Dog Fostering 101

Jackie Adams
  • 5.0 (1)
  • PETS & ANIMALS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

If you’re new to fostering, thinking about fostering, or already in the thick of it with a dog who’s unsure, overwhelmed, or completely shut down, you’re in the right place. You’ll hear simple, practical, compassionate guidance to help you feel confident from day one without spending hours digging through the internet for answers. Foster Fast Track episodes on Tuesdays: quick, under-15-minute lessons that break down the essentials Deep-dive conversations on Thursdays with some of the most respected voices in animal welfare and behavior

  1. 1D AGO

    Compassion Fatigue & Emotional Sustainability - From a Shelter-Leadership Perspective

    In this episode of Dog Fostering 101, host Jackie Adams sits down with animal welfare leader Tori Williams to tackle a topic often felt but rarely discussed: the deep emotional toll of fostering. Tori shares her professional insights on why foster parents are uniquely vulnerable to compassion fatigue and how to recognize the early warning signs before burnout sets in. The conversation explores practical ways to set healthy boundaries, the importance of "level setting" during stressful interactions with shelter staff, and how to reframe feelings of guilt. Whether you are a veteran foster or thinking about saying "yes" for the first time, this episode provides essential tools for building a sustainable and compassionate fostering journey. The Vulnerability of Fosters: Why the lack of control over an animal's outcome and the "fake goodbye" routine contribute to emotional exhaustion. Recognizing Burnout: Early warning signs include increased frustration over small logistical mix-ups and a shift from being "understanding" to trying only to be "understood". Human-to-Human Compassion: Applying "Fear Free" principles—like calm voices and the "benefit of the doubt"—to interactions between volunteers and shelter staff. Setting Boundaries: Strategies for being honest about your capacity, including taking a full break or shifting to non-animal-facing volunteer roles. Finding the Right Fit: Understanding that different types of organizations (large city shelters vs. small home-based rescues) offer different levels of involvement and support. Teach them to "Pet": Focus on setting animals up for success by teaching them how to live in a home environment. The "Proactive Sidebar": If you have a bad moment, follow up later to explain that your frustration came from a place of care, not malice. Diversify Your Identity: Combat guilt by engaging in hobbies or volunteer work outside of the animal welfare world to "refill your cup". 00:00 - Introduction to Tori Williams and Dog Fostering 101 01:09 - Why fosters are more vulnerable to compassion fatigue 03:17 - Setting animals up for success: Teaching them "how to dog" 06:40 - Early warning signs of burnout and communication shifts 10:48 - Navigating emotional investment and shelter staff relations 12:54 - Being the "level setter" and remembering we are on the same team 18:43 - Creating healthy boundaries and being honest with yourself 21:20 - Creative ways to help: Recruiting, dog walking, and shelter enrichment 26:36 - Reframing guilt and maintaining your identity outside of fostering 31:39 - Applying "Fear Free" principles to human interactions 36:12 - Finding the right organizational fit for your lifestyle 42:08 - How to follow Tori Williams and closing remarks LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tori-williams061313 Official Website: fearfreeshelters.com Registration Page: Listeners can register for the complimentary educational program at fearfreeshelters.com/register. General Fear Free Info: For veterinary professionals and pet parents, visit fearfreepets.com or fearfreehappyhomes.com

