The 3-3-3 Rule helps adopters understand the timeline for a rescue dog’s adjustment: 3 days to decompress, 3 weeks to learn routines, and 3 months to feel fully at home.
This guide explains each stage, shares real-life stories, and offers tips to help you avoid common mistakes.
Download my free From Rescue to Home: Survival Kit for step-by-step help.
Or if you’re a rescue/shelter, grab the 3-3-3 graphics and adoption handbook templates for your organization.
What is the 3-3-3 Rule for Dogs?
The 3-3-3 rule is a general guideline that represents the phases of a rescue dog or common milestones your new dog will go through… it is the first 3 days, 3 weeks, and 3 months after bringing your dog home from the shelter.
The 3-3-3 rule is sometimes referred to as the “rescue dog honeymoon period.”
If you’ve ever started a new job or moved to a new school, you know the feeling of being in an unfamiliar place, new surroundings, new people, and new rules. This is how your dog feels as they adjust to their new home.
The 3 Stages of the 3-3-3 Rule
Please note that this is a guideline. The time your dog needs to adjust is as unique as they are.
Here’s what those first 3 days, 3 weeks, and 3 months look like in real life…
3 Days: Decompression
Your dog is likely overwhelmed, nervous, and unsure. Don’t expect too much right away. They might not eat or drink much and could be scared or unsure about their new environment.
Due to the stress, potty accidents may occur. During this time, they might hide or be very cautious around you and your family. Alternatively, they might test boundaries to see what they can get away with, similar to a teenager.
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Maybe scared and unsure of what is going on
- Not comfortable enough to be “themself”
- May not want to eat or drink
- Shut down and wants to curl up in his crate or hide under a table
- Testing the boundaries
3 Weeks: Learning the Routine
By now, your dog will typically start to settle in, feeling a little more comfortable and beginning to understand their new routine. They may start to show their true personality and begin to trust you more.
- Starting to settle in
- Feeling more comfortable
- Realizing this could possibly be their forever home
- Figured out their environment
- Getting into a routine
- Let their guard down and may start showing their true personality
- Behavior issues may start showing up
3 Months: Feeling at Home
This is when transformation shines. Your dog may start to trust you and feel secure in their new home. They may begin to settle into a routine and become comfortable with their environment.
This period is when you will see your dog’s true personality and begin to build a deeper bond.
- Finally, completely comfortable in his home.
- Building trust and a true bond
- Gained a complete sense of security with his new family
- Set in a routine
Adjusting to the Timeline
Remember, these timelines are general guidelines. Every dog is unique, and some may take longer to adjust. It’s important to be patient and not rush the process.
If your dog takes 6, 8, or even 12 months to fully adjust, that’s completely normal. The key is to provide a consistent, loving environment and celebrate the small victories along the way.
Your understanding and support during these phases are crucial in helping your rescue dog feel at home and begin to thrive.
Enjoy your newly adopted dog, give them love, support, and time, and they will soon become your best friend!
Common Mistakes Adopters Make
- Expecting their dog to be “normal” instantly.
- Flooding them with too many new people, places, or dogs.
- Initially, letting rules slide, then trying to enforce them later.
- Ignoring subtle stress signals (panting, pacing, avoidance).
Tips for Success
- Stick to the 3-3-3 timeline as a guideline, not a rigid rule. Every dog adjusts at their own pace.
- Focus on structure and bonding over tricks or obedience in the first weeks.
- Use enrichment games and confidence-building activities to help anxious dogs.
- Be patient. Progress isn’t always linear, but the payoff is huge.
Want a step-by-step plan for those first weeks and months? Download my free Rescue to Home Survival Kit… It’s packed with tips, checklists, and resources to help you and your new dog thrive together.
For Rescues & Shelters
I love that rescues and humane societies want to share the 3-3-3 Rule… it’s such a powerful tool to set adopters up for success. But instead of recreating the wheel (and risking incorrect info), you can get:
- The official 3-3-3 graphics for commercial use
- Or the complete Dog Adoption Handbook Template Pack, which includes the 3-3-3 Rule and so much more for your adopters
Click here to get the 3-3-3 Rule graphics and adoption templates.
How to Share This Graphic
Rescues & shelters: I love it when organizations use the 3-3-3 Rule to educate adopters. Please do not recreate or alter this graphic.
