Fostering dogs is up there with giving blood on the scale of saving lives!! We've been fostering dogs since October 2016 and it's one of the most rewarding things.

This is a list of things that I chat about with potential fosters when I do dog rescue home checks.

1) FREE PUPPIES!!!

Two words that would lead me straight into a kidnapper's van every single time! Fostering is a fabulous way to get some puppy love without breaking the bank.

When we foster, we’re provided with food, crate, bed, bowls, toys, collar, leash, and veterinary care if needed. It's all of the pros, without any of the cons.

Having a dog can be really expensive as you are responsible for their well being and medical care. Emergency vet bills can be thousands of dollars so you have to be financially stable, or have systems in place (e.g. savings, insurance, etc.) to fall back on. Fostering is the perfect alternative in the meantime.

2) YOU ARE GOING TO FALL IN LOVE EVERY TIME

I think that we are wired to love dogs. It's impossible for me to bring a dog into my home and not fall in love with it. Every single foster dog has been "the one".

Expect the love. Don't be blindsided by the love. If you're umming and ahhing about adopting your foster dog, I would recommend that you don't. It may sound harsh, but it means that you're available to foster again - saving even more lives.

And, if YOUR DOG does come along, there will be no umming and ahhing, you will know it in your bones, I promise!

3) YOU'LL LEARN WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IN YOUR PERFECT DOG

I'm guessing that you'd like to have your own dog someday. Once you're a seasoned foster, you will know exactly what to look for when the time comes for you to find your own pup.

You may think that you want a genius working dog, but in fact it was the cuddly couch potato foster pup that stole your heart.

You may think that a bulldog is the one for you, but then remember how much the snoring kept you awake when you had one for two weeks (doggie snoring is actually my favourite white noise).

Like everything in life, we don't always know what's best for us - fostering teaches us so much!

4) YOU CAN SET YOUR OWN SCHEDULE

Are you travelling in June? - no problem!

Do you have family visiting in December? - easy peasy!

Can you only commit during summer because you go back to school in Fall? - no biggie!

You can set your own schedule and foster dogs around it. No expensive boarding fees or feeling guilty when you're too busy.

5) YOU CAN STILL FOSTER IF YOU WORK FULL TIME

Each shelter / rescue will have their own policy on this but I am of the belief that owners that work full time can still provide a loving, fun and fulfilling home to a dog.

It's all about quality, not quantity. A well adjusted pup with adequate exercise, enriching play, structure and training that keeps their mind stimulated will likely be happy to sleep all day, and/or have quiet time with a frozen kong / antler chew.

6) YOUR HOME DOESN'T HAVE TO GET WRECKED

So many people worry about their possessions being destroyed by a pup. I'm here to tell you that there is an easy way to avoid that. We just need to shift our way of thinking to this:

It is our responsibility to ensure that the dog is never put in to a position where they can make bad choices.

95% of accidents, chewing, etc. can be avoided. It's our job to control the dog's environment. I'm a big believer that dogs should earn their freedom.

When I bring a new foster pup into my home, I tether their leash to me and keep an eye on them at all times. If I can't do that for a period of time - say I need to cook dinner or take a shower - I will put the foster dog into their crate.

The crate is a great tool for dogs and most will feel safe and understand that this is their den. In fact - one of the first questions I ask is if the dog is crate trained. Until I have a better understanding of the dog's peeing and pooping patterns, there are multiple potty breaks to cut down on the possibility of accidents.

A few days in, I will increase their freedom, maybe letting them roam free in the same room as me. But before I do, I scan around and make sure none of my favourite shoes are lying around, make sure to push a box up against the loose electrical wires, and throw a blanket over the sofa. Fostering dogs is a great way for us to stay clutter free :)

7) YOU CAN FOSTER A DOG IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER DOG

Your dog will probably love having a temporary buddy!! They will also help your foster pup feel at home, decompress and come out of their shell quicker. This is especially true for very nervous dogs. Some dogs are too terrified to leave their crate and don't even know how to "dog". They will often feel safer with the resident dog quicker than they will with the humans in the household.

Introducing them correctly is a huge factor in them getting on. A parallel walk (no greets to start with, everyone walks in the same direction as a pack), followed by taking turns with three second butt sniffs (one dog is walked in front of the other and the second dog is allowed to catch up and take a quick sniff) sets a great foundation for a non confrontational first "hello".

