How Do I Know a Foster Dog Will Be Good With Kids, Dogs, or Cats?
If you’re wondering whether a dog you’d adopt or foster would be good with kids, cats, or other dogs, you’re asking the right questions. Those relationships often decide whether a placement works out long-term.
Every dog on our adoptable dogs page lists what we know about how they do with kids, cats, and other dogs.
What We Know, and What We Don’t
Our dogs live with foster families who watch them day to day and report back what they see. If a foster family has kids, cats, or other dogs at home, they can tell you exactly how that dog acted around them.
If a foster family doesn’t have kids or other pets at home, we let you know that too, so you can decide what matters for your household.
Will This Dog Be Good With Kids?
Check the “Good with kids” field on the dog’s profile. It’s based on what the foster family saw firsthand.
Will This Dog Be Good With Other Dogs?
The “Good with dogs” field tells you how a dog did living with or meeting other dogs in foster care. Some profiles also note a preference for a certain size or sex, so read the full description, not just the label.
Will This Dog Be Good With Cats?
If a profile says a dog isn’t good with cats, a foster saw that happen. It’s worth planning around rather than hoping it changes once you’re home.
When We Don’t Know Yet
Some dogs haven’t been around kids, cats, or other dogs in foster care, so we don’t know yet how they’d react. We’ll let you know when that’s the case.
No profile can promise exactly how a placement will go. Sharing what we know gives you the best chance at a good match, and you’re always welcome to ask us more before you apply.
Related Reading
- Before You Adopt: the full guide
- Is a pit bull mix a good family dog?
- Foster vs. adopt: what’s the difference?
- About Fostering: what to expect if you decide to foster with us.