Lessons from my First Foster
As a first time foster parent, I was nervous, apprehensive, and yet excited. I had never owned a dog before, but had always harbored a great love for them, as they seemed to be the perfect sort of companion everyone would want. Nevertheless, I was uncertain and didn’t quite know what to expect. But it turns out that I needn’t have worried, because I fell in love.
Baby was exactly as her name suggested: tiny, friendly, and cute. As if she could sense my utter lack of confidence, she reassured me by cuddling up to me as I gave a dog bath for the very first time. My days with Baby (I ended up calling her Buddy as a term of endearment) were very pleasant, but I think I underestimated the work involved!
First of all, roll away the carpets and the beautiful Persian rugs, because as soon as Baby arrived she promptly did her business on my hard-fought $55 bargain fluffy mat, as if on command. I learned that accidents like this are common has dogs get acclimated to their surroundings.
After two days, Baby’s personality really emerged, and she began to get bolder, braver, and more comfortable with me and my apartment. It was always surprising to me how well dog owners understood the nuances of their dogs’ personalities, but after living with Baby for more than 2 weeks, I came to realize that this is because their true personalities emerge once they feel more comfortable and know they are being taken care of.
My notions of traditional dog care were also challenged, as I had previously assumed that all dogs require 4 to 5 walks a day. However, this isn’t always true, and must be adapted to the nature of the dog as well as their individual energy level. Baby preferred to go on walks when the weather was cool, and when I tried to walk her in the rain, she made her displeasure known by simply refusing to move and looking up dolefully at me as if to suggest that I was being unreasonable. This was challenging, but also a good learning experience as I (with the help of my Foster Buddy) navigated the path to ensure that she got the time she needed outside to relieve herself and stay engaged and stimulated.
Training also proved to be an interesting experience. Due to a lack of space, our training sessions usually took place in her natural habitat (i.e. my sofa). As a result, whenever I’d ask her to sit, she’d run straight to the couch to take a seat! It is important to understand what motivates your dog. Whether it’s praise, food, or toys, the trick to training is finding what your dog likes to “work” for!
Fostering is a wonderful way to dip your toes into the beautiful world of owning animals, and it’s a great way to learn what’s important to you when you’re ready to adopt your own furchild. One should consider the match between their lifestyle and energy level, as well as the level of care required for the dog. Making sure a plan is in place before adoption will truly ensure that your pet has the support they need to be happy.
Lastly, and this is perhaps the most important point: A first time foster will need to prepare themselves for the mixed emotions that accompany the adoption of the dog. While I was happy that I was able to help Baby find her new home, I ended up shedding the big, ugly tears as I placed her in the arms of her forever parents. It really is a bittersweet moment, and I realized I wasn’t alone in facing it as I read through the many self-care tips from numerous first time fosters who also seemed to be struggling with the same feelings. Nevertheless, it is an experience I will always fondly recollect, because as much as I like to think I did a good job of taking care of Baby, the reality is she ended up doing just as good a job in taking care of me.
Aishwarya is a Muddy Paws foster.
