So you’ve decided to adopt a rescue dog. congratulations! This is probably the best thing you can do. It takes a lot of courage to welcome a stressed out kitten into your life.
It will take more courage and patience to help him adjust and feel comfortable with your routine. Rescue dogs rarely get off without a hitch. Most of these dogs are rescued from the streets by horrible owners in even more horrible circumstances. Even if your dog looks healthy, there is always some kind of injury hidden inside.
No matter how much you love your dog, just adjusting to a new environment is stressful enough. Fortunately, there are some general rules for adopting a dog and acclimating it to a new home.
Here’s the 3-3-3 rule and what you can expect at each stage!
The first “3” refers to the first three days.
A person with a dog at a shelter
We’ve all been through it. Feeling like you don’t belong doesn’t go away overnight.
From starting a new job, moving to a new house or changing schools, new changes can include relocating your dog from a shelter. This is a big change. Dogs need time to adjust. And we need your help and all the patience you can give.
Most dogs are very happy when they come home from the shelter. But I might add that they are also very powerful. theirs… Stand up. Feeling overwhelmed?
In these situations, dogs cannot feel authentic. Your emotions will surprise him because you are a new person in his life, your house is a new house, and your habits are new habits.
It takes a little time for your dog’s brain to figure it all out. Now some dogs adapt quickly to change. We call them lucky. However, most dogs will express some form of discomfort during the first three days. Your dog may start to refuse food or water. He may also not be interested in walks or playtime.
This behavior is accompanied by fear, so don’t be surprised if you find him twisted and scared under the table. Some chicks will go test your limits so far and you’ll be like, “What did I join?
But these are all steps. The first three days are very important and there should be no drastic changes.
Trust me…this phase will pass. It just takes time.
The second “3” represents the first three weeks.
Beautiful border collie mix outdoors at sunset
After the first three weeks, you may feel that everything is settling down. Because they are!
Your new dog will understand that he is here to stay.
He is no longer afraid of home. Now he knows where the situation is and who is in charge. And he will slowly but surely accept that you are his master. Some puppies may go through periods of disobedience. It’s just…some dogs don’t like the idea of being easily controlled. Now is the time to find out if your new dog is a leader or a follower.
If your dog has not yet been trained, the first three weeks are ideal for starting basic obedience classes. You might think that adopting this dog is a good thing, but the best is yet to come.
The last “3” represents the first three months.
Cute dog on a leash on green grass
After the first three months, your rescue dog will be fully acclimatized. If there are no behavioral problems, they should.
Remember that the 3-3-3 rule is a general rule for most dogs. But, as usual, there are exceptions.
If all goes according to plan, your dog will now be fully adjusted, enjoying his new life and easily adopting new habits. This is a time when dogs usually settle into everyday life and begin other important tasks, such as forming strong bonds with their humans.
But it’s a two-way street, so you’ll have to work hard to become inseparable best friends!
How To Ease The “Honeymoon Period” For Your New Dog
There’s no universal solution as to how to make this “honeymoon period” or the adoption less stressful for your dog.
Still, we dog lovers fight as hard as we can to make the transition from the shelter into their furever homes much easier.
Most dog owners claim that equipping the house with a bunch of dog stuff really helped their rescue pooches. I have to agree with them. If you “puppy proof” or “dog proof” the house before he gets there, the adopted dog would feel much better knowing there’s stuff just for him.
This means getting appropriate dog food, yummy snacks, food and water bowls your dog would actually eat and drink from, a comfy dog bed, leashes, harnesses, grooming supplies, and, of course, toys.
When you bring a dog home, introduce him to everything, and do a little tour. I know it sounds silly, but it will allow your dog to sniff the house and make himself familiar with the surroundings.
What I found helpful when I was fostering dogs a while back were dog crates. They give dogs a sense of security – a place they could call their own. When a dog hides in the crate, he wishes to be left alone. He needs to rest and process what happened to him that day.
Don’t bother the dog while he’s inside the crate. It’s his special place and his special time.
Think of it as a hideout that would help a lot with the whole adjustment process.
After all, the “honeymoon period” usually lasts for those three months. Some dogs adapt quicker… some even need more than those three months. But, that’s completely fine as long as we give our dogs time, space, and lots of understanding.