You are welcome to share it on your website or social media, provided you attribute the content and include a link back to this page.
If you’d like to use it in printed materials or adoption packets, please purchase the official 3-3-3 graphics for commercial use or the full Dog Adoption Handbook Template Pack.
Together, we can make sure every adopter understands what their new dog needs to succeed.
The Origin of the 3-3-3 Rule
The 3-3-3 Rule was originally created over 15 years ago by Sue Kroyer, a long-time rescuer who ran the Cocker Connection Rescue in Los Angeles. She shared it with discouraged adopters to give them a perspective on what to expect.
Years later, I (Debi McKee, Rescue Dogs 101) designed the now well-known 3-3-3 graphic and wrote one of the first comprehensive blog posts explaining the rule in detail. That visual made the 3-3-3 Rule easy to share… and it quickly spread across the internet.
So while Sue is the originator of the concept, I’m grateful to have helped bring it to life visually and make it accessible to adopters and rescues worldwide.
FAQs About the 3-3-3 Rule
How long will it take MY rescue dog to adjust?
The honest answer is, it depends. Some dogs will follow the 3-3-3 rule to the letter, while others may take 6 months or a full year to feel completely comfortable.
Keep in mind that the 3-3-3 dog rule is a general guideline. It will depend on the situation the dog was surrendered, the dog’s personality, and their background.
What can I do to help my rescue dog adjust faster?
Patience is key, but there are ways to support your dog. Keep routines predictable, offer a safe space, use calm and positive reinforcement, and avoid overwhelming them with too many new experiences at once. Small, consistent steps build trust faster than rushing things.
Should I follow the 3-3-3 Rule exactly?
The 3-3-3 Rule is a guideline, not a strict formula. Every dog is different. Some may breeze through in a matter of weeks, while others may need many months. Use the rule as a framework to set expectations, but always follow your dog’s pace.
What if my dog isn’t improving after 3 months?
Don’t panic… many rescue dogs take 6 months to a year to feel fully settled. If your dog still appears anxious, consider consulting a trainer or veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical issues. Progress may be slower, but with consistency and patience, most dogs come around.
Final Thoughts
I encourage you to take it slow. I know it’s exciting to get a new dog, but see life through your dog’s eyes…
They have been through a lot, they may have lost their family, possibly been abused, or abandoned in a noisy shelter, … it’s all very stressful. Your dog needs time, so give it to them.
Remember, the 3-3-3 dog rule is a general guideline. Your dog will go at their own pace during this “honeymoon period”; it could take 4, 5, or maybe even 6 months.
Each dog is unique. Just be there for them, comfort them when they need it, and create a positive, safe environment, and you will be on your way to raising your perfect dog.
Whether you’re an adopter or an organization, please share this message — but do it with proper credit and accurate information. That’s how we help more dogs find and stay in their forever homes.
We just adopted a shelter dog and while he is wonderful in many ways he doesn’t come to his name or command. He is 3 yrs old and neutered just in the past year. I personally think we have to give him time but my husband says he’s going back. I don’t know what to do
Thank you
“Just”… meaning days, a week? If he’s been in a shelter, he has no idea what his name is! He needs time to adjust, get comfortable with you and to learn his name. Training a dog his name is easy, but under the stress of being adopted, you need to be patient with him.
We have had Tito a little over one week and I really love him.
Last night he attacked my husband as Bob was handing me my cell phone. It was an odd and seemingly random thing. We put Tito in his kennel which we so far had not used. He had been sleeping in the bedroom with us.
Now this morning when bob got up I asked him “ should I let the dog out and he said sure”. Right now Tito is leaning on bob and getting the whey petted out of him. Was the growling leaping attack a random thing or what.
Random? Maybe. But I wouldn’t ignore it. By attack, do you mean he lunged, barked, did he bite? It’s hard for me to say without having been there. I would watch his body language very closely to see if you can pick up on any stress signals. Take a look at the blog post about reading your dogs body language: https://www.rescuedogs101.com/how-to-speak-dog-language/
Hello! Thanks for the good tips in this article. My husband and I just adopted our first dog a week ago. She is a 6 year old pointer mix who has spent the past year in a shelter after being surrendered by a family who got her when she was two. She sleeps a ton and hasn’t smiled since the day we bought her home, just follows us around everywhere and stares at us with sad eyes. We have been trying to give her her space and not overwhelm her, but I don’t know if she is acting like this because she is overwhelmed and adjusting or because she is bored and needs more exercise. As a prey driven dog she wants to sniff everything, pulls like crazy on a leash, and seems to startle easily when we take her outside. In efforts to give her time to calm down and learn to trust that we will protect her and she doesn’t need to be nervous, we have stuck to walking around the same block each day or only running around in our yard. What are your thoughts? Do you have any tips on how to balance her need for exercise with need for a calm, confidence building adjustment to our home?
