{"id":1983,"date":"2024-03-08T17:07:24","date_gmt":"2024-03-08T17:07:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enrichyourdogslife.com\/?p=1983"},"modified":"2025-07-28T20:24:02","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T19:24:02","slug":"the-3-3-3-rule-for-new-rescue-dogs-the-first-3-days-3-weeks-3-months","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enrichyourdogslife.com\/de\/rescue-dogs-adoption\/the-3-3-3-rule-for-new-rescue-dogs-the-first-3-days-3-weeks-3-months\/","title":{"rendered":"The 3-3-3 Rule for New Rescue Dogs | The first 3 Days, 3 Weeks & 3 Months"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you adopted a new Rescue Dog or plan on adopting a dog? Then this article is for you! Maybe you have hear of the three days, three weeks, three months saying but weren’t sure what this actually means. We got you! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the 3-3-3 Rule for New Rescue Dogs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The 3-3-3 Rule for New Rescue Dogs is a rule of thumb that gives Adopters an indication of what to expect in the first 3 Days, the first 3 Weeks and the first 3 Months with their New Rescue Dog.<\/strong> If you adopt a Street Dog who has never lived in a home before or a dog who has been traumatised or a difficult time adjusting and trusting, this can take way longer compared to a ‘simple’ rehoming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find a video below where I explain it in detail and also what to do to help your dog settle. If you’d like to skip ahead, click here: take me directly to the video<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Adopters Need to be Aware of the 3-3-3 Rule for New Rescue Dogs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When we adopt a dog we are ready to show them all the love and maybe have already waited some time until we could finally take our new family member home. In our head we maybe have the romantic vision that our new rescue dog will be so grateful for being rescued that the dog will be our best friend right away. And then reality hits. Our new rescue dog is different. Maybe shy, maybe hiding in a corner or find it hard to settle and eat. Maybe we think it’s just the change and everything will be better after a day or so. Things will change of course and your new dog will change too. Your new dog will show their true personality – on their terms though. The 3-3-3 Rule can help first time adopters manage their own expectations by providing a rough guideline of what to expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please do keep in mind that every dog is unique and every dog’s story, background, experience, personality etc is unique too. As is their ability to cope with change. As is their ability to cope when being left at a shelter and their ability to settle and trust humans. So this really is a rule of thumb only – but a good and important one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please do keep in mind that every dog is unique and every dog’s story, background, experience, personality etc is unique too. As is their ability to cope with change. their ability to cope when being left at a shelter and their ability to settle and trust humans.So this really is a rule of thumb only – but a good and important one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The First 3 Days with your New Rescue Dog<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"What<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the first 3 days your new rescue dog will be overwhelmed. They have gone through a massive change (again) and if you adopted a street dog, they might have never even lived in a house before. They might be anxious and insecure in the new environment, with all the new smells, people and routines. The dog you will see during this time is very much not the dog you actually adopted. They have a very full stress bucket<\/strong> (for more, check out this Post Your Dog’s Stress Bucket<\/a><\/strong>). They might refuse to eat, drink or go in the garden. I had to hand feed my senior when I adopted him the first day and then had to sit next to him while he ate. Some dogs might also hide in a corner or test boundaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some more helpful resources on how to help your dog to settle in the early days:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n