Here’s how the first 24 hours went with our foster puppy:
Grace is slowly trying to adjust in her new foster home and my goal for the next three days is to let her go through a decompression period. I am following the 3-3-3 rule that most dog rescues suggest for any foster dog. The first “3” is for 3 days of no stimulation which means the foster parent has to only focus on letting their rescue puppy eat, sleep and go outside when needed. Still not introducing the pets to each other until this period is done.
So far, Grace has shown that she will absolutely not eat from a bowl as she doesn’t trust her environment yet to be safe enough to eat without worrying about food being taken away BUT she seems to eat if I give her the food one kibble at a time.
- Grace's History -
Grace is less than 2 years old Chihuahua mix female weighing 11 lbs. She came from a hoarding situation and has had to learn how to protect her food and belongings from other dogs around her but she's friendly with dogs and needs time to adjust.
If you’d like to know more about how to adopt Grace as well as details about her dog adoption, please DM me or @saltwatersouls_dogrescue for info!
#fosterdog #rescuedog #rescuedogsofinstagram #newbrunswick #fosterpuppy
- about me -
Hi! My name is Shweta and I am a Canada based South Asian (Indo-Canadian) creator behind @dancingdixit focusing on creating cruelty-free fashion, styling, makeup, skincare, dance, dogs and lifestyle content! I hope you enjoy my content as much as I enjoy making it ☀️
Fostering a rescue puppy like Grace truly opens your eyes to the patience and understanding needed in helping an animal adjust to a new life. During my experience, I realized that the first 24 hours are critical not just for the dog's comfort but also for building a foundation of trust. Grace’s hesitation to eat from a bowl was a clear sign that she was still feeling vulnerable and insecure in her surroundings. Offering her food one kibble at a time turned out to be a gentle and effective way to encourage her to eat without feeling rushed or threatened. The 3-3-3 rule is a valuable guideline many rescues recommend, focusing on giving the dog three days of no stimulation to decompress. This period allowed Grace to explore her environment at her own pace, rest adequately, and feel safe without overwhelming her. Introducing new pets or heavy interactions too soon can lead to stress or setbacks in their progress. In addition to adjusting Grace’s feeding habits, I made sure to observe subtle behaviors—such as snoring while napping and guarding her food—to understand her emotional state better. These little details revealed her past life experiences, especially from the hoarding situation where resources were scarce and competition intense. If you’re considering fostering a rescue dog, patience is your greatest ally. Each dog comes with unique challenges and history, requiring individualized care and emotional support. Small adjustments like hand-feeding meals or creating a quiet, safe space can profoundly impact their recovery journey. Overall, fostering Grace has deepened my appreciation for rescue work and the importance of providing a nurturing environment. I encourage anyone interested to connect with local rescues; the rewards of seeing a timid dog transform into a confident companion are truly priceless.
