Dog Community

Dog fixated on foster mom

KCSO

Posted : 6/7/2006 1:00:34 PM

We have been looking for a dog from rescues and shelters for a while. One that I saw early on is still not adopted and one reason is she is totally fixated on her foster mom while at adoption events. She's an adult GSD mix and sounds (on paper anyway) like a great match for our family.

She will just sit and watch her foster mom walk around the room. She doesn't bark or pull at the tether or push at the pen. If we (me or my kids) try to interact with her she pretty much ignores us, but shows no nervousness or anger about us touching her. If we block the line of sight she will carefully move around us til she can see mom again!

If mom leaves the area the dog will just sit and watch the doorway she exited. She looks worried, but doesnt seem to bark or pace - just tries her best to get a better angle of sight on the doorway! She doesn't want to walk with us (wont leave mom) and ignores toys. Only once did she seem to react to me and that was after I stood with her foster mom chatting for about 10 minutes. I had been petting her while she sat velcro'd to moms leg and she seemed to move herself closer to me so I could scritch the good spots. Foster mom was even surprised.

What can I do to get this dog to interact? Or should I just assume that it will bond just as well with us someday? Are we likely to get a horrible separation scene?

angelamarie

Posted : 6/7/2006 1:06:31 PM

The scenario you have described is not uncommon with foster dogs. The six year old toy poodle that we have had for 4 months, and who was originally kinda sorta a foster, was absolutely obsessed with me from the moment he landed in our home. He pretty much still is, but it has lessened some.

A dog is not like a piece of furniture, it cannot simply be moved about and expected to just fit in. They do experience separation problems from their moms or foster moms. That this dog has bonded so tightly with it's foster mom is a good sign, I think, as it means it is capable of forming an attachment and relationship with a human. Will the separation anxiety be a problem at first? There's no way to predict that. Our adoptee did experience separation problems for the first 6-8 weeks but settled down as he spent more time here and we worked with him and made adjustments.

It's likely that any dog you visit who is in a foster home will show an obsession for the foster mom/dad---they are the ones who saved him or her!!!

nfowler

Posted : 6/10/2006 9:51:12 AM

And it's a good sign, I think. This means she will bond with humans. It's the ones who struggle to bond with humans at all (severely neglected) that can be more work after adoption. I loved that Ellie landed on the couch with her foster parents when I met her. She was running around and then flew into the house and onto the couch.

And now she does that with me! My new boy has been pretty neglected but he's not aloof--quite opposite. He's like that GSD you've seen. Totally into me. He's calming down, like the other "sorta foster" here, but still--he's a bonder for sure. Surprising to me, but I am rather flattered (even after 8 months).

Pam

Posted : 6/12/2006 4:09:24 PM

When we met Red at the shelter, in the doggie park, he stayed right with the attendant. I thought to myslef, 'boy if he could bond with me like that". Well sure enough he came home and bonded with me totally, to the exclusion of my hubby and his mother. He is my shadow. He only responds to my commands. This is a problem for the long run when he won't come in or eat for them. But they say this type of dog is better than one who won't bond with a human. I love him to death!