I think you are doing everything right so far. At one week with you, she is still very very unsure. I don’t think you need to keep your walks to the same block. Exposing her to new surroundings every day should help her confidence. If she’s treat motivated, you can use treats to enforce when she walks by something she is nervous about. Timing is going to be key, don’t enforce the nervous behavior, but the moment she gets past the nervousness. I’m going to guess that a pointer mix will need a lot more than a walk around the block. Take a look at How Often Should I Walk My Dog and Why?. Good luck, stay patient, and thank you for adopting and saving his life!
Hi. Today is day 5 with my new rescue, a 2 yr old border collie cross (although I suspect he’s a full border collie). He came from the local shelter and had been found wandering in a nearby town. He was neutered at the shelter and was there for about a month. He was for the most part untrained, but aside from marking a few times inside does potty outside. I’ve taught him to sit, lay down and stay so far, with reinforcement still needed at times. He’s started bonding and things are going pretty well, but there are two areas of concern. One is my three cats. They have lived with a dog before, who passed several months ago, and they have been around other dogs that have visited. The cats are okay with calm dogs but this dog, Golly, is a bit hyper and fully intent on the cats whenever he sees them. It doesn’t appear that he wants to attack the cats, only be in their face and possibly play. I’ve kept the cats upstairs and Golly downstairs, so interactions are kept to a minimum. One of the cats does keep coming down to face off with Golly. The other two are keeping their distance. I know it’s going to take time, but I was hoping that there might be some suggestions for things I could do to help make the adjustment happen more peacefully. I did work with Golly quite a bit yesterday to have him lay down and stay when that one cat comes downstairs and that made a big difference. Golly already seems very eager to please. I should explain that though the cats are upstairs, they can come down if they want. I have a sliding door at the top of the stairs that I keep open wide enough for them.
The other issue is that Golly is a runner. This is somewhat distressing for me because I have over 230 acres of land and in the 10 years we’ve lived here I never had to tie my previous dog, a wolf malamute cross (she spent her first 5 years at a previous home). On Golly’s first full day here, he took off twice. The first time we were playing on my long driveway with a jolly ball and as we neared the end, he picked up the ball and carried it out into the road (low traffic, dead end, rural). I called him, but he didn’t know his name then and hadn’t bonded yet, so he looked at the road like a long lost friend and took off. When I called, he looked at me over his shoulder and increased speed. I went and got my truck and drove down the road, found him and easily got him back in the truck. The second time, I had a leash on him and had him in a fenced area between my porch and deck. I wasn’t holding the leash and he was doing okay, but because of the snow he was able to get onto the deck stairs. Several time he did that and I called him and he came right back. The last time he just looked at me with kind of an F.U. look and took off at top speed down the drive to the road. I easily got him back the same as before. It surprises me because with all the land we have he went right for the road. I don’t know if he was possibly thinking he could head back home, wherever that is. At any rate, I now have two tie outs for him, and will change those to runners after the winter if we still need to tie him. I hate to have him tied all the time though, because it means he can’t get the exercise he otherwise could get. I do take him for a good walk every day, as I did with my previous dog, so he will get that exercise. But it seems like a high energy dog would need more. So my question is, how long should I wait, and what methods should I employ, to introduce him to being off leash at home without worrying that he’ll take off? Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
First, congrats on your new rescue! Love the name Golly! Five days is still very new. If he’s had no previous training, you can’t expect him to be perfect within a week. It takes a lot of consistency over time. How long will depend on the amount of time you spend training him. But with the 3-3-3 rule, I’d say 3 months will be the amount of time he will need to create a strong bond with you.
As for the cats, it sounds like you are doing everything right. Keeping the cats separated is a great first step. Giving Golly a “job” to do such as lay down, as you did, is a great way to teach him to stay calm around the cats.
