Fostering dog troubles

[alibuch]

I've been considering fostering a dog. I already have one dog that I adopted from the Daejeon shelter but saw a photo of a dog I'm interested in fostering. I am interested in hearing from people here who have more than one dog. I have the typical small, one room apartment that teachers get here. What are the problems you have with having more than one dog? Time? Walking them?

Also... what happens if you can't find an adoptive home? haha

[Ryan]

Hey ali. It's great you are considering taking on a foster. I have taken on many fosters in my small crackerjack one room apartment, and have had 4 dogs here at one point, including my Baxter, so let me give you some of my tricks that I have found work well. I have found that with a small one room studio, it is almost impossible to foster a dog with a hyper personality (such as minpins, etc), so be conscious of that. I don't know how you trained your dog, but when there is more than one dog in a confined space, such as yours or mine, the rules need to become more strict. My dog, along with the fosters I bring in, always have a designated spot as "their" spot/place. It should be a spot that they like when you train them to be there. Train to stay using treats, etc, in that spot. Once they have found it to be a comfortable spot, (Baxter has a little homemade mat, you can use a dog bed, crate, rug, whatever you wish), use it for both good rest time, and punishment/correction time. Think of it like a time-out area. For example, if a dog starts nipping, or picking at garbage can, or any "naughty" thing, I first give them a firm no (usually does the trick). If they do it a second time, I give the firm no as I put them in their "place". They have to stay there, just like a child has a time-out, until I release them. This will correct the bad behavior, and also calm the dog down. This is especially important right away when you introduce a new dog to yours. They should always know that you are boss.

By introducing them gradually to each other, you will get a good repor with both of them.

I would also suggest for the first couple weeks keeping them both crated while you are not at home. They should not be able to see each other either. When you are confident with them, you can gradually allow them to be out of the crate when you are not home. (that is all up to you, and how you want to train them.)

It will be natural for them to do what people call play fight when they first meet each other. This is the two dogs trying to assert themselves as the dominant dog. By keeping a place for each of them, and not allowing it to get out of hand, they will become more compatible with each other, and will develop a healthy relationship. One dog will always be the dominant dog, but you can control how the dog is dominant. If you control it properly, it will be minimal things, such as who get to have the paw on the other when sleeping, who drinks water first, etc. If not controlled at all, it can develop into a constant struggle between the two of them, and in a small apartment, chaos can ensue. :) I made that mistake the first time I ever took a foster in back in the states.

Anyway, those are a couple of my tricks, and I would be happy to talk more if you would like. Just send me an email, or call if you have my number.

Another great person to talk to about this in this forum is cyrax. He has a ton of experience in training dogs, and has trained many dogs who are now very obedient.

[Scarlet13]

Hey,

I have three dogs in my studio apartment and Terry:) I thought it would be overwhelming but it really isn't. We got Ollie 3 weeks ago and he was VERY skittish and reserved. He has clearly had abuse in his past. He is doing very well now though, he claimed his area (bibi's bed...poor bibi) as soon as he came home, and pretty much lived there for the first week. Sometimes he would growl a bit at Bibi, but we have been very clear with him about who is boss and he has responded very well to that. Bibi is very much a perky playful pup and sometimes Ollie gets annoyed with her, but they are doing well (they are spooning right now! AWWW!).

Ollie was doing so well that we decided we could get one more, Minnie Mouse. He responded SO well to her, they must have been buddies at the shelter because he is so brave and confident now. The improvement has been drastic! Minnie is shy but they are helping each other become well adjusted little doggies.

Some of things we did was buy them their own crates, and we invested in pee-pads (just in case). I try to keep their things separate, they don't share leashes, or sweaters, and they all get their own blankets. I like them to know they don't have to compete for things. They have their own space with a bed, some rugs and their blankets. They also eat at specific times from their own bowls. We also try to walk them at the same times every day so that they have a routine. Potty training is going very well overall. Ollie will mark if he doesn't get taken out first thing after he starts walking around in the morning, and he has to be carried downstairs (or he'll pee on the elevator door...eeek!) but since we know that it is easily preventable. Minnie is house-trained but if terry is too loud or plays with Bibi in a manner that could look aggressive she'll get scared and will pee a bit.

