Written by: Bringing home a new dog is exciting. However, it can also be a challenging time, especially if you are welcoming a rescue dog. You can ease some of this stress by knowing what to expect. The 3:3:3 rule outlines a timeline for how dogs typically progress over the first 3 days of decompression, 3 weeks of adjustment, and 3 months of settling. By understanding these stages of transitioning to a new home, you can support your dog appropriately through each stage. It’s important to note that this is only a guide; each dog is unique and will transition at their own pace.
What is the 3:3:3 rule?
The 3:3:3 rule is a rough timeline outlining how dogs typically acclimate after an adoption. It refers to the first 3 days, then the first 3 weeks, and finally the first three months.
The First 3 Days
The first 3 days after you bring your new dog home are commonly referred to as the ‘decompression’ period. Your dog may have come from a shelter, a foster home, or straight from their previous owners. Either way, they are likely to feel overwhelmed by such a drastic change in routine, environment, carers, and so on.
What to Expect
It’s really important that you don’t expect too much of your dog in these first few days. They may well:
- Hide or avoid interaction
- Have accidents indoors
- Have a reduced appetite
- Sleep a lot
- Seem restless; panting and pacing
These are all to be expected given the sudden and drastic change in their environment.
How to Support Your Dog
Patience and understanding are key in the first few days. Let your dog explore your home and garden at their own pace. Don’t force interactions. Try sitting quietly nearby and letting your dog come to you.
Top tips for the first few days:
- Set a basic routine around mealtimes to keep things predictable
- If you know which food they are used to, stick to this for now
- Avoid visitors to the home
- Avoid overstimulating walks or trips out
- Don’t attempt to start training, aside from toileting outside (where possible)
- Never punish your dog for toilet accidents or unwanted behaviours: your dog needs to see you as calm and trustworthy
- Offer a ‘safe space’ such as a crate with the door open or a ‘den’. Ideally, place bedding from their previous home or shelter in the space to provide some familiarity
Keeping your home (and yourself!) calm and quiet during these first few days is key.
The First 3 Weeks
Once your dog has had a few days to decompress, they will gradually start to come out of their shell. These first few weeks are commonly referred to as the ‘adjustment’ or ‘acclimatisation’ phase.
What to expect
Your dog’s personality will start to show as they acclimatise, and your mutual trust will build. You may notice:
- Improved appetite
- Increased confidence
- Increased curiosity about their surroundings
- More consistent patterns of eating and sleeping
- A strong attachment to one or more of their carers
- A few unwanted behaviours, while they learn what is expected of them
Your dog may form a strong attachment to only one family member at this stage. If this happens, don’t worry, the other relationships will come with time. It’s not uncommon for a dog to seek the security of one strong attachment before branching out.
It’s important to note that any unwanted behaviours at this stage are not your dog being naughty or spiteful. A degree of unwanted behaviour is normal while they test the boundaries and learn what is expected of them.
How to Support Your Dog
Here are our top tips for supporting your dog in the first few weeks:
- Establish a routine around feeding, toileting, walking, and bedtime.
- Use positive reinforcement to start training
- Set clear boundaries of what is (and is not) allowed: try to consistently ignore unwanted behaviour and reward desirable behaviour
- Slowly introduce other people and environments. Be sure to take it slowly, so your dog isn’t overwhelmed
The first few weeks are often the hardest, as you learn each other’s personalities. Some people can feel overwhelmed during this time, or even question their decision to adopt. Don’t despair, this is normal, and you are not alone! Patience and time are key. Don’t be afraid to seek behavioural support when needed; the sooner, the better.
The First 3 Months
The first 3 months are about building confidence in their environment and trust in you. Most dogs take around 3 months to feel emotionally and physically secure in their new home.
What to Expect
As your dog properly settles in, you may notice:
- Bonds forming with family members
- More predictable behaviour (such as more consistent eating and sleeping habits)
- Relaxed body language
- Improved focus and response to commands/training
- Reduced anxiety (such as less pacing/panting/excessive sleeping)
- Fewer unwanted behaviours (which are often triggered by fear)
Remember that not all dogs will be fully settled by 3 months; some dogs will take much longer (and some may settle much quicker!). Look out for signs of steady progress, even if it is slow. Remember to expect some setbacks along the way!
How to Support Your Dog
Here are our top tips for success:
- Continue positive reinforcement, gradually introducing new commands
- Start enrichment exercises like scent training or introduce simple enrichment toys
- Start training classes
- Stay consistent with your routines and approach
- Schedule a veterinary wellness exam if they haven’t already had one
- Address any behavioural concerns (such as resource guarding) with a qualified behaviourist as soon as possible.
Remember, consistency is crucial in these first few months.
Why use the 3:3:3 rule?
Using the 3:3:3 guide helps you understand what to expect at each stage, set realistic expectations, and respond with empathy to your dog’s needs. Using this guide can help you to understand any behavioural changes and improve training success.
Remember, the 3:3:3 rule is only intended as a guide. Keep in mind that each dog is unique, with their own unique history and previous experiences. In reality, dogs will move through each phase at their own individual pace. Patience and positive reinforcement are key.
Common Challenges
Each dog will transition in their own unique way. Some dogs may acclimatise in just a few weeks, while others may take many months. Your dog’s history and experiences will affect how long the process takes.
Some common challenges in the first months of adoption include:
- Toileting indoors, even if they were previously toilet-trained (known as regression)
- Anxiety or fear
- Restlessness, or an inability to settle
- Leash pulling
- Reactivity to other dogs or people
- Resource guarding.
Some of these challenges may be mild and short-lived. However, if you notice any consistent unwanted behaviours, you should schedule a visit with your veterinarian as soon as possible. They will be able to rule out an underlying medical cause (such as pain) and refer you to a qualified behaviourist if needed. Behavioural concerns are much easier to treat when caught early.
When to Contact a Vet
As pet owners, we usually rely on knowing what is ‘normal’ for our dog, in order to tell when something’s up. In the first few months of an adoption, we don’t have that luxury, since we don’t yet know what ‘normal’ looks like for our dog.
Here are some signs that warrant a trip to the vet:
- Poor appetite for more than a few days
- No appetite for more than 24 hours
- Limping, stiffness, excessive panting, or lethargy
- Diarrhea lasting more than 24-48 hours
- Vomiting
- Changes to breathing or persistent coughing
- Aggression or severe anxiety
This list is not exhaustive, so trust your gut and seek veterinary advice if you are concerned or you aren’t sure.
If you have any concerns about your dog, take them to a veterinarian sooner rather than later. Any pain or underlying health issues can contribute to unwanted behaviours, and even cause aggression. Making sure your dog is healthy and pain-free will set them up for a successful transition period.
Summary
Getting things right in the first few days, weeks, and months can make all the difference for a successful adoption. Preparation is key. This includes setting up their safe space, educating yourself on what to expect, and learning how to respond to your dog.
However, it’s important to remember that some things are out of your control. If you are struggling despite the measures outlined here, don’t feel embarrassed to ask for help. The sooner you do, the better (for both you and your dog). Early intervention with behavioural issues is definitely key.
Remember, it’s also completely normal to feel overwhelmed yourself at times: the 3:3:3 rule can apply to family members during the adoption process, too! The 3:3:3 rule can be used as a rough guide to ease the transition for you and your new dog, hopefully leading to many happy years to come.
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