Requirements for a foster dog candidacy
Reference person
A main caregiver is required to take care of the familiarisation, bonding and all training days. This person needs a lot of time. Sharing with another household is possible, but one person must take on the main responsibility for the first 5 – 6 weeks so that the puppy always stays in the same place.
Familiarisation time
- 10 weeks old, the puppy is not yet house-trained and must therefore also go outside at night for the serging.
- This time is very important and intensive for building a bond.
- The working main carer must take holidays or unpaid leave during the first 4 – 5 weeks.
- In the first 2 – 3 weeks, only the main carer is responsible for the puppy (feeding, grooming, getting used to the environment etc.).
- Short absences of the main carer (e.g. laundry room, letterbox) are possible from the 3rd week, but the puppy must then be looked after by the family.
- Longer absences are possible from the 4th week after consultation with the foster carer (e.g. shopping, hobbies) and if care is ensured by the family and the puppy does not show any separation stress.
- After familiarisation, a slow, gradual build-up of staying alone takes place (e.g. first leaving the room very briefly and then entering the room again, going to the letterbox briefly, etc.). This is followed by a slow build-up; the young dog cannot be left alone for one or more hours straight away. The aim is for the dogs to be on their own for a maximum of 3 hours at the end of the training period.
- The foster dog can be slowly acclimatised at the workplace. It takes several weeks before the dog can stay in the office for a whole day.
Workload
The workload should be a maximum of approx. 40%. A higher workload is only possible if, for example, it is possible to work from home or one person is self-employed and/or can take the foster dog into the office with them after the familiarisation period.
Tasks
The following tasks must be fulfilled during the entire adoption period: Basic obedience, use of public transport, visits to grocery shops with a saddle cloth, socialisation with the environment, people, animals and conspecifics as well as attending puppy and dog schools.
Care concept of the school
Before the puppies are handed over, there is a handover information day on a Sunday in Allschwil. At the beginning of the foster time, the foster dog carer visits the main carer at home once a month. After that, there are also out-of-town meetings (walks, meetings in the city in their region). At 12 months, young dog training begins at the guide dog school in Allschwil or in the city of Basel. There is also an exchange with other owners of the same litter.
Holidays
In principle, the dog should always be taken on holiday with you. As soon as the rabies vaccination is effective, travelling abroad is also possible after consultation with the foster dog carer. The south should be avoided, especially during the warm season, because of parasites and pathogens. Placement in a holiday location is only possible after the foster dog has settled in well at home.
Costs
Most of the costs are covered by the school, except for the box for the car, the dog bed and the travelling expenses. The foster dog receives a working dog pass and therefore travels free of charge on public transport.