WELCOME HOME

Virtual Course for New Shelter Dog Adopters

A course that supports a newly adopted shelter dog and their humans through the first 3 days, 3 weeks, and 3 months after adoption.

Those milestones matter. Your dog’s needs, stress level, and capacity change as they thaw out. When you understand where your dog is in the 3–3–3 transition, you can adjust your strategies and expectations without guessing.

Shelter life is stressful. Coming home is stressful too, especially when you don’t know you’re home yet. Your dog can only feel love if they feel safe. That takes the time it takes, and there are things we can do in the meantime.

The 3-3-3 Rule

What it is?

The 3-3-3 rule is a simple framework for understanding how dogs adjust after adoption. It describes a gradual transition that unfolds over time as your dog processes stress, learns a new environment, and begins to feel secure. This structure gives you a realistic timeline and a way to interpret behavior with patience while the relationship takes shape.

3 Days

Decompression. Your dog is observing everything, running on stress hormones, and trying to predict what happens next. Your job is to make life simple and safe.

3 Weeks

Testing and learning. This is when a lot of “problem behaviors” show up because your dog is finally awake enough to have opinions. Structure matters here.

3 Months

Belonging. This is when many dogs start showing their true personality and resilience. You’re building the long-term relationship now.

Start right away

Most dogs who are returned to shelters are returned in the first few weeks.

Not because they are bad dogs.
Not because they are aggressive.

They are returned because what people see in the beginning is often assumed to be who the dog *is*.

But the dog you meet in week one is not the finished version.
It is a nervous system in transition.

This course exists to help you avoid making permanent decisions based on a temporary chapter.

What’s inside the Welcome Home Program

This course is designed to be followed in real time as your dog moves through each phase of adjustment.

You’ll get:

• Video lessons for each stage of the transition
• Written guidance you can reference quickly
• A printable PDF version of the full framework
• A short reflection quiz for each module to keep you grounded when emotions are loud

The goal is not perfect training.
The goal is a stable foundation that protects both your dog and your family.

When things feel concerning

This program also includes guidance on how to respond if serious or concerning behaviors appear.

You’ll learn:

• What is normal stress behavior
• What needs professional help
• How to stabilize situations early
• When and how to seek support

And if an adoption reaches a point where it genuinely does not seem sustainable, this course provides resources to help you navigate those decisions with care and clarity.

Each purchase gives back

Every enrollment includes a $10 donation to the shelter of your choice.

If you don’t know where to send it, I will choose for you.

This program exists because shelters carry an impossible load.
When you enroll, you are supporting your own dog and helping the next dog too.

Start in the right place

If you have just adopted a dog, then start now so you can follow the 3–3–3 milestones in real time and build a plan that matches where your dog truly is.

Start: Welcome Home