Some rescue dogs have only experienced fear and trauma in their lives, others have come directly from one home into yours. No matter what their background story, it is all a process that we rescue dog adopters go through. It can be difficult and feel like it goes on forever. The most important thing is that you have patience and understanding.
You can gauge the time it might take for your dog to fully acclimate to his home in threes: three days, three weeks, three months. We think of that first 3 – 5 days (at a minimum) as the initial transition period from the rescue shelter to your home. Your home is a lot quieter than the shelter, with many more fun things around than a kennel, with more stimulating activity and space and freedom than to express themselves and interact than life in rescue can provide. It can be overwhelming for many dogs, especially those who have been in the loud, bustling rescue shelter for months.
Your new dog may sleep a lot in those first few days (he probably didn’t get a lot of sleep with dogs next to him barking all day and night). He will want to check out all the new smells and investigate everything. He won’t know what you expect from him, that you are going to feed him twice a day, or where to go to the bathroom.
After 3 weeks, your dog is probably getting used to your comings and goings, learning the daily routine, and starting to figure out when the next meal is coming, that you walk at the same time every morning, that he gets to go out for regular bathroom. breaks.
At 3 months, most dogs know they are “home.” It’s a process to get there, but with a training plan, the right equipment like crates, encirhment, chews etc., patience and understanding, the two of you can senjoy the journey toward a great relationship and friendship for life.
