The Fear Free Dog Foster: Building Trust Through Comfort, Consent, and Choice скачать в хорошем качестве

The Fear Free Dog Foster: Building Trust Through Comfort, Consent, and Choice

In this interview episode of Dog Fostering 101, Jackie Adams sits down with Dr. Jennifer Merlo, a veterinarian and Vice President of Veterinary Affairs for Fear Free. Building on the concepts of the "Fear Free Fortress," Dr. Merlo explains how fosters can transition from providing basic care to becoming active partners in a dog’s emotional rehabilitation. ‪@FearFreePets‬ The conversation explores how the "Fear Free" philosophy applies to everyday foster life—from handling veterinary visits and administering medication to understanding the nuanced body language of a dog in a new environment. Dr. Merlo shares professional insights on how small, intentional changes in our behavior can have a massive impact on a foster dog's confidence and long-term adoptability. *The Emotional Medical Record: Fear Free encourages fosters to look beyond physical health and track a dog's emotional state. Understanding what triggers fear or joy in a home setting is vital information for the shelter and future adopters. *The "Touch" Standard: Dr. Merlo emphasizes that all interactions should be cooperative. If a dog flinches or retreats, fosters should stop and reassess rather than "pushing through," which builds trust through consent. *Creating Low-Stress Transitions: Veterinary visits and car rides are major stressors for foster dogs. Dr. Merlo provides strategies for "happy visits" and using pheromones or calming music to buffer the stress of travel. *Medication as a Tool, Not a Last Resort: Short-term anti-anxiety medication can be a "bridge" that allows a severely shut-down dog to finally relax enough to begin learning and bonding in a foster home. *The "Look at That" Game: Using positive reinforcement to change a dog's emotional response to scary stimuli—like the vacuum or doorbell—turns potential triggers into opportunities for rewards and confidence building.