Along with having the basic supplies (crate, bed, bowls, leash, toys), you will want to take into consideration:

• How to separate your resident animals from the foster dog initially. We can never be completely sure of how a foster will react to different animals and situations. Being removed from his/her home is extremely stressful for the foster dog. By initially keeping the foster separate from your other animals, you can prevent the spread of expensive problems like illness and parasites. By keeping the foster dog separate and gradually introducing him/her to your resident animal(s), you will be better able to monitor and control his/her behavior. When at all possible, our volunteers will assist with proper introductions to make the process as easy as possible.

We generally use foster homes with small children ONLY if the family has verifiable giant breed experience. If you do have older children, we expect that you will not allow them to:

• Bother the dog while she/he is eating.

• Bother the dog while she/he is sleeping.

• Take things away from the dog.

• Lean over the dog, kay on the dog or hug the dog (dogs see this as a very threatening posture).

• Be the primary caregiver for the dog.