What s the 90 10 rule for dogs
The 3-3-3 Rule and bringing home a rescue dog
You rescued a dog, are you wondering how long does it will take your rescue dog to adjust? What are the phases of a rescue dog? What can you do to help them through the transition of coming home with you?
Adopting a rescue dog brings excitement, stress, and worry all at the same time.
The list of questions can go on forever. Lucky for you, you are in the right place. Rescue Dogs 101 has everything you need in your journey of adopting and raising a rescue dog.
The 3-3-3 Rule 3 Days, 3 Weeks, 3 Months
What is the 3-3-3 rule when adopting a dog?
The 3-3-3 rule is a general guideline that represents the phases of a rescue dog or common milestones your new dog or puppy 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 also known as the rescue dog honeymoon period.
If youve ever started a new job or moved to a new school, you know this feeling. The feeling of being in an unfamiliar place, new surroundings, new people, new rules.
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 a tee, others will 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 dogs personality and background.
Give your dog space and allow him to go at his own pace during this honeymoon period. You will look back someday and be amazed at the transformation.
Lets look at the what you should expect:
In the first 3 days,
your new dog will be overwhelmed with his new surroundings. They will not be comfortable enough to be themselves. Dont be alarmed if they doesnt want to eat for the first couple of days, many dogs dont eat when they are stressed.
They may shut down and want to curl up in his crate or under the table. They may be scared and unsure of what is going on.
Or they may be the opposite and test you to see what he can get away with, kind of like a teenager.
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Maybe scared and unsure of what is going on
- Not comfortable enough to be himself
- May not want to eat or drink
- Shut down and want to curl up in his crate or hide under a table
- Testing the boundaries
After 3 weeks,
hes starting to settle in, feeling more comfortable, and realizing this may be his forever home. He has figured out his environment and getting into the routine that you have set.
He lets his guard down and may start showing his real personality. Behavior issues may start showing, this is your time to be a strong pack leader and show him what is right and wrong.
- Starting to settle in
- Feeling more comfortable
- Realizing this could possibly be his forever home
- Figured out his environment
- Getting into a routine
- Lets his guard down and may start showing his true personality
- Behavior issues may start showing up
After 3 months,
your dog is now completely comfortable in his home. You have built trust and a true bond with your dog, which gives him a complete sense of security with you. He is set in his routine and will come to expect his dinner at his usual time.
- 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
BEFORE You Bring Home Your Rescue Dog
If you havent brought your new rescue dog home yet, here are 4 things you should do before bringing any new dog home:
- Dog/puppy proof your house and make sure no electrical wires are hanging on the floor, pick up small items a dog may find enticing to chew, gate off areas of the home you dont want the puppy to have access to.
- Walkthrough your yard and make sure the fence is in good shape with no areas the dog may squeeze or dig under the fence. Check the gates to make sure they are closed and latched.
- Purchase a crate and set it up in a quiet place, such as your bedroom. A crate will give your dog a safe place to decompress.
- Purchase necessities such as food, food/water bowls, collar, leash, and ID tag. Of course, a few toys and a bone would be nice too.
Check out my Amazon shopping list for my recommended dog products.
Bringing Home a Rescue Dog Advice
We have adopted eight dogs and fostered many more over the years, so to say Ive gone through this phase many times is an understatement.
These steps work and will make your life easier and your dogs transition into your home much smoother.
1. Outside before inside
When you first get home, introduce your new dog to the outside of your house before bringing him inside. Let him take in all the new smells. Show him where he will go potty and make sure to read our post on how to potty train your puppy fast. Then take him for a walk to burn off any extra energy.
2. Bringing a new dog home to another dog
If you have another dog at home, introduce them outside before bringing him inside. Even if theyve already met at the shelter or foster home.
Take them for a walk together or put the resident dog in the backyard, bring the new dog to the outside of the fence to let them smell each other.
It is important not to let the new dog invade your resident dogs territory. Take this step very slowly.
As hard as it may feel, you should wait 24-48 hours before fully introducing the new dog into your pack. Keep them in separate areas of the house for the first day to let everyone decompress.
IMPORTANT: Please read The Best Way to Introduce a Second Dog Into Your Pack. Take the time to read this because it is so important to do introductions the right way.
