Foster's Home for Dogs
217 Lower Durham Road e6c 1h3 Durham Bridge, NB, Canada

As I will be re-opening this week after a mild case of kennel cough has blown through, run it's course, and the low number of dogs affected have all recovered beautifully... I want to send out this reminder. Foster's Home for Dogs is not a place to send your dogs to 'socialize' them. Here, I keep the physical and emotional well being of your dogs at the forefront of everything I do. That means ample exercise (not too much) and enrichment, ample rest (not too little), and it... is a safe and low stress environment for your dog to be in while you can't be with them. FHFD has built and earned it's reputation as a SAFE place for dogs. And I don't want to lose that. I am very proud of that. I work very hard for that. This pandemic has literally decimated my usual income stream. Folks would travel abroad for 1-4 weeks or more at a time, and it was their dogs who filled my rooms. Due to my passion for and experience with dogs who have certain behavioural concerns, 80% or more of the dogs who came to me did not 'play' with other dogs while here, because that was what they needed for them to feel and be safe. This pandemic has forced me to make decisions and offer services that I never wanted to offer, just to make a buck. And due to the higher traffic of dogs who are only staying for 8-ish hours at a time, that's why dogs got sick. That's why kennel cough is such an ongoing issue at larger scale "doggy daycares", dog parks, dog sports events, dog shows, etc. Gather in groups, viruses will spread. If we have learned one thing these past 14 months, I hope it's that. Please, keep social distancing, folks... this Summer is shaping up to be worse than last year if we don't buckle down NOW, again. So, where does that leave me, and other small businesses that are trying to adapt just so they can survive? Do we risk health for money? We are being forced to, in many cases. BUT I am not going to sacrifice my integrity for money. So, Yes, I will still be offering 'Daycare', but now that the weather is nicer, I will be returning to my INDIVIDUAL care focus. That means more long leash walks through the woods, low distraction counter-conditioning work with anxious or reactive dogs, enrichment activities, and bonding. I will continue to use my own dogs with your dogs that want someone to play with, but, your dogs most often won't be spending time anymore with 'strange' dogs. I will launch a new 'Misfits' campaign soon, for dogs that need that one-on-one care, I just wanted to give my "new" clients a heads-up, that the doggy party here has ended it's short life. If my return to my previous methodology is not what you are looking for, I completely understand, and I hope you understand, too.

Well well well! Remember when I posted about Zuke's treats a few weeks ago? Primrose and Polar should hire themselves out as product testers!

I posted about this on my personal page, and hesitated to share the same thoughts here, professionally, but, I think it's important. This gives a personal insight as to why I am so adamant and passionately against tools like prong, choke, and shock collars, and the methodology behind them. My heart goes out to Michael Shikashio, on the loss of such a wonderful dog who taught him so much. My personal page thoughts are copied and pasted as follows: Well, this brings tears, a...nd not because I know Michael Shikashio personally, or have ever met this dog. But this guy is a major player in the 'how to treat dog aggression without adding aggression' camp. His schools and seminars are always fully booked, and I am excited to take part as a student in one coming up this Fall. Reading how he made mistakes with this dog, and knew nothing about dogs when he got her... damn that hits me right in the feels. I can empathize with what he is feeling now as she has gone, all he owes her thanks for. Maggie is that dog for me. And she is a 'giant' breed (English Mastiff), already at aged 10. Every day is a gift, and she sleeps a lot of the day away now, but she is the dog who taught me more than I could ever have known I didn't know. Had I not been given Maggie, I would not be who I am today. I might still be 'Packleader' telling folks to hold their dogs tight, "Head Up, Tits Out, Lets Go!" and tell them to give their dog that crank on the neck when they didn't listen to the commands they were given that they didn't even understand. Maggie taught me that not only was that a dangerous way to live with dogs, but that it proved how little I was hearing or understanding what they were trying so hard to say. Once I learned to listen to dogs, and watch, I no longer believed that I 'knew it all' and started to learn from the experts instead of a tv star. Both of our lives changed for the better. I still don't know it all. I never will, but, I will keep learning from the experts, and from the eyes of dogs like Maggie. She has mostly forgiven me for all the domineering bullshit I put her through, and loves me still. But, though I have not neck cranked her or alpha rolled her in 6+ years or more... she still remembers. And she is still skeptical of me if I say things in a frustrated tone, wondering if the old me is going to come back, and that stark reminder she gives me through her shrinking body language, her lowered eyes, her slowed pace tells me what kind of lasting effect that "Packleader" bullshit actually has on our dogs. If you have dogs, a 'heart dog', or even if your current dog is your first dog, I promise you, not only are they looking to you to learn about the world they live in, but, you have lessons to learn from them, as well. xo

Donate if you can!!

