Those who adopt pets welcome them home with excitement and love, ready to spend every moment together. However, unsure about their new environment, the animals might not return the feelings immediately.
That is how one dog felt for several weeks in his new home. Riley lived at Lucky’s Legacy Rescue in the United Kingdom before getting adopted by his forever family. He never knew what living with a family felt like because he had lived at the animal rescue ever since he was a puppy.
Adopted animals will sometimes need time to adjust to their new homes and, in Riley’s case, it took about three weeks. The unfamiliar environment and people can make pets scared and nervous, especially if they have had a troubled life before adoption.
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“Over the past week, he’s grown in confidence to the level of us waking up with him asleep on my chest,” the owner told Newsweek via TikTok. “He’s starting to act like a boisterous puppy now.”
During those first three weeks, Riley would run away whenever someone in his new family walked into a room. As the owner says in a July 19 TikTok caption: “It’s been hard work but worth every minute.” The family’s patience and understanding helped Riley turn a corner.
Instead of running, Riley now asks for “pets and scratches.” The clip posted to the account @lilrockstar2020 shows him sitting at the owner’s feet, looking up with hopeful eyes and ready to accept all the love he’ll get for the rest of his life.
Screenshots from a July 19 TikTok video of Riley the rescue dog asking for pets. It took the dog three weeks to feel comfortable enough in his new home.
@lilrockstar2020/TikTok
3,3,3 Rule
Adjusting to a new home with new people can give pets a whirlwind of emotions. Owners might also feel it isn’t going smoothly because their pet is not opening up. But before throwing in the towel, consider what the dogs or cats experience with this huge life change.
Time and patience are the two most important things you can show your adopted animals, and most owners follow the “3, 3, 3 rule.” This is an estimated timeline of three days, three weeks and three months that gives owners an idea of certain milestones a dog might reach while adjusting to their new home.
The Humane Society of North Texas says that owners should give their new dogs plenty of space and time to acclimate to their new environment during the first three days, also known as the decompression phase. Keep them in a quiet, comfortable room with their bed, food, water and toys. Try limiting their exposure to other pets or family members so they do not feel overwhelmed. Give them outside potty breaks on a leash, but no big trips or long walks quite yet.
During the next three weeks, your dog will begin feeling more comfortable. You can gradually introduce them to others and new environments, but be mindful of their comfort level. Keep their routines consistent and offer positive reinforcement for good behavior.
The last part of the “3, 3, 3 rule” is three months, which is around the time dogs start to feel completely comfortable in their new homes. Owners will want to continue reinforcing positive behavior, increase exposure to new experiences and try training sessions to develop habits and build confidence.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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