What To Expect When Adopting a Long-Stay Shelter Dog

Adopting a dog who has been a long-term resident at a shelter can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Long stints in an animal shelter can be stressful for many dogs and some may develop stress- or anxiety-related behavior problems during their stay. In this article you’ll learn what to expect when adopting a long-term shelter dog, how stress and anxiety can affect long term-shelter dog behavior, how to build trust, and how to help your new best friend adjust to home life.

Understanding Long-Term Shelter Dog Behavior

The shelter environment can be quite stressful for many dogs due to the unfamiliar surroundings, different routine, loud noise, and loss of attachment bonds. For some dogs, their stay in a shelter is relatively short, either because they are adopted quickly or because they are transferred to a foster carer or rescue organization. However, dogs who end up staying in the shelter for a long period of time can experience increased levels of stress and anxiety. This typically manifests in behaviors such as excessive vocalization, panting, pacing, spinning, hypervigilance, shutdown, and repetitive behaviors that are often an adaptive response to stress, confinement, and lack of stimulation (Denham et al., 2014).

If you’re considering adopting a long-term shelter dog, or any dog for that matter, it’s important to understand the individual dog’s physical, psychological, and social needs to determine whether your home and lifestyle will meet those needs. Further, your expectations need to be realistic in terms of what’s required to care for the dog (e.g. training, exercise, vet care etc.).

Why Do Some Dogs Stay in Shelters So Long?

Some dogs can spend months, sometimes years, in a shelter awaiting adoption. Extended shelter stays can occur for different reasons including the dog having specific medical or behavioral needs limiting the kind of home she’s suited to. Breed stereotypes and economic downturns might cause more people to surrender their dogs while fewer people are adopting dogs due to financial concerns. Dogs who display undesirable behavior in the kennel due to stress might dissuade potential adopters. Further, an over-representation of certain breeds or breed types, such as working dogs, in a shelter at any one time can result in longer stays for some dogs.

Common Long-Term Shelter Dog Behavior Problems

Research shows that up to two thirds of rescue dogs are reported by adopters to exhibit at least one behavior problem post adoption (Gates et al., 2018). Whilst any dogs can be prone to behavior problems, there are some common issues seen more frequently in rescue and long-term shelter dogs. Some examples include:

• House soiling
• Jumping up
• Separation anxiety
• Destructive behavior
• Excitability
• Chasing
• Resource guarding
• Fear- or anxiety-based aggression toward unfamiliar people or dogs

These behaviors may have been observed in the shelter environment but can also show up in the new home when they weren’t present in the shelter.

The 3-3-3 Rule for Dogs and Long-Term Shelter Dog Behavior

There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to how long it takes a long-term shelter dog to settle into its new home. Anecdotally, people often refer to the Three-Three-Three Rule for transitioning a shelter dog into a new home:

The First Three Days—According to this rule, the first three days should allow a dog time to get used to her new surroundings and family. A safe and quite space should be provided to allow the dog to retreat to and exposure to new environments or situations should be limited during this time.

The First Three Weeks—During this time the focus should be placed on training and bonding with the newly adopted dog. Daily walks, play, and training sessions utilizing positive reinforcement helps build trust and desired behavior.

The First Three Months—The first three months with a newly adopted shelter dog should focus on continuing to build trust, socialization, and training. Having a fairly consistent routine can be beneficial as dogs like predictability. After three months, an adopted dog should be well settled and showing her true colors. Training a rescue dog is important during this period of time.

The problem with this rule is that dogs are individuals. Some may settle in on the three-three-three timeline, but others will take longer—and there’s nothing wrong with a dog who doesn’t follow the formula. On the scientific side, there is limited research available that has explored this topic compared to behavior during a shelter stay. However, available research suggests that it may take up to 6 months for some dogs to completely settle into their new home (Bohland et al., 2023).

Training a Rescue Dog: Building Trust First

All dogs need training to teach them appropriate behavior in our homes and communities. Many rescue dogs have not previously been trained and may need some extra support. Further, some may not have been treated kindly in their previous home or may have been negatively impacted by a long stay in the shelter. These dogs benefit significantly from focusing on relationship building before obedience.

Positive reinforcement methods should be used to reward desired behavior and create a positive association with various people, places, and situations when training a rescue dog. Teach foundational cues slowly such as the dog’s name and a toileting cue to build confidence and communication whilst avoiding overwhelming the dog with too many new or unfamiliar experiences. Once the rescue dog is feeling more settled and confident, new cues and behaviors (such as sit, come, on your bed etc.) can be added to their repertoire.

How To Help a Long-Term Shelter Dog Adjust to Home Life

While most long-stay shelter dogs will adjust to their new home with time, there are several things you can do to help with the process:

• Create a predictable routine and try to keep the home relatively quiet in the early stages to help your new dog settle.
• Use environmental enrichment to encourage and create opportunities for exploration and normal behaviors (e.g. snuffle mats, puzzle toys, chew toys).
• Provide a safe and quiet retreat area, such as a crate, comfy bed, or separate room to allow your new shelter dog the time and space to decompress and rest.
• Learn what your new dog enjoys (e.g. pats, play, treats, toys etc.) and spend time engaging in these activities to help build a positive association with you and the new home.
• Avoid the use of aversive training techniques as these can exacerbate fear and trauma and can erode trust.

When To Seek Professional Help with Long-Term Shelter Dog Behavior

Being adopted is a big adjustment for long-term shelter dogs and some may display problem behavior in their new home, especially if they were traumatized. If you’re observing signs of severe anxiety, fear-based aggression, or stress that is not reducing, contact the shelter where you adopted your dog if they provide post-adoption support or seek professional help.

Adopting a long-term shelter dog can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Given time, kindness, care, and compassion, long-term shelter dogs can thrive in their new homes and form strong and lasting bonds with their new families.

References

Bohland, K. R., Lilly, M. L., Herron, M. E., Arruda, A. G., & O’Quin, J. M. (2023). Shelter dog behavior after adoption: Using the C-BARQ to track dog behavior changes through the first six months after adoption. Plos one, 18(8), e0289356.

Denham, H. D., Bradshaw, J. W., & Rooney, N. J. (2014). Repetitive behaviour in kennelled domestic dog: Stereotypical or not?. Physiology & behavior, 128, 288-294.

Gates, M. C., Zito, S., Thomas, J., & Dale, A. (2018). Post-adoption problem behaviours in adolescent and adult dogs rehomed through a New Zealand animal shelter. Animals, 8(6), 93.