Fostering Team Doxie dogs is one of the most important facets of MHDR. Without our fosters, we would not be able to save homeless dachshunds. Fosters are the bridge between homelessness and forever homes. You will have the satisfaction of knowing you give your foster dog a firm foundation to be a successful member of his or her new family. You will have the help of the Foster Coordinator all through your fostering experience to answer questions and assist in any way you need. Some of the most frequently asked questions about fostering are answered below.

Keep in mind that it’s always a health risk to expose your companion animal to other animals whether it’s walking at parks, vet waiting rooms or other common animal areas. The health risk is minimal if your animals are current on their vaccinations, maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, and are not elderly or very young. When fostering, you should also have your dog’s vet administer the Bordetella vaccine. This vaccine protects against kennel cough which is very contagious and often called a “doggy cold”.

Foster parents provide space, sometimes basic training, exercise, socialization, and love for the dog. MHDR provides food, leash and harness, any necessary medicines and medical treatment, and other supplies and equipment needed throughout your foster experience.

This is one of the most efficient and effective ways to house train a puppy or retrain an adult dog. Some dogs do not like crates, and most dogs need to be transitioned or “trained” to use a crate.

MHDR highly recommends that a dog be crate trained as this will increase the animal’s value in the eyes of many prospective adopters and can make your foster experience a much more pleasant one. Putting the dog in a crate while you are gone will give you peace of mind knowing that they are in a safe place, away from harm, and not doing any damage to your belongings or themselves. For many dogs, a crate can also represent a safe and comfortable place to call their own and will provide them with a sense of security. Dogs actually like having a “den” to cuddle up in. Crating should NEVER be used as punishment. Many fosters have found that having a small treat inside the crate any time the dog is asked to enter it will greatly enhance his or her sense that the crate is a place of security and, even more important to a dachshund, a source of treats.

Yes, you can. However, please consider this step carefully. Our foster caregivers are special people who bond with a foster dog, often turn a shy dog into a confident, happy animal, and then with a great sense of fulfillment (and often a tear in an eye) send that dog off to live out its life in a loving forever home. The problem here is that fosters always seem to be in short supply. If a caregiver were to adopt their foster dog and leave the foster program, that could mean there is one less needy dog that MHDR can help.

f given enough notice, we can usually find a volunteer to “foster sit” for a short period of time.

As much time as you can. With that said, the amount of time will vary depending on the energy level and needs of the dog you are fostering.

While some dogs do not need medication, some do. For example, if your foster dog has just been spayed/neutered, it will need pain reliever and antibiotics for a few days. We will help you learn the correct way to administer the medications so the experience will be a pleasant one for both you and your foster.

It is important to have your personal pets’ vaccinations up to date when considering fostering. For dogs, this includes the state-required rabies vaccination, along with DAVV or DA2VV which protects against four different distemper viruses, and bordetella vaccine which is given to dogs which are frequently exposed to other dogs in social or boarding settings. Canine facilities, such as daycare centers, boarding kennels, dog parks, and groomers often require dogs to have this vaccine.

Since we don’t always know a foster dog’s history or tolerance level for different types of people and activities, please teach your children how to act responsibly and respectfully around your foster dog. We will do our best to place you with an appropriate animal for your home situation, but you should still supervise all interactions between children and your foster dog.

There are many questions that may arise before and during your fostering experience. Please know that the Foster Coordinator is always available to help with whatever you need.