Just like humans, some dogs just don't get on. To avoid issues, always err on the side of caution and feed them separately. Watch for signs of resource guarding (toys, food, you, etc.) and walk them separately if you are unable to give both dogs your full attention at the same time.

If things really aren't working out, just let the rescue / shelter know so they can arrange another foster family for the pup. This may take a day or two but the dogs can easily be kept separate, either in different rooms, or by taking turns in their crate.

8) YOU CAN FOSTER A DOG IF YOU HAVE KIDS

What an amazing life lesson on giving back and being of service! Not every dog is suitable with kids, and shelters / rescues are understandably very careful about placing dogs in homes with children.

However, a lot of dogs love children and a lot of children love and respect dogs. Again, always err on the side of caution; teach kids how to interact with foster dogs properly, how to give them space when needed, never to pet foster dogs when they're eating or sleeping, no the foster pup isn't a pony, and don't leave them alone unsupervised.

Always take a dog's bio with a grain of salt and trust your gut. Even if the bio says that they're great with children, the dog could have been on a long journey or through a stressful situation since that was written. Similar to earning their freedom, foster pups should earn their kiddo time privileges.

9) THEY NEED YOUR HELP TO FIGURE OUT THEIR NEW WORLD

You have some important jobs as a foster! You’ll to be their trainer, photographer and advocate until they find their forever family.

Let’s focus on advocacy for now…

People expect an awful lot from their dogs, let alone a foster pup who is feeling confused and scared. They want to take their dogs to busy beaches or loud football games and have them play perfectly off leash at the dog park.

Not all dogs can do all things.

A lot of dogs can do a lot things, eventually. But it takes time, training and patience.

It's your job to help your dog feel safe in new situations. This could be something as simple as a stranger on the street wanting to say hello. You may have to politely decline, say that your foster is in training and that you're not doing meet and greets today. Sometimes it means removing your foster dog from the situation and trying again the next day.

10) YOU SAVE AT LEAST TWO LIVES

You don't only help the pup that you take in, you also free up a space in the rescue / shelter for another dog to occupy. Foster based rescues can only pull dogs from the shelter if they have a foster home to place them in. In most areas, space is desperately needed.

Volunteers and rescue workers are put in impossible and heartbreaking situations when they run out of space. Fostering is one of the most powerful ways to help needy dogs in your community.

11) YOU MAY GET TO HELP PICK THEIR FOREVER FAMILY

Every rescue and shelter adoptive process is different, but the feedback that you give about your foster pup should be vital in finding the right forever home for them. You may even be involved with their meet and greets with potential adopters.

If you're asked for your feedback, please don't hold back. If little Fido liked Tom and Sarah, but LOVED Louise and Kate, be sure to let the rescue / shelter know :)

12) YOU GET TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT HOW FANTASTIC FOSTERING IS!

I really didn't know that fostering dogs was a thing. If I had, I would have had a foster dog on and off throughout my entire adult life.

Once you realize how rewarding fostering is, you'll be just as excited as I am to tell your friends, family and followers about it, so that they can enjoy all of the benefits of having a dog, without any of the money or long term time commitments.

13) YOU'LL MAKE THEM SO MUCH MORE ADOPTABLE

After spending some time in the shelter, some dogs need to decompress - every dog is different. Some dogs will hide in their crate, some will avoid food, some will want all of the food they can get because they faced starvation, some dogs will be quiet and hide, some dogs will be clingy and whiny, some dogs will wince at loud noises and jump at sudden movements, some dogs won't know what to do with their dog bed or toys.

Your heart will break for them and you'll wonder what they faced in their previous life. Then minutes, days, weeks, or maybe months later, you will see a spark in their eyes, a spring in the step, a playful grin, they'll roll over for belly scratches or they'll just remember how to "dog", and you will know that you've made them feel safe and loved enough to be themselves.

Well done - they are now ready to meet their forever family!!!

So there it is folks! The key is to keep the lines of communication open with your rescue / shelter. They're probably utter dog dorks so will be able to help you every step of the way.

I'm basing my knowledge on a local rescue here in BC, PB & Chi Dog Rescue Society, so there will likely be slight differences with your local shelter / rescue. Reach out to them to get full details, they will be soooo happy to hear from you as regular fosters are such a gift!!

If you're in the Greater Vancouver area, I cannot recommend PB & Chi highly enough - they are always grateful to hear from people who want to foster!!

Comment below with any questions or foster stories, I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks for reading - chat soon :)

13 reasons why you should foster a dog, right now!