I am currently fostering my third dog through a program at UK, 4 Paws for Ability. Our main goal, as volunteer trainers in the university program, is to get our dogs socialized with different situations, people, sights and sounds to prepare them to be successful, working service dogs in the future for children or veterans! I have been a part of this program since August of 2018 and I don't plan on stopping any time soon. While fostering, I have learned so many things and I will always be thankful I've gotten to raise three dogs so far, and the many that I will raise in the future. These lessons don't just apply to train dogs, but each lesson is something I now use in life - thanks to all of my fosters.
Patience is key.
Fostering a dog isn't always easy. Teaching commands isn't always easy. However, my very first foster was an older dog so teaching her different things was easier compared to my second foster. Now, my second foster, a 4-month old golden retriever, was difficult. I spent weeks trying to teach him different commands and honestly, I would just get frustrated as the foster before picked up so quickly, so what was I doing wrong? I wasn't being patient with him, that's what. I had this idea in my head that he was going to learn new things as quickly as my last dog, despite their 7-month age difference and it made me absolutely crazy. I took a deep breath and swore to myself that I would be more patient, that I wouldn't get as frustrated with him if he didn't pick up right away and that's when everything changed. He would tell I was calmer during obedience sessions and that's when he started to be more eager to learn new commands and make me proud. Learning this, I was able to have the mindset that every dog is different (humans too), so take your time, let them learn, and when you do - they will impress you.
Progress takes time.
We tend to raise our pup for about a year before they are evaluated on the progress that they've been making while being under our care and supervision. At different times, I've felt doomed. Really doomed. There have also been a few times where I question if I am a good foster for my dog when they weren't mastering the skills we had been practicing or maybe we had just had a bad outing. My friends pushed me, by reminding me, that progress won't always happen overnight. TRUST THE PROCESS. So, whenever I had a moment of self-doubt of what I was doing, I would repeat those same words over and over in my head. It took a while, but I know now that as long as I am contributing to the process for even five minutes a day – I am helping my foster progress. Learning this, I figured out that although my foster may not be able to grasp a concept in a few short hours, just wait. In the next few weeks when they could from practicing – I call that progress.
Hard work WILL pay off.
My second foster wasn't the best pup. He would chew on furniture, bark when he wanted attention, and some days he would just completely ignore me - all aspects you wouldn't want to see in a service dog. The day he turned seven months old, I saw a shift. He all of a sudden was making efforts that I had never seen before. His puppy behaviors were slowly vanishing, and his manners were increasing by the week. I was proud. Still to this day, I'm not quite sure what happened but reminiscing on his puppy days at his year-old birthday, was special. Looking at him, almost a full year of training with me, I couldn't believe he had come from that small pup that hated his kennel and would just bark all night. All those days where I felt defeated, they were gone because my boy had grown, and when I taught him, he listened. *Fast forward a few months* Now, my boy is on his final step of training before graduating as a service dog with his trainer. The past year PAID OFF and while he is finishing training in his program, I started to foster another puppy, my third foster. Learning this, I went in fully knowing that any obstacle we may face, will be worth it because working hard is important and it will get our dogs right where they need to be.
Raising a dog is fun because you will always have a companion with you but raising a service dog in training is different. The thing about these main three things is that they don't just apply to foster a dog – they apply to life. Next time someone in your life isn't doing something as fast as you think they should – be patient. Next time you don't see yourself mastering the material in math class the day its taught – remember that progress takes time. Next time you are frustrated with how stressful school is and how it is taking a toll on your social life – remember hard work WILL pay off. I've learned more about myself during this entire process than I thought I would, so if you ever have a chance to foster an SDiT, do it. It will change your life.
