will be about a month. I'm looking for someone in North Eastern IL, near the WI/IL border. So I can visit her often and keep working her, and drop off food.
I WILL take care of providing her food.
I WILL provide toys, collar, leash, bowls and a copy of her vet records if requested.

She would do best with a foster that doesn't have cats. She's never been around them, so I don't know how she'd react. She likes chasing squirrels. She would probably chase a cat.

She is crate-trained. I'd suggest using one when not supervised while she adjusts.
I can provide a big crate if needed.

She doesn't need a fenced yard, but if there isn't one she must be tied out and supervise her when she's outside. She won't just stay in a yard on her own like some dogs. She is used to being tied out.
I can provide a tie-out if needed.

She is lively, but not hyper. Inside she is very calm-submissive. Outside she wants to wrestle and play. She rarely barks. She is not a chewer. She is a very happy dog. She loves swimming.



Please private message me for more information and/or to work out an arrangement. The sooner the better. Thank you for taking time to read this.

Good reputable boarding kennel will do the trick. I would never ever let my dog go to someone whom I have found on Internet. Even people with good intentions will mess up and dog may end up in a traffic. Keep in mind that the dog will be upset and will try to go home! I have run several boarding kennels and I have seen even bullet proof professional  enclosures get dismantled be determined dog who decided that he/she is going home.
I would also most definitely stay away from touchy feely " your dogie will have fun with other doggies" kennels. Yes it costs money,.. for a month you will spend few hundred bucks. How much is your dog worth it to you.    
For longer periods of time you can negotiate price down especially with smaller kennels. 
Prager Hans
http://www.alpinek9.com 

I'm near the WI/IL border and can give you a good reference for a place to board this girl.  I think Prager is absolutely correct on this one.  Send me a pm if you are interested.
Judy

I read once the the GSD if moved will try and go home and go to any lengths to accomplish this goal. Well I moved, I was here, kids were here and she learned to be an escape artist. This dog is boundry trained and never leaves my side, prior to this she would not go thru an open front door unless invited. But after we moved she was determined to go home for approx 6 months. Was pure hell catching her all the time. About 6 months, she got out and laid down in the front to sun herself she was home.

Also, those who have or have runn kennels can anwser this question, but I am wondering, if you visit her all the time, is this not just going to keep her upset. Would the visits be more for you than her well being?

Hans and Judy, I know where you're coming from, but I get the impression that the OP is hoping to be able to 'board' her girl in a home situation as opposed to a kennel, which I can understand since GSDs generally don't do well when kenneled for a long stretch of time if they're used to being a housepet (a big reason why they tend to show so poorly in animal shelters, and why GSD rescues are ALWAYS in need of more foster homes...).

Silverbolt, Hans and Judy are right, though--you're taking a HUGE risk with your girl if you place her for foster with someone you've met only through an Internet message board or advertisement...I can't imagine gambling with my dog like that, even knowing why you're looking to find a foster for her.  The ways this could go bad are myriad, with even the least awful of them being that you end up losing your dog forever even if she's healthy and happy....

Did you purchase your girl from a breeder or broker here in the US?  If so, have you asked if they could foster her for the time necessary?  Even if they aren't located nearby to facilitate visits from you, that might be a better option.  Perhaps you could check with the rescue groups in your area, and see if they know of anyone reputable who 'petsits' in their own home--since that's really closer to what you're seeking, as opposed to fostering.  Ditto with asking your vet for suggestions--I'd be more inclined to make an arrangement with a stranger I met through an ad on my vet's bulletin board, where I can check with my vet as to their history of care for their own dogs, than someone I hooked up with on a site like this.  If you're dealing with a domestic violence situation where you need to get out immediately but can't take the dog to where you're going, check with the women's aid groups in your area and see if they have something set up for those kind of situations--many of them have started making those kind of arrangements too; it's not uncommon for women to hold off getting out of a bad situation if it means leaving their pets behind because they know the pet will pay the price for the woman's escape, so some of these groups are addressing that need in order to make it possible for the woman and the pet to both get to safety.

Many years ago, I had to board 3 Siberians for two months while waiting for repairs to be completed so I could close on a house, and I will always remember how hard it was on both the dogs and me--and Siberians aren't anywhere near inclined to have the dog/owner bond that GSDs develop--so I can understand not wanting to go that route if at all possible.  But that might be the safest avenue to go if you can't find someone in some other fashion other than via the Internet....

Hexe, you are right on all counts.  I was mainly thinking of the safety issue.  I would never leave my dogs with someone I didn't know very well and who didn't know my dogs and their quirks, of which all of them have some.  I think you would be dealing with an unhappy dog no matter where they landed but personally I'd rather opt for safety rather than a lesser measure of unhappiness in a foster home.  Just my opinion.......
Judy