Please let me know if your dog has any particular likes/dislikes. Resource hoarding is a problem that I have run into in the past, and it's never fun for either myself or the dog if I unknowingly cross a boundary like that with them. I also like to be able to plan around any fears that they may have (ex: prepping a cozy hiding space before a storm for a dog with a fear of thunder. I've even cared for a dog that was afraid of hardwood floors by creating a path of blankets & towels through my hallway)

My favorite activity is taking long, long walks through Philadelphia - particularly South Philly and Rittenhouse (the two closest neighborhoods). It provides exercise & mental stimulation for the pups, but most importantly it helps to build trust between myself and my new friend. I typically ask what games or toys each dog already favors at home. It helps to provide them with a sense of normalcy (and games are much more fun when they already know how to play). Other than that I make sure to be very vocal during my day. Dogs like to hear people's voices, and being away from home/family is stressful enough. So, I'll explain what I'm doing while I cook, or while I work on a coding problem, and I read aloud to them if I pick up a book. It builds trust and provides some reassurance to the pup.