Welcome Home, New Pup • Your Happy Dog Coach

You’ve decided to grow your family by adding a new little pup, an adult dog, or an older, senior dog!

It’s an exciting time!

You buy all the toys, a new bed, food and treats… but now what?

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a new pup, but the way we welcome them into our home and family truly does matter.

There is one phrase is often used as a piece of advice in the dog training and behavior community is:

“If you wouldn’t let your 100lb dog do it, don’t let your 5lb puppy do it.”

This widely shared principle is generally used to emphasize the importance of consistent boundaries and expectations, regardless of the dog’s size.
We need to remember that small dogs, like large ones, should be taught good manners to prevent unwanted behaviors as they grow or interact with others.
But equally as important, and maybe even more so, is to use it as a reminder that although puppies are super cute when they’re little, you want to encourage the same behaviour you want to see from them when they’re big.

For example: if you don’t want your 100 lb dog to jump on grandma when she comes to visit, you can’t allow them to do so when they’re a cutie patootie 15lb 2 month old puppy!

Moving into a new home can be pretty disorienting for a dog. Even if it’s the most amazing, perfect home for them, it can still be pretty tough to settle in, learn to trust, and get used to the new environment, people, smells, other animals, routine, and more. There is a 3-3-3 “rule” that people talk about:
3 Days – 3 Weeks – 3 Months

It’s really important to remember that this is not a hard and fast rule, but more of a guideline for understanding the adjustment period dogs typically go through when transitioning to a new home.

Each dog is unique and may need more or less time depending on their personality, past experiences, and environment. Patience, understanding, and consistency are key throughout this process, so follow your dogs lead rather than worry if they don’t stick to the 3-3-3 rule.

That said, here are the basic phases a new dog will go through when learning to live within a new family unit:

Initial Days of Overwhelm: Your dog may feel scared, anxious, or unsure about their new environment. They might hide, act withdrawn, or exhibit behaviors like pacing or excessive panting. Some dogs may not eat, drink, or relieve themselves regularly. You can help them through this by giving them space and letting them explore at their own pace, and working on creating a calm, consistent routine. Although we want to share our new little bundle of fluff with everyone, it’s important to avoid overwhelming them with new people, places, or activities just yet. There will be lots of time for that, for now, just be together and allow your new little buddy to relax and settle in. They just left everything they know, everyone they were familiar with. It will take some time.

In the next few weeks: The dog starts feeling more comfortable in their new home. They may begin to understand the household routine, show their true personality, and test boundaries as they settle. It’s really important to continue to provide structure and routine, with clear rules, and positive reinforcement for all of the things that you want to see them do more often. This is the time to start bonding activities, like playtime and short training sessions, and address behavioral issues gently and proactively if they arise.

Within the next few months: Most dogs feel fully adjusted and secure, with you consistency and predictability, they are now beginning to understand what is expected of them and can start to develop strong bonds with their new family. Continue building trust through training, affection, and consistency. Shared activities like walks, hikes, and training games will deepen your connection. Please continue to be patient with lingering behavioral challenges, as some dogs may take longer to fully adjust.

I’ve compiled a few resources below for more information.

More Fear Free Resources:

Adopter’s Guide to Rescue Dogs

“What to do and expect in the first few months”

As a guardian of two rescue dogs myself, I was really pleased to find this wonderful guide from Animal Rescue Konnection and wanted to find a spot for it in my resource section, so I’ve embedded it below for convenience.

Here are a few links to other great resources about adopting rescue dogs:

If you have any other great resources, or would like one-on-one assistance on how to create a safe space for your incoming canine addition to your family, send me a message. You may also find my personally written articles valuable to read through (I hope so, anyway!)

If you’d like to set up a personal SEARCH Room session with your new pup, to help build their confidence in themselves, in their new home environment, and with their new people, send me a message, I will give you a super special New Pup rate! You can learn more about what Your Happy Dog’s SEARCH Room is and how it can be beneficial for your dog right here at S.E.A.R.C.H. Room • Your Happy Dog Coach!