First 24 hours
The First 24 Hours With Your Foster Dog
The first day in foster care can be overwhelming for a dog. Your foster has just experienced a major transition and may be tired, nervous, overstimulated, or unsure of what is expected.
Your goal during the first 24 hours is simple: keep things quiet, safe, predictable, and low-pressure.
As Soon as You Get Home
☐ Put on the MLRR martingale collar and MLRR identification tag immediately.
☐ Remove old collars unless MLRR has specifically instructed you to keep them.
☐ Make sure the collar is fitted correctly and cannot slip over the dog's head.
☐ Take your foster outside on leash for a bathroom break before bringing them fully into the house.
☐ Show them their water, sleeping area, and designated safe space.
☐ Keep the environment calm. Avoid visitors, outings, pet stores, breweries, dog parks, or other unnecessary adventures.
Resident Dogs: Go Slowly
Even very social dogs need time to adjust. Do not simply bring your foster inside and allow all dogs to interact freely.
- Use leashes, gates, crates, or separate rooms as needed.
- Keep introductions short and calm.
- Do not force interaction.
- Feed dogs separately.
- Remove high-value toys, bones, food bowls, and chews during initial interactions.
- Supervise all interactions.
- Give your resident dogs breaks from the foster dog.
It is completely okay for dogs to spend much of the first day separated while they become familiar with one another's presence.
Complete a Head-to-Toe Check
Within the first 24 hours, please take a few minutes to carefully look over your foster dog. We sometimes receive dogs with limited medical history, and fosters are an important second set of eyes.
Please check:
- Ears: redness, odor, discharge, debris, scratching, or head shaking
- Eyes: redness, discharge, swelling, or cloudiness
- Teeth and mouth: broken teeth, severe tartar, sores, masses, or obvious discomfort
- Skin and coat: sores, scabs, lumps, hair loss, fleas, ticks, redness, or irritation
- Paws and nails: cracked pads, wounds, torn nails, or extremely long nails
- Body: lumps, swelling, pain, wounds, or areas the dog does not want touched
- Rear end: irritation, swelling, discharge, diarrhea, or other concerns
- Movement: limping, stiffness, weakness, or difficulty getting up
Food & Water
- Provide fresh water.
- Feed the food provided or approved by MLRR.
- Do not immediately change foods unless instructed.
- Feed separately from resident animals.
- Do not be alarmed if your foster does not eat normally the first day. Stress can temporarily reduce appetite.
Medications & Prevention
Please confirm what medications or preventatives came with your foster.
Keep all medications and preventatives together in a safe place and follow the instructions provided by MLRR.
Do not discard medication, preventatives, medical paperwork, or veterinary records.
Keep Expectations Low
Your foster may pace, pant, sleep excessively, have an accident, refuse food, follow you constantly, hide, whine, bark, or seem unusually quiet.
These behaviors do not necessarily tell us what the dog will be like once settled.
For now, focus on:
- Rest
- Predictable bathroom breaks
- Short leash walks
- Quiet interaction
- Routine
- Plenty of sleep
Safety Rules for Day One
- Keep your foster leashed outdoors unless in a securely fenced area.
- Double-check gates and doors.
- Do not use retractable leashes.
- Do not take your foster to a dog park.
- Do not allow off-leash introductions with unfamiliar dogs.
- Do not overwhelm your foster with visitors.
- Supervise interactions with children and other pets.
Before You Go to Bed
☐ Confirm the MLRR collar and tag are secure.
☐ Give your foster one final bathroom break.
☐ Make sure all medications and paperwork are safely stored.
☐ Make sure resident animals and the foster can be safely separated overnight if needed.
☐ Send your coordinator any immediate medical or behavioral concerns.
Remember
Your foster dog does not need a perfect first day. They need a safe, calm place to land.