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The goal of the Service Dog University, Inc.'s foster program is to place service dogs in training into “family” environments before they go to the handler’s home.  The foster families will be given the responsibility to help raise a service dog alongside our trainers. The program has been developed with the dog, the foster and the trainers in mind to achieve our goal. 

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IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A FOSTER, EMAIL US AT servicedoguniversity@gmail.com

Can I be a foster parent?  

It is an important question that anyone should ask if they are considering fostering any animal, not just a service dog.  In order for our program to succeed, we need to rely on our foster parents, just as the handlers rely on us to train their dogs.  Please read the list of questions below. If you answered NO to any of the of the question, please discuss them with one of the members of the foster committee.  If you answered NO to any of these questions, this does NOT disqualify you from our foster program.  However, there may be ways we can help.  

Working & Training

We ask that foster parents who work a full time job to drop off their foster at the facility prior to work and to pick them up afterwards.  While your foster is at the facility, the trainers will work with your dog.   You will be given instructions at the time of pick up on anything that should be worked on when you arrive at home.

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As a foster parent, you will be asked to participate in our training classes.  This will help give you the basic foundation and introduction to positive reinforcement training.  These classes will allow you to not only understand what the trainer/assistant trainers are telling you, but be able to follow through with some training requests while in your home.

  • Do you own your own home?

  • Do you rent?

  • Do you have permission from your landlord to have a foster?

  • Are you financially capable of taking care of a foster (i.e. food, supplies, etc.)? NOTE: Vet costs are covered by SDU

  • Do you have children?

  • Can you handle both the children and the dog?

  • Do you have room in your house for a crate and exercise pen (if needed)?

  • Do you have a fenced in yard?

  • If not, are you capable of walking the dog several times a day?

  • Do you have other animals in your house?

  • Do they get along with other dogs?

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