I have been doing collie rescue and bought your DVD to learn methods for my foster homes to help them when they add a foster dog. But your methods take weeks...

Hi,

I just watched your DVD on Establishing Pack Structure with the Family Pet -- and thoroughly enjoyed it. I have 3 collies - two were raised to be guide dogs, and many of their training methods were very similar to yours. Both collies "flunked out" and I was able to adopt them. The third is a rescue dog that I adopted last year. She is now 11.

I have been doing collie rescue for a few years and actually bought your DVD to learn methods for my foster homes to help them when they add a foster dog. But your methods take weeks of training with the new dog before it is introduced to the family dogs.

Do you have any suggestions on significantly streamlining this when you bring a foster dog into your home? I initially keep the foster dog isolated in a sunroom where I can observe them and be sure they do not come down with anything contagious as most come from shelters. This does limit their interaction with me only. this normally lasts about 2 weeks. then they are brought into the house with the 3 resident dogs.

These foster dogs are normally here for two weeks to three months - sometimes longer. I do crate train the foster dogs and do not leave them with my dogs unsupervised. I do try and do some obedience training with the fosters, but actually do not have a lot of time for this. I treat my dogs as top dogs - eat first, get pet first, out the door before foster, etc. Any advice and suggestions you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Faith