Foster Training

Training, Rehabilitation & Behavior Support

At Fishy's Friends Rescue, we believe that training and rehabilitation save lives.

Many of the dogs we rescue from the streets are wonderful companions who simply need time, consistency, and a safe environment to decompress and heal. However, some dogs come to us carrying deep-rooted fears, trauma, and survival behaviors developed through neglect, abandonment, abuse, or life on the streets. These behaviors can sometimes appear undesirable or even unadoptable to the average person, but we believe every dog deserves the opportunity to be understood before being judged.

Unfortunately, many dogs are surrendered, abandoned, or discarded because people expect them to enter a home already knowing how to behave. The reality is that dogs who have experienced instability often need guidance, structure, patience, and training to learn how to successfully live in a family environment.

This is why foster observations are so important.

As a foster, you play a critical role in helping us evaluate a dog's needs. We ask that you carefully observe and document routines, behaviors, triggers, fears, progress, and challenges. These observations help our team determine whether a dog may benefit from additional behavioral support, professional training, or a rehabilitation plan.

Before labeling a behavior as a training issue, we ask that all fosters allow proper decompression time. A dog's nervous system must first feel safe before their true personality begins to emerge. Fear, anxiety, overstimulation, and stress can often look like behavioral problems when a dog is simply trying to survive in a new environment.

Please focus first on:

• Following the 3-3-3 Decompression Rule

• Creating a calm and predictable routine

• Providing a safe environment

• Building trust and confidence

• Allowing the dog time to regulate emotionally

Once a dog has had time to settle and adjust, we can better identify behaviors that may require additional training or rehabilitation support.

Fishy's Friends Rescue proudly partners with SWOK K9 Training Academy for all professional behavioral assessments, board-and-train programs, and rehabilitation services. Their team helps us evaluate behavior, create individualized training plans, and provide dogs with the skills they need to become successful family companions.

SWOK K9 Training Academy also offers free foster training courses, and we strongly encourage all fosters to participate. These classes are typically held in the evenings and consist of a four-part educational series offered over four months. Course announcements and registration information will be shared in the Foster Lounge GroupMe.

Together, through patience, structure, training, and understanding, we can help dogs move beyond survival mode and into thriving, successful lives.