The first priority for the foster family is to housebreak the greyhound by teaching them to regard the foster home as an extension of their 'crate'.  The advantage is that greyhounds are crate trained at the track and normally do not eliminate in their crate.  Housebreaking some dogs is often tougher than others because some dogs will mark territory.  Territorial marking in canines is achieved by leaving a urine trail.  But, as with other breeds, the marking behavior diminishes after neutering and consistent training.

The new retiree is introduced to the family dogs while wearing a muzzle as a precaution.  

A regular schedule of feeding and eliminating is established.

Because everything in a home is new to a greyhound, they have to sometimes be taught to negotiate stairs.  This can take a week to ten days before the animal is ready to climb and descend stairs independently.

They learn that furniture and the kitchen counter are 'off limits'.   Please understand, that not all greyhounds will continuously follow these rules, especially when left alone.)  Greyhounds have never seen food not intended for them, so they have to be taught to accept that not all food is theirs.

When a greyhound's potential home is known before fostering begins, dogs are fostered in an environment that resembles their future home.

Evaluations are prepared for the potential adoptive family, but the evaluation cannot begin too early.  Every greyhound is different and t he first two weeks are especially difficult for the dogs.  They face transport to a new city, new people, spaying or neutering procedures and a drastically different situation from track life.  Most dogs from GReAT are fostered for at least two weeks, but the amount of time a dog is fostered depends on the individual greyhound's needs.

When a match between dog and adoptive family is found, the dog is placed into its new home.  Often the foster family accompanies the dog to its new home.  At placement, the adoptive family receives the foster family's evaluation of their new family member.

One of GReAT's foster parents, explains fostering as follows:

"I love to foster, to me there is nothing more satisfying than seeing one of your fosters placed with a family who has been eagerly awaiting the new arrival.  I do feel sorry for [the dogs] in having to make two transitions in a relatively short period of time but I think we all agree that the end result is worthwhile for everyone!"