    43 min

  2. 3D AGO

    Is this Normal? Understanding Foster Dog Health

    In this Foster Fast Track episode, host Jackie Adams addresses one of the most vital but overlooked aspects of animal welfare: the emotional well-being of the humans behind the leash. Using her own experience as a "messy" beginner, Jackie explores why fostering is an emotional marathon and introduces the concept of compassion fatigue. The episode provides a framework for recognizing the difference between normal tiredness and the deep emotional exhaustion that comes from constant caregiving. Listeners will learn how to identify their own "warning lights" and why setting boundaries is not a failure of compassion, but a requirement for long-term sustainability in rescue work. Fostering is an Emotional Skill: Beyond learning how to handle a leash or crate-train, fostering requires the skill of managing your own emotional capacity. Defining Compassion Fatigue: It is a state of physical and emotional exhaustion that reduces your ability to empathize or feel compassion for others. Recognizing "Warning Lights": Symptoms often include feeling "numb" or detached, becoming easily irritable with shelter staff or your foster dog, and a sense of hopelessness about the work. The Sustainability Rule: You cannot pour from an empty cup. Taking a "foster break" between dogs or saying "no" to an urgent plea is an act of responsible caregiving. Community as a Buffer: Isolation accelerates burnout. Connecting with other fosters who understand the unique highs and lows of the work is essential for staying in the game. Resources Mentioned Maddie’s Fund: Compassion Fatigue Resources for Animal Welfare — Toolkits and webinars specifically for fosters and shelter staff. Maddie's Pet Forum: Community Support Threads — A space to connect with others navigating the emotional challenges of rescue.

    8 min

  3. FEB 12

    Stress Stacking: Why Foster Dogs Seem to Regress- and What's Really Happening

    In today's conversation, Jackie Adams and canine behavior educator ⁠Devin Amundsen⁠ discuss stress stacking (also known as "trigger stacking") and how a dog's physiology impacts their ability to adjust to a new foster home. Stress stacking occurs when a dog encounters multiple stressors in a short period without enough time to recover between them. Each event adds "load" to the dog's nervous system, causing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline to build up. The Baseline Effect: When these hormones stay in the body, they create a "baseline" where the dog is constantly on edge. The "Final Straw": A dog may be "below threshold" (handling stress well) until one minor final trigger—like a doorbell or a dropped leash—pushes them "over threshold," leading to an outsized reaction like barking, lunging, or shutting down. Excitement vs. Fear: Biologically, the nervous system doesn't distinguish between high excitement and fear; both activate the same stress system and contribute to stacking. Signs of an Overloaded Nervous System Recognizing when a dog is approaching their threshold is key to preventing a meltdown. Physical Signals: Excessive panting (often with a "spatula tongue"), drooling, trembling, and dilated pupils. Subtle Stress "Whispers": Lip licking, frequent out-of-context yawning, and avoiding eye contact. Behavioral Red Flags: Hypervigilance (scanning the environment), inability to settle or sleep, and suddenly "forgetting" known cues like their name or "sit". Management Strategies for Fosters To help a new foster dog regulate, the focus must shift from training to decompression and relief. The Power of Sniffing: Sniffing lowers heart rates and releases feel-good hormones like endorphins. Jackie and Devin recommend "sniffari" walks where the dog leads the way. Setting Low Expectations: Avoid adoption events or busy Petco trips in the first two weeks. Focus on the "Three H's": keeping the dog safe, happy, and healthy. Choice and Agency: Let the dog decide when to approach for affection rather than reaching for them. Offering choices (e.g., "Do you want to sniff here or look at me?") helps them regain a sense of control. Environmental Awareness: Be mindful of "subtle stressors" in your home like strong-scented candles, loud TVs, or even outside construction that a dog's sensitive hearing can track from blocks away. ⁠How to help a stressed dog decompress⁠This video explains the concept of trigger stacking and offers visual examples of how a dog's behavior escalates when their threshold is reached.

