Summer School – Research Sheltering & Fostering

Shelter environments can be stressful for dogs and may affect their behavior and well-being. Understanding how dogs experience and respond to stress is an important step toward developing effective strategies to support them. This presentation highlights research examining stress in shelter dogs, including common behavioral indicators and the effects of shelter-related challenges. It also explores the role of human interaction and fostering in reducing stress and improving welfare, including how different durations of time in foster homes may benefit dogs.