Our fosters and adopters often ponder the best way to introduce a new pet into their household. Although every dog is different, we owe it to them and ourselves to give them the best possible transition into their forever homes. Although some dogs adjust more quickly and others more slowly, the 3-3-3 rule is a suggested timeline to help set up owners and their new dogs for a successful integration.
The first 3 days are critical because they’re filled with uncertainty for the dog. The dog may have come from a shelter, rescue, or private home, but regardless of their former habitat, the new environment is full of unknowns. Your dog doesn’t know the expectations or “rules” of the new household and may whine, cry, or try to hide as a result. Even an outwardly confident dog may be experiencing underlying fears. Give the dog its space–a crate, pen, or quiet area–where it can rest and adjust. Try to avoid any visitors or unnecessary intrusions outside of family members who live in the household. Also, keep other resident pets separated until the new dog has a chance to fully decompress over these first 3 days.
The first 3 weeks are your new dog’s time to explore and adjust to the household routine. More importantly, the dog is learning to trust you and the safety and protection you provide. To aid in this, keep the dog on a predictable schedule, so it learns when it’s time to awaken, go outside, eat, and go to sleep for the night. During this period, the dog may also test boundaries–they may counter surf, enter restricted areas, or engage in other negative or even destructive behaviors. It is important to respond appropriately when this happens; use positive reinforcement of desired behavior and NEVER punish the dog. Doing so will damage the trust you are working to build. Finally, make sure all family members know what behaviors to reinforce and can do so in a similar way. It is confusing to the dog if one person, for example, allows it on the couch and another doesn’t.
The first 3 months are the settling in period when the dog finally feels “at home” and bonds with its humans. During this phase, engaging in formal positive reinforcement training classes with your dog is ideal so you can build routines and trust that will last for years to come. If you’ve allowed your dog to transition at a slow pace and offered a safe predictable habitat, your dog’s true personality will emerge and your pup will offer you many years of loving companionship.
