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“This will obviously differ for every single dog, but typically the first three days are when your dog will be the most shut down, which means they might not be eating, they might not be drinking, they could be having diarrhea, accidents in the house. Or, on the flip side, they could still have all this pent-up energy from being in a shelter and kind of be bouncing off the walls and just, like, totally crazy. So, your dog might also be testing boundaries during this time,” Klee stated.<\/p>\n
Related: Shelter Hound Dog Is Ready to Revolt at Snack Time in Hilarious Video<\/strong><\/p>\nThe First Three Weeks<\/h2>\n
Klee then goes on to explain what to expect after the first three weeks. Typically, this involves establishing a routine with your new pup, and your dog will start to realize that they’re at home for the long haul.<\/p>\n
“They’ll start getting a little more comfortable, maybe you’ll start noticing some behavioral issues like counter surfing or destroying your shoes,” Klee said.<\/p>\n
The First Three Months<\/h2>\n
Finally, after the first three months, Klee said to expect that this is when your dog will feel truly comfortable in your home. “This is also when your dog will start to form a long-term bond with you. They will start to trust you, and they will feel truly happy.”<\/p>\n
Klee emphasized that the 3-3-3 rule is different for every dog, but this is generally a formula you can use during your initial period together.<\/p>\n
“This is why I encourage people to give it time and not throw in the towel just because it’s hard in the first three months.”<\/p>\n
Related: Precious Pit Bull Shutting Down From Too Much Time in the Shelter Is So Sad<\/strong><\/p>\nThis story was originally reported by PetHelpful<\/a> on Nov 16, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News<\/a> section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n