For running away, training him a solid recall is going to be the key. In his first 2 years of life, he may have felt the need to run away for whatever reason. He will need time to learn that he doesn’t need to run from you. Starting with a short 6 ft leash and then going to a long line, then a rope are the steps we take when training. But this is done over several months. And over time as he bonds with you will help.
Please be patient. Golly sounds like he has the potential to be a great dog with the right training. Hope this helps you.
Hi. We have just adopted 2 yorkie 8yr old. . They very loving and are settling in well. But the boy dog. Very aggresive towards other dogs . Tried distraction with food. We stay very calm. But nothing is working. And ideas.
First, I’m curious how long you’ve had them and what their background is. Were they a bonded pair when you adopted them? Is he aggressive toward his sister? Or other dogs in the house or on walks? I recommend tuning in tonight on Facebook to https://www.facebook.com/MajorsAcademyDogTraining/. Jeremey is an awesome dog behaviorist trainer that does a Facebook live every week to answer questions just like this.
I have two rescued lab mixes and my first lab I got 7 months ago had a very hard time adjusting to our house and I learned the hard way by doing things to quickly with her and it backfired I was able to change my ways after doing lots of my own research online about what to do when you bring a rescue pup home. I just adopted our second lab mix last week and now armed with the past experience with our first I am doing much better with our second pup he’s adjusting well and gets along great with our first lab we adopted. It’s helpful for our new lab because he’s learning from her about what happens here we are happy to have rescued such beautiful pups
That is great to hear. We are all only human and we make mistakes, but the important thing is that we learn from them. Thank you so much for adopting two dogs! And you are right, dogs learn from each other way better then from us.
Agreed he’s doing so well on his second week with us ????????????
That’s awesome news. And every week will get better and better. Congrats again.
Hi, we just brought home a rescue the other day who was not socialized very much. Poor guy is petrified of everything. He loves his crate and is a smart, well behaved dog. He’s just so scared. One of the hardest things to do is to get him out of his crate to go to the bathroom. Do you have any suggestions that could help? I hate that I have to invade his space and pull him out at times.
Give him time. Make going outside an exciting time, treats, toys, anything that motivates him. I wouldn’t pull him out of the crate, let him come out on his own. He needs to learn to trust you and this takes time.
Hi!! I just adopted a 2 yr old pitbull about two months ago. My boyfriend and I are huge dog lovers and she’s the perfect little girl. We both work regular 9-5 type jobs (except I come home during my lunch hour) but I still feel bad leaving her all alone all the time. We are thinking of getting her a brother but are we crazy?! Should we wait a bit longer? In her previous home she was left alone a lot but she loves meeting other dogs so I’m sure she gets lonely.
Congrats on your newly adopted pup. Every dog is different when it comes to having another dog in the house. Read The Best Way to Introduce a Second Dog Into Your Pack, it may help you decide one way or the other. But since you’ve only had your current dog for 2 months, I’d really suggest letting him settle in a bit longer before adopting another. If it helps you feel any better, dogs sleep most the day away anyway! As long as you are spending quality time with him when you are home, he will be perfectly happy.
You made some very good points in regards to bringing home a puppy for the first time; I enjoyed reading the section on the “3-3-3” rule, I think that you broke it down and explained it perfectly, providing a good timeline on how to properly welcome your new puppy. Reading this post would definitely make it easier for new puppy owners to establish a solid foundation and routine for their new friend!
I just got a 1 year old boxer puppy transported from TX to IL, he’s having lots of accidents in the house. After reading your comments it’s helped nooe that this behavior is normal because he’s probably stressed and scared.
It is normal, but don’t let it slide just because he’s stressed. Keeping him on a leash and in the same room as you are for a few days will help with re-potty training. Congrats on your new puppy!
This was so helpful! I’ve had my new baby home for 3 days and have been really sad and worried because he’s been in his bed and in his playpen almost the whole time. He doesn’t come if I call and didn’t eat the second day home. This article is helping put my anxiety (and his) at ease because I now know he’s just stressed and needs time. This is my first time owning my own dog so thank you so much for providing such a great resource!
Oh my goodness, you are so welcome! Congratulations on adopting your new pup. I have a ton of resources for first time dog owners, start with https://www.rescuedogs101.com/adopting/. Please let me know if you have any questions.