What to Know About Fostering Puppies

If you’re thinking about adopting a dog but aren’t ready for a long-term commitment, fostering may be the perfect solution for you. Foster parents can keep puppies for a few weeks or months, which helps open up space in animal shelters and also provides a welcome stress relief to puppies in shelters. 

“It’s like having a dog [of your own] but without any of the strings,” Olivia Gonzalez, social media manager at Associated Humane Societies, says. “Welfare groups like ourselves often cover the costs of upkeep…. We do ask fosters to send us videos and photos of the dog so we can promote them on our socials. But sometimes neighbors fall in love with a foster and want to adopt [them] immediately. That’s amazing.”

What is puppy fostering? 

Puppy fostering is taking a puppy, or a whole litter, into your home temporarily, until they find their permanent homes. Foster volunteers partner with a shelter or rescue that often pays for the dog’s expenses, including vet and food bills. Keeping puppies in a home instead of a shelter can do wonders for a puppy’s behavioral growth and help get them adopted faster.

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How does fostering a puppy work?

To become a foster parent to a puppy, contact your local shelter or rescue to learn about their foster programs. You may have to complete an application detailing your home type, availability, time, and experience level. The shelter will provide each foster parent with the puppy and some supplies. 

Foster parents are expected to provide a space for the puppy to live in, feed them and give them water, walk them, interact and play with them. Additionally, they should take photos and videos to supplement the puppy’s adoption profile, report back on the puppy’s personality, and bring the puppy to adoption events or meet-and-greets. 

“With groups of puppies, we may not know much about them,” Bella Gillin, rescue manager at Paws Crossed, says. “Foster parents can tell us, ‘This one is zoomy. This one is mischievous,’ and it’s not as hard as you think. We’ve had brand-new foster parents take in pregnant mamas or really nervous dogs, and they do amazing.” 

Determine your commitment

It’s important to ask yourself what kind of time commitment you can give to your foster dog before volunteering to take them in. Different dogs will have different requirements, but you can expect the basics of any dog parenting to be on your shoulders: feeding, grooming, vet visits, socialization, and regular exercise. And while puppies and younger dogs take those care requirements to another level, it is manageable for many foster parents.

“I wish more people would realize animal welfare organizations cannot do what we do without the support of our community,” Gonzalez says. “Rescues can only help if they have a foster base to back them. So talk to your local shelter. Whether you’re in Nebraska or New York, they need your help, and it’s not as scary or difficult as you think.”

Finding a foster program

The first step to becoming a puppy foster parent is finding a foster program where you can sign up. Start searching for shelters or rescues in your city, or the biggest city near you. The need for fosters is so great that shelters that are even a few hours away may be willing to work with you. Availability with different agencies will vary, so check several sources before choosing.

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Gathering necessary supplies

Some shelters, such as Associated Humane Societies, will provide everything you need to take care of your foster puppy. But smaller shelters may not have the budget to do this. If that’s the case, gather the necessary supplies before bringing your puppy home. These supplies include, but are not limited to: 

• Food and water bowls

• Leashes 

• A crate 

• Any relevant medical supplies 

• Puppy pads for house training 

• A dog bed 

• A baby gate (if necessary to keep your dog contained to one room) 

• Dog toys 

• Training treats 

• A dog brush 

Setting up your puppy foster space

A good foster home will need a level of puppy-proofing, similar to how you would baby-proof a house or apartment. Remember to get down on your dog’s eye level and remove any small or sharp objects. Tuck electrical cords out of reach and keep trash cans, closet doors, and washer and dryer doors closed. You may consider child-proofing your cabinets, too. Make a note of any hidey-holes or tight spaces your puppy may wedge themselves into. If you have a backyard, make sure your fence is escape-proof. Your shelter can help you with puppy-proofing advice. 

“Shelter dogs aren’t wild dogs, but we may not know how they will react to things because we haven’t seen them in a home setting before,” Gonzalez says. “Try to monitor them. If they’re not always monitored, we say ‘a kenneled dog is a safe dog,’ so keep them there and out of mischief.” 

Bringing home the puppies

Once you’ve got all your supplies and puppy-proofed your house, you’ll be ready to bring puppies home. Don’t just let them loose in your house, which can cause sensory overload. Try a smaller room or designated area where their food and water are, perhaps near their crate. Take things slowly and reward good behavior. Introduce them to their new family members, one person at a time. And show them their dog bed or sleeping place — puppies sleep up to 20 hours a day.

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Responsibilities of a puppy foster parent

Foster parents have a host of responsibilities similar to being a dog parent. 

Feeding foster puppies

As a foster parent, you’ll be responsible for feeding your puppies, though your shelter partner may be able to provide the food. Don’t forget to grab some puppy chew toys, too. 

Socializing fosters puppies

Creating a daily schedule for your puppy is a good idea, as are slow introductions to other people or pets. Keep your new puppy in a separate room at first, and feed the puppy and your existing pets on opposite sides of the door. This helps associate another pet’s presence with good things like food. Allow your foster puppy to sniff the existing pet through a cracked door or barrier, then move on to supervised meetings. Socializing your foster puppy well at a young age can significantly help their training and behavior.

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Training fosters puppies

Training your foster puppies is essential. If you’re new to working with dogs, your shelter partner may have behavior specialists on call for classes or to help you get started. Begin with basic obedience training for commands like “sit” and “stay,” and begin potty training right away. Crate training is also an essential skill for foster puppies. Other behavior training can include teaching them to minimize excessive barking or whining. 

