I think fostering is a terrific idea for both the owner and the foster parents as long as the partnership is a good one, is amicable, and that everything is clearly understood and stated in a contract.
Some of the pros are....there are as ton of people out there who would dearly love a Poodle. They may have grown up with one or have kids with allergies. But, some of these folks might not be able to afford one. If someoone fosters, they get the joy of living with the dog without all of the expense. They are responsible for general health care (shots, physicals, teeth cleaning as the dog ages, etc.) grooming costs and food but don't have the outlay to purchase ther dog.
For the owner-breeder the benefits are plenty. I have four dogs in my home, and my partner and I have decided that since we are not getting any younger, and since there are four hands between us, this is a reasonable number of dogs in our house. But because I breed dogs, I may produce a puppy that is outstanding and wish to keep, or may buy a puppy to further my program. At this time this puppy would not be living with me, so a foster family is the answer. I would be responsible for its registration costs, its first shots and vet physical, micro chip insertion and any costs incurred until it is placed. I am responsible for the costs to do health testing. If I wish it to be shown in any field, that is my responsibilty. The foster family must make the dog available to me for health testing, breeding, and if it is a female and they do not wish to whelp litters, I would pick her up about the seventh week of her pregnancy to come here and whelp her babies. She would go back to her foster family once the puppies are weaned. If the dog is a female that is going to be bred, or if the fostered dog is male and is going to be used at stud, the foster family should live within an hours drive of me so I can get to the quickly.
The benfits are huge, if it is done right. I dont feel anyone should have so many dogs that any of them get lost in the shuffle or become part of the woodwork. I feel every dog should feel like a valued, cherished part of a loving family. So, in order for my plans to come to fruition, I will constantly be needing more breeding dogs, but if I had them all here, I would be over run with canines which would not be fair to them. I am also anti-kennel dogs as I think that life tends to suck for the dogs. So, a foster family is the perfect solution.
My boy Flynn is fostered by my sister and her family. He is the joy of their hearts, and beloved by the entire family. He goes for four walks a day, goes to the dog park, snuggles into bed with them each night and lives THE life!! My other male who I co-own with my best breeder friend, lives with a friend of one of my puppy buyers. He has two human sisters and all four people in his new family adore him. If they lived in a breeding home with tons of dogs, they could not possibly get the affection or attention they get in these homes. If they were kennel dogs, their lives would be totally different.
Trusting someone to take your precious breeding dog is a whole other story. You need a rock solid contract which protects this dogs at all costs. Communication is key. Everyone needs to be on the same page with a full understanding of what is expected at both ends. You should be very comfortable and relaxed with one another. You need home visits to ensure what you hear is truth. The fostering family must have plenty of dog experience. They need to have a fully fenced yard. They should provide you with references of a veterinarian and groomer they have used in the past. There should be something in the contract which states if this dog dies from a careless act, that you will be compensated for your loss. I also have in my contract that in the event the dog dies, the body is to be taken to a vet to have its micro-chip scanned, and I want a letter from the vet stating the cause of death with the chip number notated to confirm how the dog died, and that is was indeed my dog that passed away. They must agree to provide me with tons of photos and videos so I can see the dogs condition, stay abreast of its development and growth, and so I can post photos on my web site. They must agree keep it well groomed and fed good quality food.
The biggest con is, sometimes you will find people who sign agreements and are very earnest, then do not do what has been laid out, like providing photos. So, it should be in the contract that you have the right to remove the dog if problems asrise.
I will think of one thousand things I should have added once I hit submit, but I feel fostering is a wonderful solution to the space problem for a breeder if you are careful and ensure what you have been presented with is what is actually going on, and that your dog is in a loving, caring family that cherish your dog, and that there is a very good contract in place which protects all involved.
