FOREVER GREY

FOSTERING

Have you thought about “trying out” a greyhound but don’t want to commit to full ownership? Or, do you have the time and love for a greyhound but would rather help out an adoption group?

Well, consider fostering! Forever Grey is always in need of wonderful foster folks to help our greyhounds get used to a life of full retirement.

 Foster homes are the backbone of our adoption group, and are still desperately needed. Foster “parents” provide temporary, loving care for greyhounds until they are on their way to new lives. The rewards of fostering a new greyhound cannot be adequately explained in words, and the effort isn’t all that taxing. This is truly an opportunity to make a difference.

 The most common comment about fostering a Greyhound is “I’m afraid I will get too attached.” Well, that is very true for each of us, but remember, “If you adopt, you can save one; if you foster, you can save many.” This is why many people in our group who foster greyhounds fail “fostering 101” (meaning they end up adopting their foster), but continue to foster.

 Since we have chosen not to use a kennel to house our dogs, the people most important to Forever Grey are our foster families. These wonderful volunteers open their homes and give their time and energy to help our greys make the transition from racing dog to couch potato. It is a hard, often emotional trip in relativity uncharted waters, but there are great compensations. Foster families are often the first to see their grey wag a tail or take a cookie or give a kiss. Perhaps the hardest moment comes when it is adoption time. Sometimes after several weeks, it is necessary for the foster family to say goodbye to their houseguest. However, they send them to their permanent homes ready to become part of the family and the foster family knows that whenever they meet, their grey will remember them and greet them as only old friends do. 

While fostering a greyhound for Forever Grey, the family agrees to either transport or make arrangements with Kristen and Rob to have another volunteer pick up the foster dog to be taken to the regularly scheduled Meet & Greets. This allows the foster dog to be seen by potential adopters.

Again, if there is a conflict with some of the Meet & Greet dates it is the responsibility of the foster family to contact Kristen and Rob to make other arrangements for dog transportation.

What will I be doing with my foster dog?  

This is the fun part. You get to take them on walks as they become used to new sights and to being around people and other animals. You will introduce them to such everyday items as sliding glass doors, hardwood or tile floors, and grass. Best of all you will teach them that there are people in their world now who love them. You will give them the praise and attention that will help the process that will help them to trust their new friends.

How do I get started in fostering?

First, download the fostering application. There is no application processing fee for fostering a dog. Send in the application. Someone from the group will contact you to do a home visit. They may bring one of their dogs to see how everybody reacts and answer any questions you may have.

Why place Greyhounds in foster homes?

Greyhounds who have been brought up on rearing farms and later housed in kennels during their racing careers have a very regimented lifestyle and have little or no experience of the day to day happenings in the average family household. The first two or three weeks of a Greyhounds transformation into companion dog represents a huge learning curve and may be stressful to the dog unless handled sympathetically.

The fostering period allows for an assessment of the Greyhound's personality and behavior traits, which may not be apparent in a kennel environment. It allows the dog to be introduced carefully to a range of new experiences so that when faced with these in their future adoptive home, the dog can cope without apprehension or fear.

What are the criteria for foster homes?

Ideally, a foster family is someone who has been around dogs for some time and has some dog handling/training skills and general knowledge of canine behavior. Experience in handling Greyhounds or other sight hounds would be advantageous but not essential. A stable home environment with established routines is important.

A foster home needs to have a well-fenced yard or someone who is committed to walk the dog. The foster family would preferably be able to spend some time each day, introducing the dog to new and novel experiences and increasing his/her general confidence. The presence of children and/or other pets in the foster home is okay, so long as careful supervision of any interactions can be assured. Many of these dogs will eventually be placed in adopted homes with children, dogs, cats, birds, or other pets. It is therefore important to assess each Greyhound's response and prey drive potential, so that good matches can be made between dog and adoptive family.

May I choose which dogs I foster?  

When the dogs first come into our care we will do a check to see how they react around cats and other dogs. The foster application allows you to set limits on the kinds of dogs you foster. You may always decline a dog, and if your foster dog proves too much for you to handle he can be placed elsewhere.

