Adoption Knowledge Makes All the Difference

Often, the dog you adopt from a shelter won’t be the same dog a few weeks or months into living with you. Think of it this way: if you’re at a party and a creepy guy is pestering you, it’s unsettling—but at least you can walk away. Now imagine you’re in his car with the doors locked and no way out. That immediate fear is what many dogs experience in a shelter when they have no choice but to stay leashed or crated as strangers look in their kennel and dogs walk by all day.

Once they come home, these dogs may need time to process everything they’ve been through. Some will become clingy—following you everywhere, getting anxious when you leave, and craving all the love and attention they can get.

Others need space to decompress, finding a cozy spot where they feel safe. This is sometimes referred to as the “3-3-3 method” (three days, three weeks, three months), though, in reality, every dog’s timeline can be different—some need more time, some less.

Shelter dogs don’t get to make choices: when to potty, go for a walk, or even just play. Now that have freedom, they can feel overwhelmed. They typically need calm, consistent support rather than a big welcome-home party, meeting all your friends or immediate dog-training classes. If you sense your dog needs extra help, reach out to a CBCC-KA (Certified Behavior Consultant Canine—Knowledge Assessed) who can show you how your dog is processing and how to guide them gently toward confidence. Harsh training methods (like e-collars or prong collars) only ramp up fear and stress.

Don’t blame the shelter or rescue if your new companion takes time to settle. These organizations do their best to reduce stress, but limited resources can only go so far. Before you give up on your new dog, connect with a CBCC-KA, we can teach you unique fun, confidence-building exercises. They’ll help your dog learn that they finally have choices—and that they’re safe to enjoy them.