Allie Oop Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 One of WBCR's new foster homes is having some difficulty with their resident BC (a 1 yr. old female) having major anxiety with a new foster dog (an approx. 1 yr. old male). The family also has a 13 yr. old male BC, but he is dealing okay with the new foster. The little female BC, however, is apparently stressed to the point of vomiting up her food and refusing to come out of the bedroom. This is the family's first attempt at fostering. I am hoping to get a chance to go up and visit the family today to see what help I can give and would greatly welcome suggestions to help ease the resident dog's anxiety and to help her accept the new foster. To my understanding there is not any overt aggression taking place on the part of the foster dog, but the female dog (who has been pretty well socialized with both flyball classes and at dog parks) is not dealing with this new foster at all. The foster was a stray who was picked up by animal control, and because the city where he was picked up has no shelter, he was boarded with a local veterinary for 1 week and, when unclaimed, was scheduled to be euth'd. He basically has no training, but appears to be very friendly and active. Any tips to help the resident dog at least tolerate the foster dog would be appreciated. Thanks! (ETA - Don't know what happened - I sent the post, but nothing ever showed up, only the title. Hopefully, this will work.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bc4pack Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 How much time was taken introducing the new dog? I think you would want the resident dog to have a safe place where the foster can't access. Separate for now. There may be some things on http://www.fearfuldogs.com and even http://www.aggressivebehaviorsindogs.com under articles there is "Introducing A New Dog....." Just a thought... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoloRiver Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 I don't know, but in this situation I'd be looking for another foster option for the dog. My own dogs would have to come first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grenzehund Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 Yes, I'd want to find out about the introduction. They might keep the foster in a separate room for a while, and out for supervised play with the older dog. If they must have the foster in the main living space, perhaps a crate that can be covered. Our rescue had a protocol of "peace and quiet" for the first days - and I can imagine with a 1 year old male that'd be critical. Susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allie Oop Posted August 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 Thanks. I'm not really sure how the introduction took place, unfortunately, as I was out-of-town. The foster has been separated from the other dogs in the house for the most part and has spent time in a crate (which he wasn't too thrilled with, as he had never had crate training before). The dogs have not really socialized much yet at all (I noticed that I neglected to add that the foster has only been there for 3 days). The foster pup has also had gastointestinal issues and was just neutered, so the situation has been a little stressful for everyone in involved. They are a very nice family, with previous BC experience, who are still excited about fostering this pup despite the difficulties. The rescue will obviously not keep the dog in the foster home, if it is causing a lot of issues with the existing dogs (they were there first), but the foster family has expressed a desire to try to work through the problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie H Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 The foster has been separated from the other dogs in the house for the most part and has spent time in a crate (which he wasn't too thrilled with, as he had never had crate training before). The dogs have not really socialized much yet at all (I noticed that I neglected to add that the foster has only been there for 3 days). The foster pup has also had gastointestinal issues and was just neutered, so the situation has been a little stressful for everyone in involved. They are a very nice family, with previous BC experience, who are still excited about fostering this pup despite the difficulties. The rescue will obviously not keep the dog in the foster home, if it is causing a lot of issues with the existing dogs (they were there first), but the foster family has expressed a desire to try to work through the problems. Hi there, Three days would not concern me...One of my resident dogs stresses everytime I bring in a new dog, and I have quite a few passing through. It has become somewhat predictable - he hates them for the first 3 days AT LEAST - barking/being snippy - then he is corrected for being hateful and he starts to chill out. By week two at the most he is running along side of the new dog and hanging all over him and showing him belly. Unless there is concern for the safety of one of the dogs, or things do not show progress, I would give them more time. Also, if they have been seperated TOO MUCH , it can also have a bad effect. Only in my experience again, but if I have a foster in the downstairs kennel, and my dogs have not gotten to meet the new dog several times, it seems to stress them even more - like they're thinking there is a stranger in the house and is not part of our pack. - strange, I know...but that is what I've experienced with one of my dogs in the fostering scene. hth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninso Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 I probably should not even be responding to this topic because I've only had a few fosters, but my dog (2.5yr male) gets stressed whenever I bring in a foster. He is used to being the only dog in the house and doesn't like disruptions in his routine or his time with mom. He will usually be kind of sulky for the first few days, he will seem worried a lot and his obedience will suffer. But after a week or so he gets used to the new routine and everything is back to normal. The resident dog may just need a little more time to adjust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaggieDog Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 Remember that it doesn't have to be outright aggression to stress a resident dog - the only foster I ever had to return early was a young Goldendoodle that stressed Maggie to the point of massive stress diarrhea. The reason behind the stress? He was waaaay too "in your face" with other dogs and, despite Maggie's very clear and consistent corrections, he *never* even thought about modifying this rude behavior. To anyone not very dog saavy, the interactions would've looked normal, or as if Maggie was being the bully, but reading the body language more closely quickly revealed that the puppy was being incredibly rude himself. I'd be sure the foster family allows interaction, but that it is well controlled so that the resident dog does not feel bullied or misplaced. A strict NILIF protocol for the foster boy and possibly for the resident girl, might also be very useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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