Once a dog is in your care, you are responsible for his/her well-being. If the dog has been rescued from outside of your home, especially if he or she was living on the streets or with other animals who were not their families, it will take some time for them to adjust to their new life. Several factors go into how long it takes a rescue dog to adjust and in the upcoming section, we will go over some of them.
One important thing that you should keep in mind is that just because your new pet has been rescued from an abusive or neglectful situation does not mean that they are going to have trust issues. In fact, quite the opposite can be true. The first person that they will likely trust is you, the owner who rescued them from harm’s way or starvation. It may take a few days or even weeks to earn their trust completely, but it will happen eventually if you are diligent in proving to them that they are safe with you and that your only goal is to make them happy.
They have likely never had an owner who loved them, so shortly after you bring them into your home, they will want to test the limits of what you will allow. This is just a part of their personality and for this reason, it may be hard to tell whether or not they are struggling with feelings of insecurity within your home. When a dog feels insecure, it will behave out of character and because this behavior can be so confusing, it is important to understand why a rescue dog may have trust issues.
What to Do If Your Rescue Dog Has Trust Issues
One of the most important things to know about what you should do if your rescue dog has trust issues is that you should never give up on them. Because they have been through a traumatic situation, it will take a little extra work for you to gain their trust, and it may seem as though they are losing hope in humanity. However, if you make sure that the training methods that you try with your dog are not overly harsh or aggressive, he or she will eventually come around.
As previously mentioned, your rescue dog may not show his or her true personality for several weeks after they are brought into your home. For this reason, it is important to be patient with them while you are trying to earn their trust. This means that if you have children in your home, you should supervise them closely so that they do not intimidate your new pet. Children can mistake a dog’s fearful behavior for being aggressive, and even though the two may both be acting fearfully, you need to understand that a rescue dog will never harm a human unless it feels as if their life is in danger. If your rescue dog has trust issues with children, try having an adult help them slowly gain the dog’s trust by gently giving him or her treats or speaking words of reassurance to them while you are supervising from afar.
Read: Why Does My Dog Hump Me and No One Else
How Long Does It Take a Rescued Dog To Adjust?
On average, it takes about three months for a rescued animal to adjust to living within a home environment if they have been properly socialized and are in good health. If you are worried that your rescue dog is not adjusting well enough or if their behavior is changing for the worse, you should speak with a veterinarian about what measures might be taken to help them adjust more quickly. Some ways in which this can be done are with medical treatment and possibly even providing medication to your pet to make them feel happy and comfortable.
The type of medication that will likely be recommended for your rescued dog depends on their symptoms and their severity. Because all dogs react differently to medications, it is important to understand why certain medications (such as antidepressants) may be suggested for your new pet’s sake.
A Veterinary Practitioner May Suggest Medication For Your Rescue Dog
If your adopted canine has severe symptoms of depression or anxiety, your veterinarian may prescribe certain medications that might help them feel better. Some of the most common types are antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication because these can help an animal feel happy again.
When you are looking for ways to improve the life of your rescued dog, it is important to understand that there are always things that can be done to make them happy. It would not be fair to neglect a pet who has suffered trauma in the past just because they have trust issues with humans – especially when so many other options exist for them! There is no need for you or your new addition to suffering any longer than necessary, so take some time today to work on earning your rescue’s trust, and hopefully, you will see a change for the better in their behavior very soon.
What is the rescue dog honeymoon period? How Long Should A Honeymoon Last?
The rescue dog honeymoon period is the period of time after a rescue dog has been taken in by its new owner. The pet may not have adjusted to its new home, but the owner is often at the height of love for the new pet. The rescue dog adjustment period may take longer than usual if the dog has suffered trauma in the past.
What Are Different Phases of a Rescue Dog?
There are three phases of a rescue dog: honeymoon, settling-in and normal. The honeymoon phase is when the owner is at their most enamoured with their new pet, but this may be short-lived. During the settling-in phase, the dog starts to feel comfortable with its new home. The last phase of the process is normal when a dog becomes accustomed to being in a certain place and has been trained to follow certain rules.
How Long Does it Take a Rescue Dog to Adjust?
It takes an average of three months for a rescue dog to fully adjust to living in a home. The process can take longer if the dog has suffered trauma in the past, but there are ways to help the dog adjust more quickly.
If your rescue dog is having a hard time adjusting, speak with your veterinarian about possible methods to try and alleviate their symptoms. It is unfair for a pet to suffer because of past events, so taking the time to work on building trust and adjusting more quickly will benefit the health and happiness of your new pet.
Adopting a rescue dog for the first seven days period is important because this allows you to fully evaluate them as a pet before making a long-term commitment.
Adopting a rescue dog and taking the time to see how they interact with other people, as well as how they do when left alone, will help you determine whether they are right for your family.
What is the 3-3-3 rule or Rescue Dog 3 Days 3 Weeks 3 Months
The 3-3-3 rule is the best way to approach adopting a dog. It involves taking three days, three weeks, and three months to understand a dog’s personality and adjust to living in your home. It takes an average of three months for a rescue dog to fully adjust to living in a home. There can be a long process if the dog has suffered trauma in its past, but there are ways to help the dog adjust more quickly.
If your rescue dog is having a hard time adjusting, speak with your veterinarian about possible methods to try and alleviate their symptoms. It is unfair for a pet to suffer because of past events, so taking the time to work on building trust and adjusting more quickly will benefit the health and happiness of your new pet.