Most of the dogs my wife and I have fostered either had behavioral issues or were recovering from heartworm (or sometimes, both). We provided comfort, training, and structure for these dogs, setting them up for success in their forever home.

 

The toughest part of caring for a traumatized dog is understanding their language. Dogs obviously can’t speak and let us know what’s wrong. Because of this, a lot of rescues turn to behaviors like aggression or extreme anxiety. Using patience and kindness, we rehabilitated these dogs, finding out that those with the worst behavioral issues tended to be incredibly intelligent. In fact, with our most recent foster, we taught her some agility drills like weaving through our legs as we walked. Using repetition and structure, she picked up on these advanced drills quickly, impressing us with her obedience and responsiveness.

 

Being able to bring out the best in a traumatized dog is a feeling like no other. The bond we created with our foster dogs is one based on mutual respect and profound trust. I have no doubt that the dogs we fostered are now living happy, full lives, in turn enriching the lives of their owners.