How long is the fostering period?

There is no way of determining how long the dog may be in his/her foster home. Once you are confident that your foster will comfortably adapt to their new surroundings, they can then be ready to be placed into a loving home.

What are some of the things Greyhounds need to be taught?

Many greyhounds have never had to walk up or down stairs, and some find them awkward or even frightening at first, especially if the steps have a slippery surface. Greyhounds are very long in the body and also have a very high center of gravity – this can sometimes make them a little clumsy as if they are unsure of where their feet are being placed. Gradual introduction to low sets of stairs initially (numbering no more than three or four) to gain the dogs confidence can later be followed by steeper stairs or those with varying surfaces (carpet, cement, wooden floorboards, linoleum etc.) Despite the above, many Greyhounds will have no difficulty with stairs right from the outset. They should not be permitted to race up and down several steps at a time, as injuries could easily occur.

Floor surfaces

Like stairs, often Greyhounds have never had to deal with slippery floor surfaces like tile, linoleum or polished floorboards. As above, time and experience should sort out any difficulties here as long as the dog is introduced slowly and without force. If a new dog is very hesitant, placing squares of carpet pieces or mats across the floor at intervals may help, later increasing the distance between the mats, thereby requiring the dog to walk on the floor surface.

Glass window or doors:

Some dogs will not recognize glass as being a solid barrier when first brought into a house. Showing the dog around each room on a lead and gently tapping on windows or glass doors may be all that is required. Temporarily placing a strip or two of masking tape across glass barriers may make them more obvious. In cases where strong visual stimuli are present on the other side of the glass (for instance, cats, squirrels, other dogs) and the dog is showing excessive interest, drawing the curtains or removing the dog from that room may be necessary.

Household noises

The sound of such devices as televisions, hairdryers, food blenders, vacuum cleaners, etc. can be frightening to any dog who has never experienced these before. Even flushing of a toilet can be quite novel. In most cases, short exposure to such noises on repeated occasions (if carried out in a nonthreatening manner) is all that is necessary.

House training

Greyhounds are generally very clean dogs. Living in a kennel environment, most dogs do not like to soil their sleeping quarters, and will wait until turned out to relieve themselves. They may not know how to tell you they need to go out; at the kennel, it happened on a strict schedule. When first brought into the home, the Greyhound should be treated in a similar manner to a puppy being house broken – taking the dog outside every couple of hours for the first day or so, especially after meals, play and long naps. Praise the dog as soon as it performs in an appropriate place. 

Gradually, over a few days, increase the intervals between toilet breaks until a mutually acceptable routine is established. The majority of Greyhounds will virtually house train themselves and never have an accident inside. Some males may need to learn the differences between indoor (potted) plants and outdoor vegetation (a belly band can be used for a male foster dog).

Car rides

Most Greyhounds are veterans when it comes to rides in the car, and usually love to go on an outing. Motion sickness would be a rare entity. However, getting into and out of a car may need to be taught. Most racing Greyhounds are transported in a station wagon, panel van, or dog trailer. Trainers will generally lift a dog into and out of the vehicle to avoid injuries. The easiest way to begin is to lift the front end of the dog and rest its forefeet on the seat or tailgate. Then transfer your hands to the rear end of the dog and lift the back legs in. Many dogs, with repeated practice will learn to hop in themselves, but some will always expect a helping hand. Experience at climbing onto a rear (bench) seat of a car and lying down whilst driving should be gained, as not all adoptive families will own station wagons.

Children

Although not all foster homes will have children, it is necessary to ascertain a dog’s reaction to young children. This could be done to some degree by visiting a local park or sports field, especially on weekends. Unlike adults, children tend to move rapidly, not always in a coordinated manner, and may shriek out in high-pitched tones. To a young excitable Greyhound, this may be an incentive to chase. Such a desire may be exacerbated when roller blades, skateboards or bicycles are added to the picture. The majority of Greyhounds are excellent with children in the home environment, preferring to walk away if harassed by a persistent child, but close supervision is essential as with any breed. Any tendency for the Greyhound to exhibit dominance posturing towards a child, barking, growling, etc. should be noted.