3. Introducing your new dog to the inside of your home
Enter and introduce your dog to your house slowly. Restrict his access to one area of the home. He is going to be stressed for the first few days (read the 3-3-3 rule of dogs above), so the smaller the new area is, the more comfortable he will be.
Keep him on a leash for at least the first day, preferably the first 3 days. You dont always have to hold on to the leash, he can drag the leash around with him, but this gives you quick access to him if needed.
I do this with each of our foster dogs. It helps the dog not get overwhelmed and helps me limit potty accidents.
4. Keep the first few days quiet and low-key
Dont overwhelm him with visitors coming to see how cute he is. Dont take him to the dog park. Avoid overwhelming situations altogether.
Wait until he has a chance to get to know you and his new home first. Give him plenty of quiet time to settle in.
Give your new rescue dog a safe area to decompress, this will help him feel more comfortable. An open crate is a great tool to create a comforting den-like area.
5. Create a routine starting day one
Creating a routine will also help your dog feel more comfortable. Schedule his feeding, walks, sleep and playtime.
The sooner you establish a routine, the better you both will feel. A feeding schedule will help with potty training.
6. Training
Research dog training classes. Training is just as much for you the owner, as it is for the dog. Training your dog is so important, please dont skip this part of being a responsible dog owner.
We have a lot of training resources on our website, take advantage of them. Be proactive, dont wait until you see the bad behavior.
7. Kids and Dogs
Dont leave kids alone with your new dog. For the first few weeks, your dog is going to be stressed from moving to a new home he is not familiar with add a child that just wants to hug and kiss the dog, and its a recipe for disaster (i.e. dog bite). Even the nicest dog can bite out of fear and protection.
Recommended reading:
In conclusion
Congratulations on rescuing a puppy. Enjoy your new rescue dog, give them the time and space and they will soon become your best friend!
The first thing most people want to do is show off their new rescue puppy. Just take it slow, I know you are excited but keep in mind how your dog is feeling. They have been through a lot, he may have lost his family, abandoned in a shelter its all very stressful. He needs time, so give it to him.
Remember the 3-3-3 dog rule is a general guideline. Your dog will go at his/her own pace during the 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 of creating your perfect dog.
Up next:
What is the 5 second rule for dogs?
The 5 second rule is a simple way to see if your dog needs to go outside to potty. All you have to do is wait 5 seconds after your dog Eliminates to see if he or she immediately goes back to the same spot to potty again. If your dog does not return to the spot within 5 seconds, it is a good indicator that he or she is done pottying and does not need to go outside again.
The 5 Seconds Rule is the amount of time a dog has to decide whether it wants to eat something or not.
What is the 3 second rule dogs?
The three second rule is a great way to make sure that you are not overwhelming your dog with too much physical contact. By petting them for only a short period of time, you are giving them the opportunity to move away if they feel uncomfortable. This can help to prevent them from resorting to less desirable behaviors, such as biting or snapping, to tell you to back off.
If you are punishing your dog, it is important to do so for no longer than 5 seconds. If you extend the punishment beyond this, your dog could become confused as to why they are being punished. This amount of time is shown to be beneficial after 2-3 attempts.
What are some good rules for dogs
These are the 8 most important rules to help dogs get along. If you follow these rules, your dog will be more likely to get along with other dogs and people.
#1 Warm welcome: If your dog meets family members or friends, he is of course allowed to give them a warm welcome. This will help him feel more comfortable and less anxious around new people.
#2 Good behaviour: It is important that your dog is well-behaved when he is around other dogs and people. This means no barking, jumping, or nipping.
#3 Important commands: Make sure your dog knows some basic commands, such as sit, stay, and come. This will help you better control him in social situations.
#4 Good dog leash training: It is important that your dog is leash trained. This will help him stay close to you and not wander off or get too excited when he sees other dogs.
#5 No barking: Dogs should not bark excessively when they are around other dogs or people. This can be very annoying and may cause other dogs to bark as well.
#6 No begging: Begging is not polite dog behaviour and should be avoided when around other dogs and people.
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If you cant hold your hand on the pavement for seven seconds because its too hot, then its also too hot for your dogs paws. Dogs can get burns on their paws from walking on hot pavement, so its important to be aware of the temperature before taking your dog for a walk.
