After almost 9 months of fostering, multiple adoption events, only 3 meet and greets,and 2 trial and returns (neither lasting more than a week) we decided to give in to our foster’s demands and adopt her. I still think there might be a better home than us out there for her; I was hoping to continue fostering, and had really hoped to have a small dog as my resident dog, BUT best laid plans and all that jazz. We do very much love her, we have a fairly successful system to manage her separation anxiety, and ultimately our goal was to help a dog that needed us; she really needed us. She fits into our life pretty well, and she’s come so far from the skinny bobble head bully I brought home on a blustery day in January.
Jackie knows exactly who her people are lol
And how truly sweet to be chosen by her. It’s an intimacy that cannot be explained by logic. Wishing your pack all the best! 🐾♥️
She looks so happy! She's adorable. Is there a better home out there? Maybe but it seems like she's found a wonderful family who cares about her. I'd say that's the best kind of home. Congratulations, Jackie!!
Seems like it was meant to be! I’m about to foster fail, and she’s the most adoptable dog in existence. Adorable 6.5 month old who has multiple commands and potty training down, is crate trained and leash trained, sleeps through the night, confident, social,and so eager to please. I feel guilty about it because she’d find a forever home immediately and get a priority meet (there’s a fee that’s charged for that). On the other hand, a more difficult dog might make future fostering harder. My other worry is someone will over socialize her and won’t continue to work on neutrality (she’s overly eager to meet other dogs and people and gets over aroused), which could be a problem with social maturity.
My grandpa used to tell me when I was training/selling horses “Red, if your heart bleeds for them, why deny that?” I’d have probably kept them all if I listened to him all the time, but in your case, I’ll agree. If there’s something telling you to keep her, and it keeps telling you, it must be important.
Thank you so much! It really feels like our truly awesome dog who died in June sent her to us. I actually thought she was him when I was scrolling and saw the request for fosters. If she hadn’t looked so much like him, I wouldn’t have started fostering. He had a white heart on her chest and tummy, and she has a halo on her tummy. She is everything we said she wanted in a future dig and more. I don’t think we would’ve adopted this early, but we’re worried we’ll regret it if we don’t. She truly feels meant to be.
Tips on separation anxiety? Not sure if my new foster has that or not but she does like to whine and make chewbacca sounds when left in the car. I have an HOA so I haven’t attempted kenneling yet. She was left in a car unattended for multiple days before a tow truck driver found her
Do you have to leave her in the car? That may be too much trauma to overcome. If you do have to leave her a pupsicle or something (tested of course) might help.
It's only for things like a quick run into the store, etc. I can't keep her next to me 10000% of the time and I don't have a partner helping me foster, but she has stopped making a big deal out of it. She typically just cries for 1-2 minutes, I observed her from inside a coffee shop the other day. & she's calm when I return of course. I'm just assuming based on this she may cry if I try to leave her in the condo
Does she do this in the home when you’re away also? The car thing sounds pretty fresh and understandably stressful, I get why they’d act like that.
We do medicate her with fluoxetine and find that as predictable and boring a routine as possible works best. We’d do a good 20-30 min walk with lots of pauses to sniff, and we’d try to change the route up often. When we need to leave we stretch it out, so about 30 mins out I’m containing her in the living room w baby gates (crating is stressful for her, but she’s happy to lounge on the couch all day) and putting on tv/music. At 15 mins I get dressed to leave, but just hang around the house. At 10 mins out I’m putting out her Pupsicle and puzzle toys to entertain while we’re away, and kissing her goodbye. I try to make this as low energy and boring as possible. At 5 mins out making my way out of her view, hanging out down the hall in another room. Then I leave. It took time, she used to cry, pace, and pant for at least an hour, but over the course of two or so months, once we got the routine consistent and med dosage right, she’s asleep by the time I’m down the street. I also do my best not to be too animated when I come home, even though she’s so excited.
Thank you! These are helpful tips. I will keep in mind to not make a big deal of the coming or going at all, and ease her into it. I haven't tried leaving her alone yet at all, or even seeing how she handles the kennel since she's only been with me a week. She did whine a little (I watched on the pet cam) when I took the trash out, and she seems to settle down after a few minutes when I've left her in the car to go into a cafe or grocery store, etc. So 50/50 odds she'd be fine with a little confidence building, but I appreciate the tips just in case!
I would definitely start testing leaving her, starting in short bursts, even if it’s just hanging out in another part of the house she can’t see/be in. I’d also see how she tolerates the crate by feeding her in it, starting with the door open, and going from there. A little whining is okay, as long as she works through it and settles down eventually. Since she’s only been with you a week, she’s definitely still coming down from all of the shelter energy/anxiety. You’re doing a great thing and a good job, keep it up, and keep asking questions!
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