How do I adopt a pet from Pawesome Village Rescue?
Click here to complete the Adoption Form Online
3 Days, 3 Weeks, 3 Months Rule
The Guide to adopting a new pet. Its important to note that each dog acts differently when adopted, but with patience and understanding you an help them adapt to their new environment with less stress on you and them both. Below is a guide to what to expect, so don’t be alarmed. Patience and understanding cannot be stressed enough. Let the pet settle at their own convenience, some will adapt much faster than others. Enjoy your new best friend.
First 3 Days
- Scared/unsure of new surroundings
- Overwhelmed
- Trembling
- Little to no appetite
- May avoid eye contact and/or touch
- May hide in a secluded, small space to feel more secure
- Not comfortable enough to show true personality
What you can do:
- Set a feeding and walking schedule to help with housetraining and building a routine
- Provide a quiet, private space, like a crate, where they can rest and nap
- Use positive reinforcement to reward desireable behaviors
At 3 weeks
- Starting to feel more comfortable
- Realizing this may be their forever home
- Building trust with owner
- Figuring out environment
- Starting to settle in
- Establishing a routine
- Letting their guard down
- True personality begins to show
- Behavior issues may emerge
What you can do:
- Begin a training curriculum, either at home or in a class, to build trust and focus
- Introduce them to new people, sights, and sounds
- Continue using positive reinforcement to reward their polite behavior
At 3 Months
- Forms true bond with owner
- Completely comfortable in the home
- Set in their routine
- Sense of security with members of the family
What you can do
- Add variety to their day with puzzles, stuffed Kongs, a rotating selection of toys, and nose-work activities
- Take your dog on a short drive to build their confidence in a car
- Take an agility class or help your dog work toward a Canine Good Citizen certification so they can share their love with the community