Whats the 90 10 rule for dogs?
As a general rule of thumb, we recommend following the 90/10 rule when it comes to where dogs get their daily calories. 90% of their calories should come from a complete and balanced diet, with the other 10% coming from treats.
Treats can be considered a splurge of sorts, but more often than not, the act of giving a treat is more meaningful to the dog than the treat itself.
Dogs have an incredible sense of hearing and are able to hear things that we cannot. This is because they have a higher pitched range and can pick up on lower pitches that are out of our hearing range. This makes them extremely good at detecting sounds and can be very helpful in certain situations.
What is the quickest way to discipline a dog?
Positive disciplinary methods are those that are considered to be beneficial for the dog. Time-outs, using your voice to put a stop to unwanted behavior, and taking their toys away are all considered to be positive disciplinary methods.
Positive punishment occurs when an unpleasant stimulus is added to the environment after a desired behavior is displayed, in an effort to decrease the likelihood of that behavior being repeated. For example, if a dog jumps up on a person and the person kneels down and yells at the dog, the dog is likely to stop jumping up in the future because it has learned that jumping results in an unpleasant experience.
How do you discipline a dog that doesnt come when called
Start by teaching your dog the come command indoors using high-value rewards for positive reinforcement. Once your dog has mastered the command indoors, you can begin practicing it outdoors. Make sure to use the dogs name in the command, and be consistent with your reward system. If your dog doesnt come all the way to you, dont unintentionally punish it by withholding the reward.
appropriate alternative commands:
1. Yes! Reward your dog when they do something you approve of.2. Quiet Get your dogs attention with a calm voice instead of yelling.3. Release or Free These command words are more specific than Down.4. Come Only use this command when youre sure your dog will be happy to see you.5. Repeat the command word(s) only once Use a consistent tone of voice and dont nag your dog.
What should you not do to a dog?
1. Never leave your dog alone in the car this can be extremely dangerous for them.2. Dont make them live outside they need companionship and love just like we do.3. Neglecting their teeth can lead to serious health problems down the road.4. Never hit your dog they are not capable of understanding why youre doing it and it will only make them fear you.5. Assuming they dont have feelings is a mistake they are complex creatures capable of a range of emotions.6. Skipping vet visits is a recipe for disaster they need to be seen by a professional at least once a year.7. Using a crate for the wrong reasons such as punishment is cruel and can cause lasting damage.
Dogs, like humans, enjoy certain activities, mostly related to their breed, instinct, temperament and personality. However, what most people are not aware of is that dogs have preferences unique to canines. For example, they love to eat, sleep and run around outside.
Interestingly, this means that dogs can be just as individuals as people. Just like we have different likes and dislikes, so do dogs. So, if youre ever wondering why your dog does something or why they seem to enjoy certain activities, its likely because its something thats particular to them as a dog.
What temp should dogs not walk on asphalt
If the temperature is over 85 degrees, the ground may be too hot for safely walking a dog. The dogs paw pads may be sensitive to the heat. It is important to make sure the pavement has a chance to cool down before taking the dog for a walk.
Flagging can be an indicator of aggressive behaviors in dogs. If you see a dog with his tail high and stiff, slowly moving it back and forth, its best to be cautious. This dog may be potential aggressive toward humans or other animals.
What is the dog paw rule?
If youre looking to test how hot the pavement is before walking your dog, you can conduct whats known as the hand test. To do this, simply walk to a black asphalt surface and lay the back of your hand down on the pavement. If you cant hold it there for at least 5 seconds, then the asphalt is too hot for your pup to walk on.
In order to become a good canine citizen, a well-behaved pup should respond to seven directions: Sit, Down, Stay, Come, Heel, Off, and No. By responding to these directions, pups will learn how to behave appropriately in various situations and will be better able to coexist with humans. Additionally, following these directions will make life much easier for both puppy parents and pup alike!
Final Words
The 5 second rule is when you drop food on the ground and its still considered safe to eat as long as you pick it up within 5 seconds.
The five second rule for dogs is that if you see a dog within five seconds of it being in a fight, you should intervene. This is because dogs can turn on each other very quickly and the person who breaks up the fight is usually safer than the one who didnt.
