[JJTDH]

We welcomed our first foster dog into our home on Saturday evening. We are on day 2 and I'm quite stressed but not sure if I should be.

We've never had dogs as a family but it's something we had been seriously considering. We signed up as a foster family for a Romanian Rescue centre and our dog arrived Saturday. Since he arrived he has become extremely attached to me. He follows me everywhere! He can be fast asleep as as soon as I get up he's there with me!

The rescue said he shouldn't be left on his own in the first week. I explained to them that this was impossible as I had kids to take to school and after school clubs ect. So since he arrived on Saturday we've been having him sleep downstairs with a crate with door open. First night we had no problems. No crying or whining. Second night he learnt he could jump the stair gate so we shut out dining room door. He had a little whine and scratched at the door but then settled and slept all night again. This morning I closed the stair gate but forgot to shut the dining room door. He jumped over the stair gate and laid down by our closed living room door until I came back from the school run (20 minutes) he didn't whine or cry or bark. Tomorrow I need to go out for an hour and a half. I don't know if I'm doing this right or whether the dogs whole demenor is going to change soon. I'm just not sure whether it's good for him or is. 😭

 

[JJTDH]

Can you simply crate him, door closed, to prevent him from going into rooms he is not supposed to? He should be perfectly fine in there for an hour and a half.

It's pretty normal for dogs to try to get closer to people, which is why he is jumping the gate to go upstairs. I understand he is a foster, so you might not want to be facilitating that type of bond. He doesn't understand your routine, so it's also normal for him to act a bit restless.

If you don't want to crate him, you can also double up on baby gates stacked one atop the other, so it's too high to the dog to jump.

The thing is he isn't use to the crate at all! I got him in there earlier using treats and shut the door and he started panting heavily and moaning very quietly. In the end I let him out, once he had stopped whining. Though this all happened whilst I was in the room so no idea what would happen if I left. He doesn't leave me alone at all, so I can't do anything. As I said I need to go out for an hour and half tomorrow. He does eventually settle in the room by laying down next to the door but he gets himself worked up first 🤦🏾‍♀️ husband was going to try and move the stair gate up the wall slightly tonight so that it's high enough he can't jump it but low enough he can't get under it. He also hasn't been for a walk yet as he's come from over seas he has to remain on our property for the first 48 hours which I don't think helps much at all!

 

[JJTDH]

I crate my dogs (door latched) when I go out. Safer for the dog and for the house.

I want to crate him but he hates the crate. He'll lay in it if I'm close by but if I shut the door or leave the room he freaks right out.

 

[JJTDH]

Google "Crate Games". These are games you can play with the dog to help get him used to the crate. Might be helpful in making him more adoptable, too, if he is familiar with the crate. It won't help you in the short term, but might help in the long run.

Is your downstairs where you keep the dog puppy proofed? Meaning there isn't really anything he can chew, like furniture or such? It is normal for dogs to complain a bit when they're left alone. It's good that he settles down after a while. Do you have any Kong toys? You can stuff the toys with wet dog food or moistened kibble, plug the ends with peanut butter (make sure it isn't sweetened with xylitol), and freeze it. Give the dog the Kong before you leave. The yummy treat distracts the dog, and the licking and chewing is calming. This should keep him busy for most of the time that you are out, and hopefully once he finishes he is calm so just settles in to nap until you return.

Thank you. He isn't a chewer at all. He's been left three times now and he hasn't attempted to chew a thing. Just whines a bit and lays down by the door. My sister gave me a King toy today so I'm going to fill it for him before we go out tomorrow. X