Settling In: The 3-3-3 Rule

Regardless  of the route you go down to adopt your hound, for instance directly  from a racing kennel, or from a rehoming/rescue centre, the approach is  the same.  While some may have been adopted or fostered previously, and  may have some experience of a home environment, they haven’t been in  your home.  It is still a new environment, with a new routine, new  humans, and there is a lot to learn.

Too  many hounds are given up when they haven’t been given a chance to  settle fully.  Settling in a new hound is an ongoing process.  They are  learning, growing, and developing their character for months into their  new home. The initial period is crucial in settling your companion up to  succeed and understanding the 3-3-3 rule is a good starting point!

The  3-3-3 rule serves simply as a guideline for gradually acclimating your  new hound to their surroundings, routines, and relationships within  their new family.   It emphasizes the importance of patience,  consistency, and understanding during what is the critical adjustment  period…but while an effective strategy to follow, it isn’t a hard and  fast rule.

Some dogs may require a  more extended version of the 3-3-3 rule, depending on their  personality, but in essence the 3-3-3 rule is a rough time scale.  One  to remember, so to not expect too much of your hounds to early on, and  to forgive blips and backward steps.

-  The first three days is where your hound is decompressing.  They are  feeling overwhelmed, are scared, and are generally running on autopilot  due to sensory overload and are unsure of what is going on. They may not  feel like eating, may hide away or test boundaries.

During  this period, it's crucial to create a calm and secure atmosphere to  help the dog feel safe and comfortable. Limiting exposure to external  stimuli and providing a quiet space where they can retreat is essential.   Additionally, establishing a predictable routine for feeding, toilet  breaks, walks and rest will aid in reducing stress and anxiety.

The  dog will be confused, worried and looking for reassurance. They will  likely be panting a lot, pacing, having trouble settling, may be a bit  defensive or overly needy and will most likely have an upset belly. They  will most likely have the odd accident in the house while they are  learn how to ask to go out!

We  often find that hounds new to the home will present with signs of  separation anxiety for the first week to three weeks...but don’t panic!  Most people do tend to panic!  It is quite normal, and it is not  separation anxiety (yet), they are looking to you for guidance!

Prior  to coming home, most greyhounds have never been in a house before, so  it is all unfamiliar. The only thing they know, and trust, is humans!   As a result, they like to keep their humans in sight for reassurance, to  learn from and bond with, which is why it is important to take some  time off work to get your new dog settled in.

-  The first three weeks is where start to learn the routine and will be  starting to settle in, feeling more comfortable with you and their new  environment. They will be starting to let their guard down and you will  want to be focusing on building trust, establishing boundaries, and  fostering positive associations.

You  may find at the 3–4-week mark that your hound becomes quite ‘naughty’,  regresses in their house training or their separation training where  they were previously doing really well.

It’s  not uncommon for this to happen, and many people think they’ve adopted a  total angel in that initial couple of weeks…everything has gone without  a hitch, which can create a false sense of security and understanding  to how the dog is coping which leads to owners doing too much too soon,  leading to negative behaviours to develop once past the initial weeks  such as freezing, chewing, reactivity, barking or overexcitability.

This  is why it is important not to rush into things, thinking that  everything is going well.  The majority of problems hound owners  encounter in the initial settling in period are as a result of doing too  much too soon.  Introducing the dog to new experiences gradually,  whether it's meeting other pets or encountering different environments,  helps prevent overwhelm and instils confidence. Positive reinforcement  techniques, such as treats, praise, and play, reinforce desired  behaviours and strengthen the bond between you and your new canine  companion.

Consistency in  training, socialisation, and bonding activities are key during this  phase as with the feeling of settling in and becoming comfortable, comes  the testing of boundaries and their character coming out more.

-  The first three months, and the final stage of the 3-3-3 rule, is when  your hound should be starting to feel fully at home.  They will trust in  you more; they will be showing more of their personality and will feel a  sense of security in the home. They will know what is expected of them.   They should be well adapted to their routine, surroundings, and the  family dynamics.  However, you cannot become complacent at this point,  ongoing patience, guidance, and consistency are still essential as the  dog continues to develop trust and confidence both at home and outdoors.   Continued socialisation, training, and mental stimulation will ensure  the dog's well-being and contribute to their long-term adjustment to the  great wide world!

But, while  this is a rough guide...it can take a dog up to a year (or more) to show  their full personality and feel comfortable enough to express all their  quirks, experience all their ‘firsts’ and learn the ways of life.

Remember,  every dog is unique, so be flexible and adaptive in your approach, and  most importantly, enjoy the journey of building a strong and fulfilling  bond with your new furry friend.  

By setting your hound up for success, you will succeed together!