The three-3-3 Rule of Dog Rescue and a Penny Progress Replace

Have you ever heard of the 3-3-3 rule of adopting a brand new dog?

It’s a set of tips for transitioning a brand new dog into your house. Don’t let the phrases “rule” or “tips” trick you into pondering this can be a hard-and-fast scenario. Moderately, I like to consider it extra as a framework or mindset to assist your new dog settle.

Let’s dig in, and I’m going to share how our new pup, Penny, is doing on the identical time.

Right here’s the gist of the 3-3-3 rule:

The primary 3 days are on your dog to acclimate to his or her new environment. That is the “the place the heck am I” and “am I staying right here” section. At this level, your dog isn’t displaying his or her true colours due to the overwhelm.

The primary 3 weeks are on your dog to study the family guidelines and limits in a loving, type, optimistic manner. It begins your bonding course of off on the correct foot (er, paw?) and establishes the muse of your relationship.

The primary 3 months are for socialization, coaching, and new experiences. By the top of three months, your dog ought to really feel settled and safe. Part of the household.

All through these first three days, weeks, and months, your job is to remain affected person. Set up type boundaries. Stay calm. Present your dog with a protected, quiet area to make use of at his or her will. Be constant and sort. Reward what you need. Ignore or redirect what you don’t need. Begin fundamental coaching. Stroll day by day, if you happen to can. Perceive upfront your dog will begin to take a look at boundaries. Be affected person and keep constant.

Your dog’s job? Sniff, discover, take a look at, experiment. Actually, it’s to check the boundaries and determine what’s and isn’t acceptable habits in your house. As your pup turns into safer in your house, you’ll begin to see much more of his or her true persona shine by means of.

After three months, proceed to coach, problem, and socialize along with your pup, although she or he needs to be assured that your loved ones is right here to remain–no extra shelter for you, pupperoo!

So, how’s Penny doing?

In case you haven’t but met Penny, right here’s the primary put up the place I launched her and defined a little bit of her background and quirks. Trying again at that put up, I’m amazed at how far she’s come… however extra on that in a sec.

Protecting the 3-3-3 rule in thoughts, I additionally up to date on her progress after the primary month. On this occasion, I stretched these first three weeks into 4 largely as a result of week one for Penny consisted of sleep, sleep, and extra sleep. Trauma restoration, we predict.

Now, we’re simply previous the three-month mark, and there’s plenty of progress to share!

Looking back, at three days, Penny wasn’t even able to sort out family routines. She wanted to sleep and eat. That was it.

At three weeks, she felt safer and extra built-in into the family, however her concern nonetheless dominated. Even at 4 weeks, once I wrote that final replace, she nonetheless oscillated between consolation and concern each single day.

Penny’s 3-month replace

She’s doing amazingly effectively.

Penny walks across the neighborhood most days. Some days–twice final week–one thing scares her, however she trusts us sufficient to know that when she freezes and turns towards house, we are going to observe as an alternative of push.

She performs with toys. Now she must study the distinction between dog toys and child toys, however truthfully? That’s on the people, not the dog. Violet and Astrid shortly realized the consequence of not selecting up their toys and stuffed animals.

She sleeps a traditional schedule now, which is a big reduction.

Penny just lately entered the kitchen–twice–all on her personal. We doled out reward and treats, however that wasn’t sufficient to persuade her it’s a protected area but. She hasn’t returned since.

She nonetheless hasn’t walked down the entrance corridor. Perhaps she’s going to sometime. Perhaps she received’t. For now, she’s established an extended route by means of the lounge to get to the steps and skips the hallway altogether. And that’s OK. She’ll get there… or she received’t. Once more, I’m not prepared to push on issues that don’t matter.

Lest the 3-3-3 rule appear too good

I checked out plenty of infographics that implied your dog will likely be completely settled in at three months! Congrats! You made it!

Besides. Nuh-uh.

Perhaps your dog completely match proper into your loved ones and your family and by three months hit a stable stride.

It’s attainable, however it appears much less possible than your dog needing a bit longer than that mark, which is why I like to consider it extra because the 3-3-3 guideline.

Penny nonetheless flinches whenever you elevate an arm or leg close to her (although she hangs out once I observe yoga, in order that’s large progress). She received’t stroll down the hallway–or enter a toilet, the eating room, or the laundry room, for that matter. She feels safer lounging in her crate than she does snuggling on my mattress.

Candy Penny whines and cries when she realizes somebody is someplace she will’t entry (like the toilet or eating room) and won’t go to the toilet on a stroll.

She drinks water from puddles within the yard and is just now beginning to belief the dog bowls of contemporary water on the deck and in the home.

At three months, your dog in all probability understands she or he is right here to remain. And that’s superior. That’s an enormous hurdle for canines who’ve been bounced round from shelters or rescues or foster properties or unstable, unsafe conditions like Penny’s.

The remaining depends upon the dog’s persona and the family people’ dog expertise.

So, if you happen to’re somebody who reads one thing like this set of tips and feels such as you’re failing as a result of your dog continues to be scared / reactive / untrained / no matter on the three-month mark, relaxation assured that you just’re superb. Your dog is okay. I imply, heck, I labored with Cooper for greater than 13 years and he by no means “overcame” his concern or his reactivity.

It’s not about having a “good” dog after three months. It’s about constructing a bond along with your dog, constructing belief and safety. Giving your dog a way of security.

The remaining, like Penny’s hallway, will both come or it received’t.

In case you loved this put up, you’ll in all probability take pleasure in my forthcoming guide, For the Love of Dog, from Regalo Press in February 2025. It’s chock stuffed with the most recent analysis in canine cognition mixed with tales of my canines to deliver the info to life. To remain up-to-date on the most recent with Penny and my publication information,  be a part of the mailing record or observe alongside on Instagram.

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