Other pets

Greyhounds are generally used to being around other Greyhounds, but many have little or no experience of different dog breeds, cats, or other pets. It should be remembered that Greyhounds have been bred for centuries to chase and the prey drive in some individual’s means that they can never be fully trusted with small animals. Many, however, will learn to accept other pets if introduced slowly and carefully, always with strict supervision. Any introductions should always be carried out on lead, and with the Greyhound properly muzzled, until the dog’s reactions can be assessed. If the foster carer has to leave, even for a brief time, the Greyhound should be penned, crated or closed securely in a separate room from the other animals. Risks should never be taken with the safety of your own pets.

Being alone

Because most racing Greyhounds are used to having at least one (and often many) other Greyhounds around them all the time, some have trouble adjusting to more solitary existence. This may not pose an immediate problem if the foster home has other pets, especially dogs, however, the future adoptive home may not have other animals and separation anxiety may develop. When a Greyhound first enters a home it often becomes your second shadow (the “Velcro” dog syndrome), following you all over the house, even to the bathroom. Usually after a few days, this behavior will ease as the dog becomes more secure in its new surroundings. It is important to provide the Greyhound with a place of its own to relax (dog bed, crate, etc.) and to regularly ask it to “go lie down” or similar phrase. Where possible, the dog should be placed in an outdoor run or free in a secure yard on its own at least once a day for a short time.

Possessiveness

Two things a Greyhound (or any other dog) may feel possessive about are food and its sleeping quarters. During the fostering period, the dog should learn to accept its food and food bowl being handled in a non-threatening manner. Any foster dog should be fed separately from other pets, especially when first introduced. After the first three or four days, when the dog should be learning to trust the foster carer, food can be added to the bowl gradually by hand as the dog is eating. Eventually, by the end of the foster period, the dog should accept the food bowl being taken away and, ideally, food or other objects being taken from its mouth. Needless to say, great care should be taken in these circumstances and an assessment of the dog’s temperament made before proceeding. The Greyhound should also permit its bedding to be handled, sat in, etc. Sleep-space aggression is reported in some Greyhounds, usually in response to being woken or disturbed suddenly during a nap. Some Greyhounds do sleep with their eyes open, so it’s important to ensure that the dog is awake before touching and surprising it. Greyhounds tend to sleep very deeply, and may take a while to arouse. As they are generally housed individually in racing kennels, they are not used to other dogs, children etc. tripping over them in their sleep.

Grooming

Racing Greyhounds are quite used to being bathed, groomed and massaged. However, it is important to determine that the dog does not have any “sensitive” areas, which may indicate injuries. The dog should accept its feet being handled, nails clipped, ears cleaned and eyes and mouth inspected, as well as being groomed all over with a soft brush or hound glove.

How strict should the foster home be with a new Greyhound?

Racing Greyhounds are used to a fairly regimented life with few options or choices to make in its day-to-day activities. The majorities of Greyhounds are creatures of habit, and are most relaxed when a set routine is in place. Family life does not always fall into a perfect routine, but establishment of set meal times and regular exercise and toileting opportunities will help a new Greyhound to feel at ease.

When a Greyhound is suddenly given the freedom of an entire house, and has some choice in how it spends its time, it may revert to a (temporary) second puppyhood. It is important that some basic ground rules are established for the dog early in the foster period and that all members of the family abide by them. Restricting the dog to certain rooms in the house, at least initially, may make supervision easier. This may be achieved by simply keeping doors closed or by using baby gates or other barriers. Most Greyhounds will discover soft human beds or lounge chairs within the first few days (or hours) after arrival. Although Greyhounds are the ultimate “couch potatoes,” taking lounging almost to an art form, it must be remembered that their future adoptive home may not condone such practices. Therefore it is suggested that fosters are discouraged from reclining on the furniture.

