Jul 29 2008
Dog Adoption: A Period of Adjustment
You adopt a dog, you bring him home, and you live happily ever after. Or at least that’s what you imagine when you start thinking of adopting a dog. The reality is usually a bit different. You may find your “perfect” new pet isn’t housebroken, is fearful of men, gets possessive of his toys, seems aloof, has a medical condition, or has just plain old bad manners, just to name a few potential issues. For some people, finding the reality doesn’t measure up to their expectations makes it difficult for them to live with their new dog.
One of the best pieces of advice I can give to dog owners dealing with problems with their new dog, aside from seeking the help of a trainer, is to give it time. Expect a period of adjustment when you bring home your new pet. Dogs from rescues and shelters come with a lot of baggage. Many have been through more than one home, and living in a shelter is a highly stressful experience for a dog. Moving into your home can be scary, and your new pet is certain to be uncertain of what to expect.
How long should you expect it to take for a dog to adjust to your home? The answer varies from dog to dog. I’ve brought dogs home to foster who acted as if they had lived in my home for their whole life from the minute they walked through the door. My own dog, Maggie, was extremely shy, and it took her almost two months before she started to feel at home. If I had given up on her after only a few weeks, I would have given up one of the best experiences of my life – sharing my life with Maggie.
I guess what I’m trying to say is don’t give up. When you adopt a new dog, go into it with your eyes open, and expect it take up to two months or more for your dog to adjust to his new home. In most cases, you’ll be glad you did.
I know this blogis about dogs, but I think it applies to cats, too
I have been thinking about getting a third cat, one that has been through head trauma, but I’m just not sure if she will adjust well with the other two cats already here, and I’m not sure how they’ll react either. I’m also concerned that it hasn’t been long enough after we had to put down another kitty (she had kidney failure) - it’s been a year, but it really hit my cats hard. They were so sad and I felt so helpless because I couldn’t seem to ease their pain.
Anyway, I *love* your blog, and the cute pictures you have up! I’ll definitely be back (and probably babble about my cats some more)!
Sierra
http://anxiety.today.com
Hi Sierra,
I agree that the same goes for cats, and actually it can take even longer for a cat to get acclimated to a new home. We inherited our cat from an elderly family member. At eight years old her whole life revolved around one elderly man. Over two years later, she still has little patience for my kids. Thankfully they’re all happy going in their own directions.
Thanks for stopping by!
Amy
It’s so true. The dog I was fostering was recently adopted by a very nice woman who seems to have a lot of patience, but is concerned about bonding with the dog. Well, counting foster homes, this poor little dog has already been in five homes that we know of, and journeyed over a thousand miles. With this in mind, it seems understandable she would take a little time to warm up to someone new.
Thanks for stopping by!
We adopted a 2yr old female golden from a rescue organization. The information we got on her was that she lived next door to the foster Mom, her family was losing their house to foreclosure and they needed a good home for her.
She is VERY fearful of EVERTHING
my husband…who is normally the one dogs like frightens her…she cowers and hides when he enters the room and has even growled at him…
Although it is normally just the two of us…our grandson is visiting and it is clear that she is not comfortable around the baby…I am concerned that she may try to bite him…He is not aggressive and has not approached the dog at all.
We have had Golden’s in the past (we adopted a male 12 yrs ago…he passed away about six months ago.
Any way
Could anyone give us some suggestions?
Thank you
I loved reading this blog. I’ve had many rescue dogs over the years including the four I have now. And every one of them developed a wonderful personality after becoming confident in their new home. Dogs are so different in the shelter environment than they are when they’ve had a chance to blossom in a loving home.
Jober
ToGoodHealth.today