[Indidockobeni]

We've only had one pitbull and she was a handful. I've learned that I love the breed though and since I wasn't able to help her from her HA issues I'd like to help other pitbulls find homes. I'm not sure if fostering is right for us though. I think I'd like to start that way but I'm unsure because of my 22 month old son. Does it take someone who is very experienced with the breed to foster a dog? What are the risks? I'd like to help, but I need my family to be safe first. I am a stay at home mom if that helps. Thanks!

[SasV7ReJ]

If you are ready, or when you decide you are, you could always adopt from a foster home with children, or foster a puppy

[Indidockobeni]

Well, we will definitely adopt from a foster home with children, that's pretty much been decided, but then I thought to myself why not foster some dogs too and help out that way? Then we can find a dog we really get along with, if you know what I mean.

[masterboyz]

Everyone thinks fostering is so easy and helpful... It's not. Fostering takes a lot of time, dedication, and usually involves a good amount of heartbreak. Foster dogs need to be trained and properly evaluated, and while everyone has to start somewhere... I don't recommend fostering being the place to start if you want to get involved in the breed.

[Munccoughe]

And don't forget the monetary commitment of fostering either! Even when going through a rescue to foster, many don't have the funds to provide food, toys, and little things like that even if the big things like vet care and parasite prevention are covered.

I recently fostered a little stray on my own for six months. He has found a wonderful home that paid a decent adoption fee. He is healthy as a horse, so only required bare bones vet care like neuter and shots, which I did through a clinic and aside from that only had to get a collar/leash, tug toy, cone of shame, and good food. I still lost a lot of money despite the adoption fee, which is fine because you don't do stuff like that for the money and I was well aware going into it. I did not factor in my opportunity cost for all the training I did either, spent hours on that little booger head. He wasn't even potty trained when I took him in and he left with all the basic groundwork he needed for his new home to pick right up and be able to start agility foundation work once he's all settled. Just thought it'd be worth telling since that might be something not considered when faced with a cute dog (or three) in need of a foster home.

And keep in mind that my foster was a highly adoptable young mini Aussie.... it still took six months to find the right home. A pit bull often takes MUCH longer to find the right home for. Some are in foster for YEARS.

My second dog Scout started out as a foster too. It was me or the shelter and I knew they'd euth her, which is sad because she's very sweet and no threat. You don't even want to know the ridiculous amounts of time and money that have gone into that damn dog since I've had her. A big reason I finally gave up and admitted that she's going to stay mine forever is well we're both very bonded to each other, but mainly all the interested people I screened gave answers to my basic questions that showed me I can't trust anyone but myself to do right by her. So she stays.

[masterboyz]

I know the Foster coordinator at the shelter here and she specializes in pitbulls and she has a son my age, so she knows what I need in a dog and is a very good judge of character and I trust her. I don't know, maybe I shouldn't foster a dog.

If you ARE going to foster a dog, I would NOT recommend fostering one straight out of the shelter. Foster a dog who has already been in rescue and maybe needs to exchange foster homes. Shelter dogs rarely require only a little work... Your reasons for wanting to foster aren't sound enough, in my opinion, to actually handle a dog straight from the shelter.

I meant it only so that she would already know if the dog could function around kids. I didn't mean to come off like fostering is easy. I wouldn't know I've never done it lol

Oh, I wasn't directing that comment at anyone! It's just my general experience lol

[Indidockobeni]

Thanks for your help. I guess part of the reason that I'm looking to foster is that part of me is wondering if my other dog's HA was my fault. I know that's silly to even think, but I'd hate to actually adopt a dog and find out that it's all my fault and I'm just a bad owner, even though I try so hard. Does that make sense? Maybe that's a terrible reason to foster. But I'm hoping to foster a dog that we could possibly end up adopting. I know the Foster coordinator at the shelter here and she specializes in pitbulls and she has a son my age, so she knows what I need in a dog and is a very good judge of character and I trust her. I don't know, maybe I shouldn't foster a dog.

As far as monetary concerns, we have all of Tinkerbell's stuff including a lot of dog food so it would be just like it was before except for any possible vet costs. So that doesn't concern me too much. As a stay at home mom I'm ready and willing to work with a foster dog, although Paulina was telling me that she's got a lot of senior pits who need foster homes, so maybe that's the way to go for us.

[yatrahnualenu]

ok.. I am just following your logic here.. if you actually think that you could be causing dogs to get so messed up to be aggressive towards humans..how is it a good idea to take a dog deemed adoptable and mess it up to the point where it may lose its chance to be adopted?
Trying to prove to yourself that you are able to raise a dog without issues is not a good reason to own OR to foster. And it has a high likelihood for failure. Foster dogs can definitely develop issues while being fostered, independently of how they were cared for.
Also, doubting your ability to raise the dog to turn out OK will make you doubt each and every step in the dog's training .. which will make for inconsistencies and an unclear vision of how to achieve your goal. For a dog that already suffered from abandonment and possibly abuse, this is not helpful at all.

[Indidockobeni]

Thank you Teal. I appreciate your advice.

Thank you xdogs for your advice as well. I completely understand where you're coming from and maybe you're right. Maybe I shouldn't get another dog, foster or otherwise. I said that I was worried about causing my dogs HA because I feel guilty for having her PTS even though I know it was the right thing to do. It's ridiculous to think that a loving home, training, lots of exercise, and no abuse would cause my dog to be HA isn't it? I do believe that we have the ability to raise a dog without issues.

[SasV7ReJ]

Everyone thinks fostering is so easy and helpful... It's not. Fostering takes a lot of time, dedication, and usually involves a good amount of heartbreak. Foster dogs need to be trained and properly evaluated, and while everyone has to start somewhere... I don't recommend fostering being the place to start if you want to get involved in the breed.

I meant it only so that she would already know if the dog could function around kids. I didn't mean to come off like fostering is easy. I wouldn't know I've never done it lol