    38 min

  4. FEB 10

    Thresholds and Triggers: Why Timing in Training is Everything

    In this Foster Fast Track episode, host Jackie Adams addresses a common frustration for new fosters: why well-intended training advice sometimes seems to backfire. Drawing from animal behavior and neuroscience, this episode explores the concept of "thresholds" and why a dog’s physiological state determines their ability to learn. Listeners will learn how to distinguish between a dog's "thinking brain" and their "survival system," why excitement can be just as overwhelming as fear, and why choosing relief over pressure is the most effective way to protect a foster dog's long-term progress. This is a must-listen for anyone navigating the unpredictable behaviors of those first days and weeks of fostering. The Biology of Learning: When stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are elevated, a dog’s access to learning and memory significantly drops. Threshold as a State, Not a Label: Being "over threshold" means a dog's survival system is active, causing their thinking brain to largely shut off. Excitement is Stress: The nervous system doesn't distinguish between being "too excited" and "too scared"; both states can lead to overload and a loss of access to learning. Exposure Requires the Thinking Brain: Exposure only helps a dog learn that something is safe if their thinking brain is online. Forcing exposure while a dog is activated can make them feel overwhelmed or trapped. Choose Relief Over Pressure: If you are unsure how to handle a tense moment, always choose relief, distance, or rest. You cannot force learning through an activated nervous system. Success is Recovery: Progress isn't measured by perfect behavior, but by how quickly a dog can disengage from a stressor and settle their nervous system. [00:00] Intro: Welcome to Foster Fast Track. [01:10] The most important question: Is this dog physiologically able to learn?. [01:58] Understanding the two systems: Thinking vs. Survival. [02:48] Why "happy" excitement can actually be a stress response. [03:20] Common pitfalls: Leashes, visitors, and the "Shortest Successful Walk". [04:40] The physiological reality of choosing relief over training. [05:04] Identifying measurable signs of nervous system flexibility. [06:16] Upcoming preview: Longer-term perspectives and stress stacking with Devin Amundsen.

    7 min

  5. FEB 5

    Reading Dogs — And How Fosters Can Use That Power

    In this special episode of Dog Fostering 101, host Jackie Adams welcomes world-renowned canine behaviorist and best-selling author Dr. Patricia McConnell. The conversation delves into the fascinating intersection of human and canine behavior, exploring how our primate instincts can sometimes confuse the dogs we are trying to help. Dr. McConnell also shares insights into her transition from nonfiction to fiction with her new murder mystery novel, "Away to Me," which features a dog foster protagonist and integrates authentic canine behavior into the plot. Writing What You Know: Dr. McConnell discusses making her protagonist, Maddie McGowan, an animal behaviorist to ground her first fiction novel in her real-world expertise. Normalizing Fostering: Jackie and Dr. McConnell discuss the importance of featuring fostering in popular fiction to normalize the experience and highlight the vital role foster families play in the shelter system. Anthropomorphism vs. Anthropocentrism: Anthropomorphism: Attributing human characteristics to non-human animals. Anthropocentrism: The belief that humans are the only species capable of complex emotions like fear, sadness, or love—a notion Dr. McConnell notes is not supported by biology. The "Hard Eye": Dr. McConnell describes the "hard eye" or "cold eye" in dogs—a physiological state where the tiny, natural movement of the eye (nystagmus) stops, signaling a warning of potential aggression. Primate vs. Canine Communication: The episode explores how humans (as primates) often use visual and vocal signals that dogs (as canines) interpret as threatening, such as patting a dog on top of the head or staring while giving a command. The "Coming and Going" of Dog Love: Dr. McConnell shares her hypothesis that we love dogs because they fulfill two primal roles: they are like infants who need our nurturing care, and like ideal parents who provide non-judgmental, positive regard. Book Tour Information: Dr. McConnell will be touring in support of "Away to Me" through Wisconsin and Texas in February and March 2026. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to Dog Fostering 101 and guest Dr. Patricia McConnell. 00:59 – Discussing the inspiration behind the new mystery novel, Away to Me. 03:17 – A content warning for readers: while it is a murder mystery, no dogs die in the book. 04:30 – The importance of home environments over shelters for assessing a dog's true personality. 06:07 – Defining Anthropomorphism and Anthropocentrism. 08:36 – Comparing the neurological systems of mammals: why dogs and humans are more similar than different. 10:00 – Primate behavior vs. Canine behavior: Why "primate" instincts can be scary for dogs. 11:53 – Why humans focus on the content of speech while dogs focus on visual signals. 14:50 – Example: How praising a dog with a head pat can actually be "positive punishment". 16:03 – Jackie’s story: How Dr. McConnell’s research saved her when a foster dog got loose. 21:34 – Deep dive into the "Hard Eye" and how to recognize the warning signs. 24:50 – Tips for new fosters: The power of observation and pausing before interacting. 27:18 – The importance of routine for stressed mammals and its connection to trauma recovery. 33:14 – Dr. McConnell’s theory on why humans are so deeply bonded to dogs. 37:44 – How to order Away to Me and where to find Dr. McConnell’s tour schedule.

