Puppy Fostering Guideline and Routine
Puppies are really cute and a lot of fun but they are incredibly dirty and a lot of work!
This guide and routine will help you to keep your puppies healthy and happy while they are in your care.
Night 1
Night one is always the hardest. It’s messy and stressful.
Puppies will either be picked up from the ranch or transported to your home.
Prior to their arrival have a bedroom or a gated off area in your basement set up with puppy pads, towels, and crates. We recommend covering the floor with towels and puppy pads for accidents.
Upon their arrival, they will all need bathes, food and water, and lots of free time to go potty. Please try to keep an eye on each dog’s fecal and urine. Things to watch for are blood in fecal or urine and\or diahreah. We will provide a set of guidelines for medical observation and a point of contact for questions and feedback
We do not take puppies outside of their pen/ yard until they have clear fecals. When you take them outdoors make sure to sanitize after every session outside and do not let your animals cross through the same area outdoors.
We recommend you use a pair of washable shoes that are only worn in the living space and outdoor space you provide for the dogs. This way you aren’t tracking around any parasites or worms
Day 1
Day one is also very hard. Expect the puppies to be really wound up, and have lots of accidents. They are not bonded to you yet, they aren’t settled in, and they may have had a huge cross country trip recently . Give them time to settle in before you start any training. Being consistent with routine will help them settle faster.
The first morning you will take each puppy out of their crate and clean their crates. Expect accidents.
Each puppy may need to be washed again. We want the puppies to be squeaky clean. Clean their ears and if applicable check their spay\neuter incisions. Follow medical instructions provided. Take pictures to document.
After everyones crates are cleaned, put puppies back in crate to feed and water. The quantity to feed the puppies will be provided in email. We don’t want puppies to share food and water yet since we’re trying to watch for behavior and health.
Let each puppy out of their crate individually to poop and pee out in their outdoor pen . Or on their pee pads or towels .
Clean up after everyone and sanitize .
They can have some play time together but make sure to close crates. They can share some water together. If anyone seems sick , that dog needs to be separated. Please notify Kristin at the first sight of a concern (lethargic dog who will not get up, low energy , diarrhea, not eating or drinking, bloody stool , etc.
At lunch time, we often give meds. This is the time of day we typically provide dewormer to puppies - please follow the instructions provided to you.
The puppies will need lots of play time, constant cleaning, and tons of water. Please keep up with cleaning and never let them walk or sit in their fecal or urine.
Please review our foster guideline here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nNUh4KkBU4gsl3hYIZprgaUTVNT9xRv5Wwiy6jMIjeM/edit?usp=drivesdk