“Our shelter actually partners with Good Pup, which offers virtual training to fosters and volunteers,” Gillin said. “We get the first week free and then discounted Zoom meetings with trainers, and we have two behaviorists on staff who are happy to share resources with fosters. The biggest things are usually crate training and potty training, just learning how to settle.” 

Recognizing common health issues

Talk to your shelter partner and get a thorough medical history for your new puppy foster, and be prepared to take them to regular vet check-ups and keep them up-to-date on vaccinations. Be aware of common health issues such as worms, which are easily treatable, as are fleas.

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Common challenges in puppy fostering

Fostering a puppy can be as rewarding as it is difficult. Here are some challenges you may encounter.

• Behavior difficulties: You should anticipate experiencing your puppy’s growing pains with them. Prepare for the puppy to chew and/or try to eat everything in sight (from plants to rugs/carpet). They’ll also attempt to bite you while teething, jump on and knock over things, and climb out of their kennels. They may need much more instruction than you expected, which can be frustrating. Be patient, and if you’re having issues monitoring this, talk to your shelter about classes or other ways to get tips from a trainer. 

• Potty training: Remember, your puppy is a baby, and this will take time. Plan on potty breaks at least every two hours — sometimes even hourly — as well as any time your puppy is giving signals. Expect to clean up plenty of accidents and lose sleep (sometimes a lot of sleep) in the middle of the night. Reward successful potty trips and clean up accidents without punishment. 

• Balancing multiple pets: Each pet in your home has specific needs and considerations. Try to give each animal equal time, and ask for help from family or friends if you’re struggling. Most importantly, you should monitor all interactions with other pets and kids — just in case the animals do not get along or children are too rough with the puppy. Another thing to consider is that some rescue organizations may prefer to foster out puppies in pairs for socialization, even if you have adult dogs of your own.

• Emotional attachment: It’s impossible not to get attached to a living creature in your home, especially one as small and cute as a puppy. Some families will experience a foster fail. But try to remember that if you continue to foster, more puppies can find loving homes.  

• Time commitment: If your time commitments are too high, reach out to your shelter for help immediately. The most important thing is to make sure each puppy is placed in a home where their needs can be met, and it’s OK if that is not with you. 

Ready to foster a puppy?

There are only a few last things to consider before you jump into fostering. This can have long-term impacts on your life and home, but also massive benefits to your community and local shelters. 

A study of 2,000 dogs found that short-term fostering increased a dog’s chances of being adopted by 14 times. Dogs in foster care are typically rated as more playful, happier, and friendlier to people, which can help them get adopted, too. 

Puppy foster parents are needed for:

• Short-term puppy fosters: Taking care of puppies is a lot of work, and foster parents need breaks. If a fellow puppy foster is away, temporary puppy fosters can step in to assist for a few days or up to a week.

• Large breed puppies: Older large breed puppies are passed by in shelters because of their high energy and training requirements. They need fosters to prepare them for the right home.

• Young puppies or moms with newborns: These pets are too young to be adopted and need extra time in a comfortable, loving setting (including mom, if possible). 

• Puppies recovering from illness or injury: These puppies need extra care (maybe recovering from illnesses such as Parvo or a broken leg), which is much easier to do in a foster setting. 

It can be extremely rewarding to be part of an animal foster network and know you are helping dogs find homes. Gonzalez says she wishes more people would be an active part of the solution to shelter overcrowding.

“I would say try it,” she says. “Take a dog in, and if it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out. The adoption process and foster process aren’t too different, just one is permanent and one is not.” 

Commonly asked questions

Is fostering a puppy a good idea?

Fostering a puppy is a great idea, and it can have massive benefits for both the dog and the shelter they come from. 

How much does it cost to foster a puppy?

Animal shelters often completely or partially cover the cost of fostering, including food, supplies, and vet visits. 

How long should you foster a puppy?

Typically, puppies are fostered until they can be adopted, which can run anywhere from two weeks to several months.

Do you make money fostering puppies?

No, fostering puppies is not about making money, but helping the animals find permanent, loving homes. 

What are the requirements to become a puppy foster parent?

There is no experience needed to become a puppy foster parent. You don’t even need to live in a house with a yard — plenty of foster parents have apartments. Apply through your local shelter, and see if you’re a good fit. 

How can fostering a puppy impact the pet’s adoption chances?

Fostering a puppy can increase the pet’s adoption chances by about 14 times, according to several studies. 

Can you foster a puppy as a first-time dog parent?

Yes, you can foster a puppy as a first-time dog parent, just be aware you may need more learning time, too. 

Can you foster puppies in an apartment?

Yes, you can foster puppies in an apartment, only if your lease allows you to have pets in your unit.

References

“Foster a Pet.” Fortworthtexas.gov, 2020, www.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/code-compliance/animals/foster-program. 

‌“Research Study: Foster Care Has an Impact on Dogs’ Welfare and Adoption.” Chew on This, 16 May 2023, chewonthis.maddiesfund.org/2023/05/foster-care-has-an-impact-on-dogs-welfare-and-adoption-study-suggests.

“Why Does My Puppy Sleep so Much | the Kennel Club.” Www.thekennelclub.org.uk, www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health-and-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/why-does-my-puppy-sleep-so-much/.