Dog Fostering 101

Managing Multi-Dog Househoulds

In this episode of Dog Fostering 101, host Jackie Adams sits down with Melissa from Paws on the Pasture to tackle one of the most challenging scenarios for fosters and pe

The Difficult Side of Fostering — Bringing a Dog Back

One of the hardest, least-talked-about parts of fostering is the intense emotional toll of bringing a dog back to the shelter. In this raw and honest episode, we break do

Fostering Puppies Is Harder Than You Expect

Puppies are often seen as the "easy" fosters because they are small, cute, and lack a long behavioral history. However, the reality of fostering a young dog like Forrest

Helping Your Foster Dog with Separation Anxiety (What Actually Works)

In this episode, we explore the emotional and practical side of managing separation anxiety in foster dogs, featuring the story of a recent foster named Mama Olive. Separ

The #1 Mistake When Introducing Dogs

Think your dogs need to be "best friends" the second they meet? Think again. In this episode, we break down why the standard face-to-face greeting is actually the highest

I Was Caring For My Foster Dogs the Wrong Way

In this episode, we dive into a vulnerable and uncomfortable realization about the reality of dog fostering: sometimes, our version of "kindness" is actually a disservice

What To Do When You Don't Like Your Foster Dog

Fostering is a rewarding journey, but it isn’t always "love at first sight." In this episode of Foster Fast Track, we tackle a taboo topic: what happens when you just don

Stop Projecting Human Expectations On Dogs

In this episode of Foster Fast Track, we dive into one of the most common hurdles in dog fostering and ownership: our tendency to treat dogs like humans. Whether you are

Why Fostering Often Feels Like Failure (but Isn’t)

One of the most common reasons fosters step away from volunteering isn't a lack of love or time—it’s the quiet, heavy belief that they are failing. When a foster dog is s

How to Tell If Your Foster Program is Supporting You - and What to Do If It's Not

We dive into a topic that is often felt but rarely discussed: how to determine if your foster program is truly providing the support you need to stay healthy and engaged.

How to Take Adoption-Boosting Photos of Your Foster Dog — Even With a Phone

A single great photo can be the definitive factor in whether a foster dog gets noticed or passed over by potential adopters. In this "Foster Fast Track" episode, we explo

What Foster Dogs Teach Us About Love and Letting Go

What if the best way to navigate the turbulent teenage years was to invite a few more four-legged family members into your home? In this episode, we sit down with Cindy O

How to Foster Dogs Without Burning Out

How do you love a foster dog deeply without losing yourself in the process? In this Foster Fast Track episode, host Jackie Adams tackles the heavy reality of "over-identi

Data-Driven Lifesaving: What the Numbers Actually Say About Shelter Reform

In this episode of Dog Fostering 101, host Jackie Adams sits down with Kristen Hasson, founder of Outcomes for Pets Consulting, to pull back the curtain on the national a

Fostering is the System: Why Shelters are the Safety Net, Not the System

This episode of Foster Fast Track explores a transformative shift in animal welfare: the idea that fostering is the system, and shelters are the safety net, not the cente

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 emo

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 behi

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

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. Drawin

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 conversatio