The 3-3-3 Rule Of Adopting A Dog

Make sure you use the 3-3-3 rule when introducing a new dog to your household.

Bringing a new dog home is exciting! You may have been planning this for a while - you’ve set up a comfy, quiet corner for their bed and bowls, you’ve bought a whole bunch of things for them, and want nothing more than to start going on all the adventures you have planned! This is all wonderful, but don’t forget the 3-3-3 rule of adopting a dog.

This simple approach will help you to understand your new pup better, and make a real difference in their transition into being a wonderful part of your family.

So what is the 3-3-3 rule?

Simply put, on average, it takes a newly adopted dog:

• 3 days to decompress. These first 3 days are overwhelming. Every sight, sound, and movement is new and they have no idea what is expected of them in their new home. You can help by: setting up a quiet, comfy place where they can rest and not be disturbed when they choose to rest here. You can place food and water bowls, and pee pads if needed in this area so that they don’t need to venture far for their necessities. You, and all household members, should handle your dog with a calm demeanour, and respect their space, allowing them to approach you on their own terms.

• 3 weeks to learn what your household routine is like. Your dog will start to figure out when mealtimes, walks, and playtime are. You will start to see elements of their true personalities coming through - whether desirable or undesirable, and they will start to test boundaries! You can help by: sticking to a regular routine, avoiding unpredictable events during this time (such as don’t schedule a trip away, or a house party during this time!), seeking help from a certified force-free dog trainer for advice on any behaviours you may be concerned about. Common issues include excessive barking or toileting in inappropriate areas - you are not alone! The sooner you seek tailored advice for your situation, the better, as in this critical introduction stage, your dog will be assessing YOUR response to their behaviour to decide what is acceptable to keep doing longer term!

• 3 months to build trust in you and realise that this is now their permanent home. You can help by: continuing with a reliable routine and training with advice from a certified force free dog trainer. Remember, when we say training we don’t necessarily mean learning “sit”, “stay”, or “paw” - although these might be things that you teach your pup down the line. The most important training is everything that is done to shape your pup into a well rounded companion and to be comfortable living as part of your family.