25/08/2025
🤔Why rescue dogs need time to settle in…
1️⃣ Physiological stress & “honeymoon period”
When dogs transition from a shelter to a new home, they face significant stress. A 2023 study tracked dogs’ stress indicators immediately after adoption and compared them to their sheltered state using accelerometers (for nocturnal activity), urinary cortisol:creatinine ratio (UCCR), and body weight. Results showed:
• Nocturnal activity and UCCR levels significantly dropped in the new home, indicating reduced stress.
• However, full normalization took time-UCCR returned to normal within three days, but nighttime activity still lagged beyond the third night.
• Dogs didn’t fully match the behaviour of established pet dogs even after several days, highlighting gradual adaptation.  
This also underscores the so called “honeymoon period,” where a dog may initially appear calm, only for stress or behavioral issues to re-emerge later. 
2️⃣ Extended adjustment period ➡️ owners’ perspectives.
Scientific and survey data reveal that settling in often takes longer than people expect:
• Over 50% of adopters reported that it took more than four months for their dog to fully adjust.

• A qualitative study with adopters found similar sentiments: adopters described the adjustment stretching well beyond the early weeks, often shaped by the dog’s previous experiences and individual temperament.

• Additionally, about 14% of adopted dogs are returned within six months, an elevated risk that remains for the first year ➡️ highlighting how long settling can take and how critical proper support is. 
3️⃣ Effects of prolonged shelter stays.
Extended time in a kennel environment can alter dog behaviour in ways that may make the initial transition more complex:
• A 2002 (reviewed in 2023) study on 97 dogs found that the longer a dog stayed in a shelter, the more time it spent at the back of its kennel, resting, and showing reduced vocalization - behaviours often considered less appealing to adopters. 
• These behavioural shifts may reflect stress, depression, or gradual withdrawal, making the re-adaptation process more layered.
4️⃣ Socialization & attachment.
Early-life experiences deeply influence how well dogs adjust to new environments:
• Dogs go through a critical socialization period between approximately 3 to 14 weeks of age.
During this time, exposure to novel stimuli (people, environments, sounds) shapes their lifelong ability to respond adaptively. If dogs miss out on this, they’re more prone to fear, anxiety, or maladaptive behaviour later. 
• Dogs form attachment bonds with caregivers, and those relationships help them feel secure. In new homes, as a dog learns to trust its guardian, its stress reduces and exploration increases. 
5️⃣ Adjustment guidance: The 3-3-3 GUIDE & beyond.
Animal welfare organizations often promote the 3‑3‑3 guideline as a flexible framework (this is NOT a strict rule, more a guide to help set people’s expectations better):
• 3 days: puppies and dogs may act shutdown, overwhelmed, or uncertain.
• 3 weeks: dogs begin to become familiar - showing play, learning routines, and easing into a sense of safety.
• 3 months: many dogs begin to exhibit deeper emotional bonding and feel at home, but not all reach this at the same pace.  
The truth is - dogs are individuals, with their own history and experience, and it is impossible to say how long it may take one dog to “settle in” when compared to 5 different ones. The only sensible approach is, and I highly recommend anyone to get int this mindset - it will take as long as it will take.
What stages of adaptation may look like for a dog:
✨Immediate (Days 0–3)
💡Dog feels overwhelmed; stress markers still elevated. Provide a quiet, safe space and predictable feeding/walking routine.
✨Short term (weeks 1–4)
💡Emergence of comfort signals; behaviour may fluctuate. Reinforce routines, gentle enrichment, and lots of patience.
✨Mid-term (months 2–4+)
💡Deepening trust, more confident play, settling of behaviour . Continue positive reinforcement; seek support if challenges persist.
✨Long term (beyond 4 months)
💡Many dogs feel secure, but some take longer. Recognition of individual differences and ongoing support are key.
Helping a rescue dog settle in is a patience driven journey, not a switch flipped overnight. Scientific findings make clear that dogs:
• Experience acute and lingering stress following adoption.
• Often take weeks to months to truly adjust - praised routines and a calm environment help immensely.
• Carry behavioural legacies from the shelter - longer stays can deepen withdrawal.
• Thrive with consistent care, social bonding, and time to decompress at their own pace.
References
• Van der Laan et al. (2023): stress adaptation measured via nocturnal activity, UCCR, and weight changes. 
• Adopter experience surveys and interviews: adjustment over four months common.  
• Return rates remain elevated up to one year post-adoption. 
• Long shelter stays impact dog behavior negatively. 
• Socialization critical period shapes lifelong adaptability. 
• Attachment bonds and stress relief via human interaction. 