A soft bed of their own, located in a quiet corner, should be provided, and the dogs encouraged to retreat to that area. The bed should be positioned so that the dog can take in most of the household activities without getting in the way. You may wish to move the dogs bed to just inside your bedroom or close by at night, so that the dog feels secure by your presence, and so that you can supervise the dog’s nighttime activities.

Another vice of some Greyhounds newly introduced to the home is “counter surfing” food left on kitchen tables. Greyhounds are tall, and reaching such places is quite easy. In their former life, if food was within reach, it was intended for them. The obvious solution is not to leave anything tempting lying within reach. Keeping one or more squirt bottles filled with water and ready to use can be effective in stopping such practices.

In spite of the warnings mentioned above, many Greyhounds will walk into a house for the first time, and proceed to take all in their stride, as if they had been there all their lives. They are generally fairly laid back creatures with tremendous adaptability and understanding.

What support does the foster home receive?

All foster homes must be inspected and approved before receiving their first dog. A meeting with all household members (human and otherwise) is necessary to assess everyone’s attitude and to discuss any specific issues.

All dogs are bathed prior to arriving at a foster home. All will have already undergone their full range of treatments, including spay/neutering, teeth cleaning, vaccination and heartworm testing. An appropriate collar and lead are provided, as well as the dog’s muzzle and a temporary ID tag. During the cooler months, a warm coat is also made available. If required, a crate may be loaned to assist a new dog’s transition.

Extensive follow up and monitoring of the dog in foster care is made, generally by phone and e-mail. We realize that foster carers are generously opening up their homes and hearts to these dogs, and all the support/advice necessary will be given promptly. We also appreciate that foster homes may not wish to care for dogs continually. Some may only try it once and decide it’s not for them. Others may want a break between dogs, or may have holidays or other committees planned for the near future.

What if we have to travel?

If you are fostering and want to go away for a weekend or take a vacation, the foster dog can be returned to the coordinator’s care while you are away. Just arrange in advance as soon as you know as we will reserve a spot.

Will I become attached to my foster dog?

Yes, of course. However, when you meet the new family who is ready to provide a permanent loving home you will feel more than satisfied to see him/her move on to his/her new and better life.

What if I want to adopt the Greyhound I am fostering?

If you decide to be a foster home, it should be with the understanding that you are working toward helping a deserving Greyhound to a final home. If you think you might like to adopt the foster, we require that a completed Forever Grey Application be on file. If we think your foster is a good match for an adoptive family we will notify you at which time you have first refusal.

• You have a large dog in your home.
• This dog will most likely get into the trash once or twice. (Every time they have smelled food in their past, it has been their food!)
• Greyhounds are VERY curious and will inadvertently get into things you’d rather they didn’t disturb.
• You will most likely clean up some “accidents” in the first couple of days as they make the adjustment into your home.
• Greyhounds will always look for the softest spot in the house to sleep on.
• Scooping the yard and regular walks will become a part of your routine.
• Feeding time will become an event rather than just food bowls left out.
• You will become an ambassador for Greyhound rescue – everywhere you go with your dog, people will stop you and ask questions about the breed and about your experiences with them. Take full advantage of this. It will help us place more dogs in loving homes!
• You will find lots of love and companionship returned from these amazing dogs.

Benefits 

• Having the love of the greyhounds that spend time in your home.
• The satisfaction of knowing that you have prepared a greyhound for his/her new home.
• No out-of-pocket expenses for the dog.
• Failing “Fostering 101” only enhances your life.

We provide

• The Greyhound
• Collar and Lead
• Medical expenses, as needed. (If vet services are needed, please contact us first.)
• Dog food, bowls, beds, and jackets if needed

You provide

• Love and attention
• Social training
• Baby gate
• Toys and a bed or two
• Time to show your foster dog when a potential adopter is interested

 If you are interested in becoming a foster family to one of our hounds or would like more information, please contact Kristen at (607)-426-5992 or by e-mail at forevergreyinc@gmail.com


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