    39 min

  6. FEB 3

    The Common Mistakes Fosters Don’t Realize They’re Making — and the Simple Fixes

    In this episode of Dog Fostering 101, host Jackie Adams explores the "primate" habits humans have that can accidentally stress out or confuse foster dogs. Drawing on the research of Patricia McConnell, Jackie identifies five common mistakes fosters make and provides simple, canine-friendly tweaks to build trust and clear communication. Whether you are a first-time foster or a seasoned pro, these small adjustments in posture, touch, and tone can make a massive difference in helping a new dog settle into your home.Episode Highlights:*Bridging the Species Gap: Understanding that humans act like primates while dogs act like canines helps explain why our natural instincts (like direct eye contact or hugging) can feel threatening to a dog.The Five Common Mistakes:1. Approaching Head-On: Walking straight toward a dog with direct eye contact can feel confrontational.2. Reaching Over the Head: Many dogs find a hand coming from above to be uncomfortable or a sign of pressure.3. Verbal Clutter: Using long sentences instead of short, consistent cues can muddle your message.4. Hugging: While humans use hugs for comfort, dogs often view physical restraint as stressful.5. Staring: Direct staring combined with leaning forward is often perceived as a high-pressure assessment rather than bonding. Featured Resources: The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell. Away to Me (New Mystery Novel) by Patricia McConnell – Releasing February 24th. Maddie’s Fund:   Foundations of Canine Communication and Safe Dog Handling (MU course) o   Foundations of Dog Communication 00:00 – Introduction to Dog Fostering 101 and the Foster Fast Track. 00:44 – Primates vs. Canines: The work of Patricia McConnell. 01:20 – Mistake #1: Approaching dogs the "human way". 02:15 – Mistake #2: Why you shouldn't reach over a dog's head. 03:05 – Mistake #3: The pitfalls of "verbal clutter" and talking too much. 04:16 – Mistake #4: Understanding why many dogs dislike hugging. 05:08 – Mistake #5: The intensity of staring and forward-leaning posture. 06:15 – Recap of the five fixes for better communication. 07:05 – Upcoming interview announcement and Patricia McConnell’s new book, Away to Me. 08:05 – Recommended resources from Maddie’s Fund. 08:40 – Closing remarks and credits.

