............................

The dogs is in foster as the alternative would probably be quite grim. Dogs settle in there foster homes so the last thing you would want is to send of on a "trial" and for the poor dog to settle in a home only for a change of heart and then be returned.
Also you run the risk of the dog coming back with issues that it may not of had.
And I want to see a firm commitment from people who adopt our dogs not them being half hearted.
Thing is Pidge people like you are seeing it from the adopters side whilst some of us put the dogs needs first.

We do aim at getting it right 1st time Pidge which is why we have a tried and tested method we stick to.

Only in certain circumstances and certainly not made common knowledge that anyone can 'try before you buy' so to speak, but if someone say already has a couple of dogs and felt an hour (or less, have never been directly through a rescue?) introduction at the centre was not enough to determine whether or not their dogs will get on for life then at their and the rescues discretion a trial would be a good idea. Just because 2 dogs don't fight doesn't mean they will get on. And even if 2 dogs have a wee spat, doesn't mean they won't turn out to be best buds.

Most of you know what dogs I have and when I fostered Bear alongside my own dogs they took a long time to accept him. He, however, as easy going as he is had no problem at all. He settled in right away, he was himself as he is to this day within a week. His temp was exactly what you would expect of an 8 week old pup, only in the body of a 10-12 month old male rot, and my lot were weary of that as is to be expected.

I had him for 4 months and in that time my dogs learned to accept him but the relationship between them and him and them and each other was very different. Now before anyone says, 'oh yes but 4 months isn't enough time to build up a bond'...Star was accepted immediately into the pack, within the hour everyone was was acting as if she'd been here forever and even now, she's been here a month and they are all very close to her and she is to them and they are often found all squeezed into one bed despite there being one each. Maddy will step in if she thinks Charlie is playing a bit too rough with her, and lots of little things which show they enjoy each other and or not merely tolerating each other.

When I have my mum's elderly lurcher over to stay she tolerates my lot and enjoys her peace, they don't have that bond.

My point, after all this drivel is, that although 2 dogs don't fight on a meeting doesn't mean they are going to be perfect for each other and when you have more than one other dog to consider already I think it's important (in my eyes anyway) that they do grow to have a bond with one another.

After I got Maddy I did consider my next dog would be from breed rescue but after she turned out the way she did I knew fine well she would only ever accept a puppy, she would have never accept an adult and bond with them how she has my other 2 and having Bear proved that.

Without turning this into another dead end thread, when you had those wee GSD pups (correct me if I am wrong) I could have sworn you then made a post saying you'd had a swap and got Whoopi's litter sister from another fosterer?

"Now Whoopi has recovered and gone of to her new home I have her sister Skye from the other foster mum who had the other half of the litter.
She is such a sweety and house trained
She already has a viewing tomorrow at 7"

Why would you upset her again taking her from another fosterer to your house and then onto a new home, why didn't she just stay with her first fosterer 'til she was rehomed, especially as she had so much interest it's not like she was going to be there for a really long time? Is there a reason she was passed about rather than staying in the one place? If not is this not the pot calling the kettle...

OK this is getting silly now maybe something to do with having me 'lumps' removed but Im agreeing with Shona as well although I would say all good rescues will insist that you take the dog back if there are problems.



Top post!

Its very different to fostering IMO - what do you do when you foster? For me its more about assessing a dog, seeing how they interact with my pack, seeing how they are in the home - loads of things really! Its also not about the long term keeping - this dog is going to move on to the best possibly home for it, not just how is it in my home.

Can I ask what you think rescues are doing if not trying to get it right first time? Dont know about the rescues you are involved in but the ones I have worked with are certainly trying to get it right first time and dont want to do the try before you buy thing.

Her father had a stroke so Skye would of been left all day so needed to be moved ASAP
And what a bitchy observation

I'm afraid it might be a case of treat others as you yourself would like to be treated.........

Not really, you never mentioned that in the OP so how is anyone else meant to know? I only remember as I recall wondering the same thing and thinking it odd but kept it to myself at the time.

Difference is I am out there helping not sat on the internet hindering

Should breeders?