In the last post I shared about one of our senior dogs, and now I feel I need to talk about just how much a rescue dog can offer a family. First of all, many rescues have been through rough times, and they arrive here fearful, sad and I’m sure wondering what the next hour or day will be like for them.

It takes time for them to trust humans again, and so when we adopt a dog to a family we tell them to follow the 3-3-3 rule. It is a general guideline for how long it takes for a newly adopted rescue dog or pet to adjust to a new home. It takes 3 days to decompress, 3 weeks to know the routine and 3 months for a dog to build trust and bond with you. Yes, I said 3 months for a dog to build trust and bond with you. Once they know they can trust humans and are shown love and patience, they usually begin to change, right before your eyes.

It isn’t always that simple. Sometimes it takes longer, and more love and patience is required. What it takes is paying attention to the dog to gain a sense of why they are fearful. Maybe they don’t like people with caps or maybe sunglasses make them aggressive. We don’t know why they are fearful or aggressive or don’t like men or sometimes small children. We can only guess and deal with it. It takes time, love and sometimes changing the way we do things.

I want to tell you that the love they share with you is worth it all. I firmly believe they appreciate that you chose them, a rescue dog, to be part of your family. Yes, I said part of your family.

We have a kennel full of dogs waiting for their family. We try to help families choose the dog that will work for them. Here are some of the dogs waiting for homes. Each has a different personality and some require specific lifestyles, just like people. Take a look, maybe one of these beautiful dogs want to be part of your family. Just give us a call and we will tell you about their personalities, their preferences and sometimes their special needs. When they know they are loved, it’s worth it all!