LEAVE NO TRACE And a couple notes about dogs: If you are one of these people who will bag their dog's poop, only to hold onto it long enough until no one is watching and then toss it, bag and all, into the brush where it hangs suspended from a branch or fence for all to see, or lays hidden trapped in it's plastic prison... PLEASE STOP THAT. ... If you are in a thick wooded area, far from a waste receptacle, then find a stick and FLICK IT into the thick brush where it will be away from feet and children's hands, it will become food for insects, and biodegrade naturally in less than a month. Nobody wants to see your sh%\ bags. Also, that's 'on point' about the joints and cigarette butts. Those can kill a dog if they find and ingest one. Stub it and keep it until you find a bin. LEAVE NO TRACE

The moment when a random guy stumbles into a public online chat for dog pros. This is fantastic. Watch that Corgi just light right up and engage. ... I love the internet. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=4126897060675792&id=100000666150032&sfnsn=mo

Remember folks! Practice, practice, practice when you DON'T need it, so your dog has a reliable, safe, and rewarding choice to make when things DO get stressful.

Bernie is with me at Foster’s because he needs a new home. He is reactive towards other dogs, and terrified of the groomer. This week he has visited the groomers twice and the first time just being in the office was too much for him and we left quickly. When we left, he grabbed my leash and thrashed it as if to say, no thanks, get me out of here. He stress panted for 30 minutes afterwards as we drove around in the Jeep. The next time was shorter, and we simply picked up ...a knuckle bone treat and got out of there. He did much better, no leash thrashing, no stress panting. We will be making many more trips to build up his resilience and create more positive associations. He allows me to brush and comb him with no issues, he loves to be cuddled, so it’s more of an environment issue that needs healing due to past trauma. We have been around Killarney Pond a few times and been able to scoot aside when people with dogs approached and he has done well with scatter feeding, or just observing from a distance. But this time today was a little different because there were more people and more dogs which pushed him ‘over threshold’ so I decided to share with you all so you can see what Bernie is feeling when he sees other dogs go by. Instead of immediately putting up a front, you’ll notice he waits until the dog has gone by before he lets his feelings be known. So, we backtracked out of the busy trail, and went and sat on a rock so we could watch things go by, from further away, ‘under threshold’ and get back to square one. Bernie might be with me for a while, but I know his perfect human is out there somewhere. If this is the kind of guy you adore, and can relate to his feelings, and are committed to using force free behaviour modification, then Bernie just might be looking for you too!

I got a message yesterday from a Secret Santa that I am not going to let stay secret. It should come as no surprise when I tell you that the fact that people can’t travel or take vacations has basically crushed my dog boarding business. Krista Munn from All About Animals Environmentally Responsible Pet Grooming & Supplies messaged me yesterday to tell me that she and her staff wanted to help out another pet business, and they chose me, and offered to book every single one... of my rooms for 2 nights. Wow. I was floored. Speechless. Humbled. Grateful. I cried. This past year so far has been incredibly hard to stay afloat, and I don’t like feeling helpless or being the one who needs help. I am usually the one who tries to give it whenever I can to my clients, my friends, and of course the dogs who come into my care, especially the homeless ones, or the ‘Misfits’ who need that extra something sometimes. The business loans that the government is giving out aren’t easy to get, and I wasn’t able to get one. So, to have this incredible generosity just land in my lap during a time I have been the most worried I have ever been, is something I feel so much gratitude for. I feel so fortunate to be supported by my fellow friends in our local pet community, and I promise I will pay it forward when things get back to normal. Please join me in thanking Krista and the girls at AAA, and go check out their page, their shop of awesome foods, treats, toys, and goodies they have, and of course book your pet’s next grooming needs with them. https://aboutanimals.ca/ Thank you SO MUCH, from the bottom of my heart and wag of my tail. Chris Foster's Home for Dogs

