Mods, I don't know if this is the right location for this post or not. I was torn between putting it here or the Boot Camp. Please move to appropriate forum if this is wrong.

Basset rescue obviously knows I'm out of school until the 20th, lol. They're asking me to hold this girl for a week for them, until transport can be set up to get her to a permanent foster home.
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/17044120


I don't have a problem with this...Zoey will. Zoey doesn't like adult females on her turf...not much at all. Don't ask me how we got lucky with Dolly, but we did. Pups are fine, very young adolescent females are fine. Adult females, not so much. What does she do? She does not attack them. She doesn't bite them, doesn't hurt them in any way. She constantly tries to assert herself with them. Constant posturing near anything she deems "hers," which is a lot of stuff. Water bowl. Empty food bowls. Her sitting space, wherever that may be. Her cats. Her people. And though I tend to think this smaller Basset girl would back down, it just makes for a pretty uncomfortable atmosphere for the foster dog, thinking everywhere she goes, she might cross some stupid line Zoey has made.

I do my best, even with adult male foster dogs here (Linus, Clarence, even Winston visiting) to pick up or put away anything that might cause a problem. Empty food bowls. Toys. No treats given near each other. Fed in crates or separate rooms. I don't pet Zoey if she's near me and another dog comes over because then she feels "protective." If I said yes (and I have not made any decisions yet) to fostering the Basset girl this week, I will make sure any spats they have most certainly won't be because of something stupid I've done.

Now first off, I know I need to find out about this Basset girl's temperament before saying anything. I know how Zoey is, I don't know how this dog is, so that's extremely important. If she sounds quick to react or not 100% dog friendly, the answer is no. A week is too long for me to mess with a high risk for fights. My house is set up such that we can't keep dogs separated for a long time. The 2 female Bassets that were here last week stayed in the crate an hour and then left for transport. That was easy. I've had an older adult female here before for one night. That was pretty easy. A week is different. With the heat at 104 raw temp and heat index at 110, my dogs are inside 24/7. And no dogs in this house, foster or not, will be living in a crate most of the time if I can't guarantee things will go relatively smoothly.

So I'm certain it sounds already like I should absolutely say no. I'm not afraid to say no, so no worries there. My dogs and my safety come first. As much as I want to help, it's not the be-all, end-all if I can't.

So here's why I'm almost pondering saying yes. Zoey is correctable in this behavior. She is not so bad that she attacks another female or outright bullies them physically. She can be re-directed, so if she's giving hard eye contact, a growl, posturing, I can call her off. I can tell her no, that's enough, and she stops. This is all assuming the other dog does nothing confrontational though, such as just tries to avoid her or lets her make her stand and walks away. If the other dog isn't like that, we have a problem.

IF I said yes based on knowing how the other dog is temperamentally, I would tether Zoey to me at all times so I can correct her and keep an eye on her. This would be the only way I'd do it. I'd correct her for inappropriate behavior and reward her for good interactions. I don't mind going the extra mile avoiding mild conflicts. Living with Zoey is kind of about that anyways. And I almost think it would be good for Zoey to learn, yes I know you're not happy this dog is here, but she's no threat and I'm the one keeping order, not you.

But I'm ok saying no. I really want to help and would love to, but I don't want to spend my last week before school starts breaking up huge fights, especially when I'm often home alone. Zoey used to be really bad about this kind of thing; in the last year or so, she's mellowed out quite a bit. We've had Dianna's crew of female dogs over, met up with more and more female dogs, and Zoey's improved a lot. She definitely doesn't care for them as much as males (she's a flirt!) but I've never seen her do anything outright physically harmful to a female. She's put them to the ground occasionally, that's it. And I can call her off from doing that as well. With smaller dogs, I think it's more about asserting herself than really wanting to fight. Just kind of picking at them. I wouldn't try this with another large breed adult female.

Suggestions? Guidance. I'm very open and want to do only what's best. Please be honest. Thank you for reading my rather long "question" lol.

I think it all depends on the temperament of the basset. Sounds like it would be a great learning experience, longer than others, if she's a mellow dog. Might do Zoey good to have to deal for longer than an overnight. But if the basset is not mellow, you could be in for a world of trouble.

My thought would be no. Less from the Zoey issue but from the point that you are getting ready for school to start. No matter how prepared you may try to be ,that process does cause some turmoil that Zoey and Dolly will probably pick up. Sit back, get ready for school and enjoy your girls. There is nothing wrong with a bit of properly placed attention upon yourself and your girls.

My answer is no - send her to me.

OK or can you separate your foster from your personal dogs?

Zoey did really well with all my females. But ultimately the decision is up to you. You know what Zoey can and can't handle. I would say if the basset has an easy going temperament and you think Zoey would do good with her then go for it!

+1 depends on the basset girl.

Lol, one Basset girl, coming up!

I can separate a foster from my dogs for maybe a night or so. It would be impossible and unfair to someone if I had to do it for a week. It would mean either a lot of crate time for someone, or a lot of time in the yard in the heat for someone, or penned in another room away from all of us so less attention that way and that room isn't dog proofed either.

Me I would say "JEZ DO IT!"

I feel so bad that I left this thread without saying thank you to all those who offered advice. I appreciate it so much and you all contributed valid points. During winter break, if I am asked to foster a young female dog, I think I will accept, if the other dog is dog-friendly. Based on all your recommendations and my confidence in Zoey and my abilities to help ease a foster female into the household, I think it would be ok.

What happened with this female, for thos who wondered, was that she was able to move straight on to a permanent foster home so I wasn't needed to hold her. But she's safe now!