    9 min

  7. JAN 29

    The State of Dog Fostering in America: What New Fosters Need to Know

    In this interview episode of Dog Fostering 101, Jackie Adams welcomes Kelly Duer from Maddie’s Fund, a leading advocate for foster care initiatives and community-based shelter programs. Kelly shares how the landscape of animal welfare is shifting from traditional long-term fostering to flexible, accessible options like "field trips" and "sleepovers". The conversation highlights how these short-term interactions are not just "fun" for the dogs, but are critical data-gathering missions that help shelters find the perfect long-term match. Kelly also discusses the "Maddie’s Pet Forum" and how creating a supportive community for fosters is the key to making the movement sustainable for everyone involved. The Evolution of Fostering: Fostering is no longer just a "until adoption" commitment; programs now include day-long field trips, weekend sleepovers, and emergency respite care to fit any lifestyle. Data over Training: A short-term foster's most valuable contribution is often just observing the dog. Knowing how a dog reacts to a doorbell or a vacuum is "behavioral gold" for shelter staff. The Power of "Marketing" Your Foster: Simple photos and stories from a home environment are often more effective at getting a dog adopted than any professional shelter bio. Supportive Communities: Maddie’s Pet Forum provides a space where fosters can ask questions, share successes, and find resources without feeling like they are on an island. Incentivizing Success: Maddie’s Fund offers monthly grant opportunities for shelters and rescues that successfully implement innovative foster programs. [00:00] Intro: Kelly Duer’s role at Maddie’s Fund. [02:15] Flexible Fostering: Breaking the "long-term only" myth. [05:40] Why "Sleepovers" are a game-changer for shelter dogs. [10:12] The importance of "Ordinary" observations in a home. [15:30] How fosters can help market dogs for adoption. [22:45] Building a support network: Maddie’s Pet Forum. [30:10] Grants and community-based sheltering goals. Maddie’s Pet Forum: maddiespetforum.org — A global community for animal welfare professionals and volunteers to share ideas and support. Maddie’s University: university.maddiesfund.org — Free classes and certifications for foster parents and shelter staff. Maddie’s Fund: Short-Term Fostering Resources — Toolkits for starting field trip and sleepover programs.

    35 min

  8. JAN 27

    The 5 Most Common Fears New Fosters Have — and Why They’re Completely Normal

    In this Foster Fast Track episode, host Jackie Adams addresses the most common behaviors new fosters encounter during those first critical days: accidents in the house, barking, and the "shut down" dog. Jackie explains that these behaviors are rarely a reflection of the dog's true personality; instead, they are high-stress reactions to a massive life transition. Listeners will learn practical, low-pressure strategies to manage these challenges—from "patience walks" and the "Rule of Three" for house training to why doing "nothing" is sometimes the most helpful thing you can do for a terrified pup. This episode is designed to help you lower the temperature in your home so your foster dog can begin to feel safe. The "Stress Reset": Many behaviors seen in the first 72 hours are temporary stress responses. Treat every dog as if they aren't house-trained for the first few days to set them up for success. The "Patience Walk": If a dog is too overwhelmed to go potty, try standing in one boring, quiet spot on a leash for 10–15 minutes rather than walking. This reduces stimulation and allows the dog's body to relax enough to "go". Manage the Barking: Barking at the window or door is often a sign of hyper-vigilance. Use white noise, close the curtains, or move the dog to a "quiet zone" to help their nervous system settle. Supporting the Shut-Down Dog: For dogs that hide or refuse to move, the best approach is often "passive presence." Sit nearby without looking at or touching the dog, allowing them to observe you safely until they choose to approach. Low Stakes, High Reward: During the initial decompression, keep expectations low. Success isn't a "sit" or "stay"; it's a dog finally taking a deep breath or a long nap. [00:00] Intro: Why common foster behaviors are actually stress signals. [01:45] Re-training the basics: Managing accidents and "Patience Walks". [03:30] Reducing the volume: Strategies for environmental barking. [05:15] The art of doing nothing: How to help a shut-down dog. [06:40] Closing resources: Body language and safe handling guides. Maddie’s Fund: Safe Dog Handling — Essential techniques for managing new or fearful foster dogs safely. Maddie’s Fund: Foundations of Dog Communication Webcast — A one-hour deep dive into reading stress signals and canine body language.

    8 min
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If you’re new to fostering, thinking about fostering, or already in the thick of it with a dog who’s unsure, overwhelmed, or completely shut down, you’re in the right place. You’ll hear simple, practical, compassionate guidance to help you feel confident from day one without spending hours digging through the internet for answers. Foster Fast Track episodes on Tuesdays: quick, under-15-minute lessons that break down the essentials Deep-dive conversations on Thursdays with some of the most respected voices in animal welfare and behavior

Information

  • Creator
    Jackie Adams
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jackie Adams
  • Show Website
    Dog Fostering 101