Folks! The traffic here at Foster's is pretty darn low (and that's the way we like it!) ...BUT... That doesn't mean we don't have to be careful everywhere we go. Until further notice, the following Covid-19 safety precautions are being reinstated: 1. Please remember to call or message ahead of your reservation with your preferred drop off and pick up times. Drop offs and pick ups outside of normal hours are 100% ok, just please book ahead so I can continue to stagger gu...ests with no overlap or anyone waiting in the driveway. 2. Wear a mask upon exiting your vehicle. I'll have a mask on for you, too. 3. Enter gated fenced area with your dog on leash, close and secure gate behind you. 4. Take leash and collar off your dog, your dog will run inside with me. 5. Bring your dog's items in a plastic or otherwise air tight container and leave them outside by the gate. I will wipe them down before I bring them in. We all still have a long road ahead before this pandemic is behind us. Let's work together to keep each other safe. Thank you!

Aren’t we lucky to have them?

Folks! The traffic here at Foster's is pretty darn low (and that's the way we like it!) ...BUT... That doesn't mean we don't have to be careful everywhere we go. Until further notice, the following Covid-19 safety precautions are being reinstated: 1. Please remember to call or message ahead of your reservation with your preferred drop off and pick up times. Drop offs and pick ups outside of normal hours are 100% ok, just please book ahead so I can continue to stagger gu...ests with no overlap or anyone waiting in the driveway. 2. Wear a mask upon exiting your vehicle. I'll have a mask on for you, too. 3. Enter gated fenced area with your dog on leash, close and secure gate behind you. 4. Take leash and collar off your dog, your dog will run inside with me. 5. Bring your dog's items in a plastic or otherwise air tight container and leave them outside by the gate. I will wipe them down before I bring them in. We all still have a long road ahead before this pandemic is behind us. Let's work together to keep each other safe. Thank you!

Polar & Primrose

I got a new hobby, and with Covid-19 being the jerk to the travel industry that it is... now this is officially a "side-gig". Want your dog's face/pawprint (or anything) on a Tshirt or mug? I CAN DO THAT! ... Shoot me a message if interested. Prices range from $25-$30 each :D Makes a great gift! Order before December 10th to be guaranteed for Xmas. #supportsmallbusiness #buylocal #fredericton #oromocto #notjustanydog #itsyourdog

Hang in there folx!!

These boys are gonna miss each other when it's time to go home I think... What a hoot these two are to watch play. <3 #bestbuds #oromocto ... #fredericton #dogboarding #dogsinnewbrunswick #ihavethebestjobintheworld See more

Who says grey means old and slow? Not Marci!! Go girl go!! ... #gsp #speedysenior #dogboardinginnewbrunswick #fredericton #oromocto #fostershomefordogs

Ahhh the first taste of snow. It won't last long, may as well enjoy it!

My friends and I took a vote, and we decided to call this guy Bernie. Bernie is an 8yr old Polish Lowland Sheepdog who has faced and overcome many traumatic experiences in his life. To name the big ones, he had Lyme disease which was very painful on his joints and the treatment and recovery were difficult. He injured his back leg and had TPLO surgery, and fully recovered, but spending nearly 60 days on crate rest was difficult, painful, and isolating. And, to top it all off...Continue reading

It's not dark n' dreary if you got dogs!! #dogsmakeeverythingbetter

Capone & Diesel: Yard Kings #bestbuds #fredericton #oromocto ... #dogsofnewbrunswick #dogboarding #fostershomefordogs See more

My pals today while I rake the leaves <3 #fredericton #oromocto #dogboarding ... #doggydaycare #yourdogcouldbehere #fostershomefordogs See more

Capone & Diesel When these two met...it reminded me of something... #brothersfromothermothers ... #fredericton #oromocto #dogboarding #fostershomefordogs See more

Zoom Zoom Sunday

Hmmm...decisions, decisions.. This one! #JollyPets ... #jollypetstoys #fredericton #oromocto #dogboarding #fostershomefordogs See more

These Beagle Boyz are always ready to party! #fredericton #oromocto #dogboarding ... #fearfree #forcefree #fostershomefordogs See more

No rubber chickens were harmed.

I've got pretty good company here this weekend!

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving weekend everyone! #fredericton #oromocto #dogsofnewbrunswick ... #dogboarding See more

That face you make right before you sneeze

Looking forward to the day when these devices are banned nationwide in Canada. Well done, Petco! #StopTheShock