Rescue’s Rule of 3

All dogs are different, but rescue dogs will benefit from being allowed to decompress when you bring your new friend home. The rule of 3 is a good guide to prepare you and help you understand your new family member.

3 Days

• Feeling overwhelmed
• May be scared and unsure
• Not comfortable or confident enough to act like normal
• May not want to eat, drink, or even go potty.
• Shut down and wants to hide
• Tests boundaries

3 Weeks

• Starting to settle in, feels more comfortable.
• Realizing this could be his forever home
• Starts getting into a routine
• Let's let his guard down, true personality begins showing.
• As he gets more comfortable, behavior issues could come up.

3 Months

• Fully comfortable in his new home.
• Has built a true and trustworthy bond with his new humans.
• Has gained a complete sense of security with himself and his new family.
• Has settled into the household routine.