This past weekend marked three months of Jackie's tenure with us. The three-month mark can be significant in that it often takes at least that much time for a rescued adoptee to begin to show their true personality in a new home. Jackie is more likely to bark protectively; for example when our neighborhood's decorating committee showed up right outside our gate to put up the seasonal decorations, she barked loudly to let me know there were strangers out there. Jackie is more likely to vocalize when she wants to join in the fun at class or when she sees passers-by at home.
Since I'm not interested in barking or lunging as behaviors, I've stepped up my efforts for a precise form of impulse control, really just another game of “Hers whats” (“It’s Yer Choice”) as in “Hers whats stays quiet and calm is hers whats gets a cookie” as follows:
To reinforce Jackie for being calm both at home and in class, I'm deliberately capturing the moments she is gazing keenly at the object of interest (such as a student team running agility in class while Jackie watches from her crate, or a stranger jogging past with their dog outside our fence) but while her voice is still quiet and she is still in a relaxed physical position such as sit or down.
Of course Jackie is happy to quietly pay attention to me when there are cookies or playtime at hand, but what I'm intentionally capturing are the moments when she is specifically not paying attention to me just before she barks or moves while she is keenly interested in engaging with a distraction by running or barking (or both) but just before she engages with her voice or her feet.
It takes paying close attention and good timing to capture that brief moment, prior to her having moved or barked but while she is looking interestedly at the object of interest and while she is making a decision whether or not to act on her excitement, that exact nanosecond is when she gets the reinforcement. Thereby learning that it is fine to look, fine to feel interested and even excited, but that she is reinforced for remaining quiet and in place.
I'm so grateful for Jackie and the fortuitous events that brought her into our lives. It was Patricia McConnell from whom I learned about the Rule of Threes: Three Days, Three Weeks, Three Months. This three-month mark truly does feel like a milestone, and I'm looking forward to building our relationship as we continue the journey.
Jackie has definitely taught me from her own unique playbook
Pearls:
- Jackie's three month milestone feels momentous, following the Rule of Threes
- Jackie marches to her own drum, and I'm grateful for all she's taught me
- Jackie is keen, loves to learn, and she also wants to feel in control of her own destiny, which seems logical
- Precise impulse control is possible with good handler timing and reinforcing the moments Jackie is keenly interested in a distraction but while she is still "quiet" with her voice and body
At 3 days...
The first 3 days are the initial “detox period” as the dog transitions from the shelter to your home. Your home is new and exciting, with more stimulating activity and space and freedom than a shelter can ever provide. It can be overwhelming for many dogs, especially those who have been in the shelter for weeks.
Your new dog may sleep a lot in those first few days or – more likely – he may be so amped up on excitement that he is easily aroused and difficult to settle down. He will want to check out all the new smells and investigate his new digs. He won’t know what you expect from him, where to go potty, or whether he’s allowed on the furniture; he won’t know that your shoe is not actually a chew toy, or that the kitchen trash is not where he is supposed to find his dinner.
These first few days require an immense amount of patience on your part. Take a deep breath and remember that your home is like Disneyland for a shelter dog. He will settle in to your routine if you give him time and patience. It won’t happen overnight, and he will probably still need to attend positive-reinforcement training classes to help him learn better manners, but take comfort in knowing that it gets better!
At 3 weeks...
After 3 weeks, your dog is probably getting used to your comings and goings, learning the daily routine, and starting to figure out when the next meal is coming. He’ll learn that you walk at the same time every morning, and that he gets to go out for regular potty breaks. You’ll start to see more of his true personality and less of his initial response – whether that was fear, excitement, stress or a combination of all three. You will have narrowed down his behavior problems (if any) to the ones that are likely to remain unless you attend training classes or get help from a dog training professional. It won’t be completely smooth sailing, but the bumps in the road will be less frequent and less stressful.
At 3 months...
At 3 months, most dogs know they are “home.” It’s a process to get there, but with patience and a sense of humor, the two of you can scale the mountain together and enjoy the journey toward a great relationship.
1 Love Has No Age Limit, Drs. Karen London and Patricia McConnell
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