How to Assess Your Foster Dog for Adoption: Fostering Dogs: How You Can Help Pets

How to Assess Your Foster Dog for Adoption: Fostering Dogs: How You Can Help Pets

How to Assess Your Foster Dog for Adoption

By Jane Harrell, Petfinder.com associate producer
Assessing your foster dog for adoption is a vital role any foster parent plays in the adoption process. You live, feed, play with and have the closest contact of anyone else with your foster dog and can help identify traits that will determine what kind of home he should be placed in.
Below is an example of an assessment form from a Petfinder.com member shelter. Your shelter or rescue might ask you to fill out something similar to help describe your foster dog. You may also be asked to write a short description of him for his Petfinder listing, or to describe his behavior to potential adopters. Use the assessment form below to help guide you in getting the vital information to your rescue or shelter:

Assessment Form - Dog

Please indicate (circle one for each) how the foster dog is doing with each item.  Thanks!
How long has the dog been in foster care: ________________
Behavior
Food bowl:

• Good
• Eats faster when approached
• Freezes over food

Furniture:

• Not on
• Is easily moved off
• Won't get off      

Basic Handling
Can open muzzle:

• Easily
• Fair
• Clamps down

Can easily touch:

• Everywhere
• Everywhere Except (list):___________________

Hug:

• Likes
• Dislikes (struggles/growls)

Brushing:

• Likes
• Dislikes

Play:

• Mouthy/can redirect
• Mouthy/overly excited/can't redirect

Toys:

• Can take all away
• Can take some away
• Can't take away

Crate trained:

• Likes crate
• Dislikes crate
• Didn't try to crate

Obedience Commands
Dog knows (circle all that apply):

• Sit
• Down
• Watch
• No jumping on guests
• Other: __________

Socialization
Car rides:

• Likes/doesn't bark
• Likes/barks
• Doesn't like

Strangers:

• Likes all
• Dislikes all
• Likes only women
• Likes only men

Children:

• Likes all
• Dislikes all
• Likes over age:_____
• Don't know

Dogs:

• Likes all
• Dislikes when restricted (leash/fence)
• Dislikes
• Don't know

Cats:

• Likes
• Dislikes
• Don't know

In General
Is housebroken:

• Yes
• No
• Accidents only when left alone

Is destructive/chews:

• Yes
• No
• Only when left alone

Overall (circle all that apply):

• Shy
• Assertive/bold
• Active
• Quiet
• Afraid of Noises
• Playful
• Walks nicely on a leash
• Pulls on a leash

How long is dog left alone during day:  ________

• Crated
• Not Crated