They really aren't a big deal at all. It is a bit tricky to walk them all together, and Bibi developed a weird tendency to tinkle when we put her harass on, so we make sure she is on a pee-pad (any explanations for this would be great!) They get along so well that we may just keep them all:)

Oh my apartment is 5m by 5m! and my kitchen is in the closet!

[Ryan]

Scarlet, how old is Bibi? Is she under a year? Often in pups, sometimes up to 15 months, they will tinkle a bit when a harness or leash is put on. It is because they are excited because something good is about to happen (going outside), and pups haven't developed their ability to completely control their bladders, so in return some pee happens. It is just a phase that they will grow out of, and nothing they can help. I've had that problem with most every puppy I have had. It also happens a lot in abused dogs and animals, because of the extreme nerves, they focus on that, rather than other things (such as bladder control) The best thing is to just let it happen, and clean up the piddle, because it is something that they can't help. Just like a child learning to go to the bathroom at first. There are sometimes small "accidents", due to bladder control. :) Anyway, I hope that helps. And again, I am soo glad you took in Minnie. :) :)

[Scarlet13]

Bibi will be a year old in April. She used to tinkle a bit when she got really excited but then it stopped for four or five months, but this is new only from within the last month. Minnie is doing better she hasn't panic tinkled in 3 days now! Yay! But she never gets in trouble for that, honestly I can't see how anyone could ever get mad at her, she has such big watery eyes.

[alibuch]

Well... When I go to the shelter next I'll see if I hit it off with any of the dogs. I connected with the one eye peki but she's long been adopted.

I'm mostly concerned with not being able to find a home. :(

[pukka]

We live in a big apartment now but we did live in a very small apartment
before and we adopted 3cats (1 from a local goverment shelter and 2 from KAPS)
and we found a mini pin and we rescued other dogs at that time so we were
constantly with 6 or 7 animals at the same time.
I worked at night as a volunteer for kids after school program (poor people's childeren)
and I was at home in the day time.

It all depends on the dogs nature. If I see a dog in the street I can't just pick it
up.When I see that the dog is friendly towards my dogs (that I am walking)
then I take the dog home and it usually worked out very well.
I never had problems because of the space.

Another thing is that I am lucky my own dogs are young and not dominant.All they
want is playing :D
Though I did have dominant dogs (rescued) and they knew since day 1 that I am the
Alfa and the only one ;)

If you have shorter than 4/6months to find the dog a new home,I would not do it.
because that is the everage time you will need to find the dog a new home.
If it takes longer than that then finding an other fosterer is an option.

[alibuch]

Well, I have decided not to take two weeks to go home in July. I was going to but due to finances (I will have to find my own apartment in August before starting university here... huge deposits, furnishing an entire apartment, etc), I am just going to wait until Christmas to go home. So I have until the beginning of December to find a home. That gives me about 9 months. My sister will be moving here in August for uni as well so it would be easier if I had two dogs (permanently) with her to help me walk them, etc and since neither of us will have a job, it will only be a few hours on campus each day.

The dog I saw a photo of I was referring to looks like a brussels griffon and if he wasn't adopted by someone, my sister said she will adopt him. So I will be at the shelter March 15th (since Scarlet and I are going to meet up)... while there I'm going to check out this dog.
And since we'll be leaving at Christmas, we'll be able to fly Louise and new dog home with us!

:) I'm excited... my friends all think I'm crazy for wanting to get another dog while I'm here. haha

[Scarlet13]

You may have trouble flying with them at Christmas I think that there is a blackout:( but I'm so happy that you will take in another one, I came here with NO intention of getting another dog, but now I have three:) but they are so small I think that they should only count as one:)

[Karen]

Hi all,

I've moved your discussion about Airline Blackout Periods to a new thread called, yep, Airline Blackout Periods (http://www.animalrescuekorea.org/forums/showthread.php?t=422), over in the Pet Travel section. It will be easier for others to find the information over there.

Thanks!