Welcoming a New Pet to Your Home
Think back to a time when you started something new, like a new school or a new job. Remember the emotions you felt, maybe they were mostly positive, but there was also probably some anxious feelings or uncertainty. Now imagine that you had started a new school or job, but this time you were in another country where the language was new to you. Imagine how you would feel now trying to figure out where you were supposed to be, even just trying to figure out where the restroom is.
If you've been in this situation, I'm sure you figured out your routine and started to understand the culture, but it probably didn't happen overnight.
Well, the same is true when you bring home a new pet. Your new family member may also be anxious or uncertain of this new place. They may not understand the "language" or commands you're giving them. They may have some difficulty figuring out where to go to the bathroom just as you did. Just like you, in most cases, they will be able to acclimate to your routine and expectations fully, they need time and most importantly, patience.
There is something widely communicated in the rescue world as the "3-3-3 Adjustment Period or Rule of Three". Essentially what this means is that it takes three days for your pet to get over the shock of a new house and family or in other terms "to decompress." It may take three weeks for your pet to fully comprehend your routine and his/her own routine. It may take three months for your pet to understand that they are now in their forever home.
The "3-3-3 Adjustment Period or Rule of Three" can look something similar to this for dogs (or any pet for that matter) coming into your home.
Three Days Timeframe: feeling overwhelmed, scared, unsure, may not eat or drink, shut down, tests the boundaries, etc.
Three Weeks Timeframe: starts to settle in, feels more comfortable, figures out the environment, get into a routine, begins to show more personality, etc.
Three Months Timeframe: finally feels completely comfortable, beginning to build trust and a bond, gains a complete sense of security, sets into a routine, etc.
This isn't to say that all animals will have this same adjustment period, but a general rule to acknowledge when bringing in a new family member. Some animals may take only a few weeks, and some may take several months.
Three years ago, we adopted a dog, Remie. The first couple of days were tough. We had ordered a new crate online, but it didn't arrive as quickly as we had anticipated. It was evident that our 16-year old cat thought Remie was too young and excitable and would swat her in the face every chance she got. We decided to keep our two cats separate from Remie with baby gates for everyone's safety and sanity unless we were able to supervise their interactions adequately. Remie wasn't a fan of being in her crate when we went upstairs to bed. She would cry and bark for a couple of hours straight. Little noises, like the toaster or ice maker, scared her. She seemed to be allergic to something and was always scratching. It all seemed very overwhelming at first, and we questioned if bringing her into our home was the right decision.
I started reading some articles about bringing home a new pet and came across several that mentioned the "Rule of Three." Ultimately, they all used this idea to drive home that giving your family and your new dog patience will help immensely during this transition period. I think it was accurate in our experience with Remie. It took her a few days to just get over the shock and understand she was in a new space with new people and new animals. It took her a few weeks to understand her schedule and ours. It took her a few months to realize that she was safe with us, and we were there to love and protect her. In a new development, it took a few years for Remie and our cats to coexist in the house There's still some swatting from the older cat from time to time when she's had enough of Remie's antics, but that's to be expected.
Remie is such a joy, and we're so happy she's part of our family. I'm glad we gave it enough time for everyone to settle in. Patience and understanding were a big part of the successful transition period with Remie. Still, we were also fortunate enough that her foster parents (founder of Falkor & Rescue Friends) provided us with training tips, ideas of how to change her diet to better suit her allergies, and just overall support.
It's to be expected that new adopters will need some extra support.
Throughout the process of adopting a new pet having patience with them and with yourself will go a long way. However, new adopters may also need some extra support.
It's All About the Paws can provide support in these ways:
training resources
recommended trainers
health & wellness resources
and more
Visit our resources page to learn more.
Written by: Rachel Soroka
In the end, we all want our pets to be the healthiest possible and live the longest life possible, and we want to help everyone's pet stay healthy and happy! The more we study and learn of better avenues, the better their diet, their health, and their overall life will become. Have a topic you'd like us to discuss? Send an email to info@itsallaboutthepaws.org.
