Bringing home a rescue dog is such a special time. There’s excitement, hope, and the joy of knowing you’re giving a dog a second chance. But it’s also a huge transition—for both of you.
It’s easy to want to do everything right away: long walks, visitors, new toys, maybe even alone-time practice. But here’s the truth—those early weeks are when your new dog’s world has completely changed, and how you handle this adjustment period will shape their ability to feel safe and confident in your home.
When I work with families who’ve just adopted, I often hear the same worries:
“They were fine in foster care, but now they panic when I leave.”
“They seemed so calm at first, and now they’re barking and pacing when I grab my keys.”
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. It just means your dog is trying to figure out how to feel safe again.
A New Home Feels Like Starting Over
Even if your dog came from a wonderful foster home, that doesn’t mean they’ll instantly feel secure in yours. Dogs don’t generalize safety the same way we do. The sounds, layout, smells, routines, and people in your home are all new information.
So when guardians tell me, “She was totally fine being left alone in foster,” I always remind them that context matters. That dog may have spent time alone in a small apartment where they’d already bonded with their carer—but now everything’s different. And that difference can make even confident dogs feel unsure.
It’s a bit like being dropped into a new country overnight—you’d probably need a little time before feeling at home, too.
Why the “Just Go Back to Work” Plan Doesn’t Work
One of the biggest mistakes I see new adopters make—often because they just don’t know—is jumping straight into full workdays away from home. Maybe the plan is to bring the dog home on a Saturday and head back to the office Monday morning.
But here’s what often happens: that first full day alone triggers panic. The dog barks, whines, salivates, scratches, or howls for hours. When you come home, they’re exhausted, anxious, and confused.
It’s not because they’re “being bad”—it’s because they were terrified.
Research tells us that transitions themselves are stressful enough. When you layer on long absences before the dog has developed a secure attachment to you, it can lead to lasting anxiety and make future alone-time training much harder. In fact, studies have shown that many rehomed dogs show an increase in behavior problems, including separation anxiety, during the first few months after adoption.
So if you can, plan for a slow start. Ideally, someone should be home most of the time during the first few weeks—whether it’s you, a family member, or a pet sitter. This time allows your new dog to settle, decompress, and start forming a sense of safety before being asked to handle real separation.
Focus on Building a Secure Attachment
Before we ever think about structured training or “alone-time practice,” our first job is to build connection and trust. Your dog needs to know that you’re safe, predictable, and kind.
In these early days, that looks like:
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Keeping a consistent routine. Feed, walk, and rest at roughly the same times each day. Predictability helps dogs relax.
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Being present but calm. Let your dog follow you around if they need to—it’s normal. Independence will come later.
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Staying low-key with visitors and activities. Too much, too soon can be overwhelming. Give them quiet time to rest and observe.
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Watching for stress signals. Yawning, pacing, lip licking, or hiding are ways your dog communicates discomfort. Go at their pace.
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Avoiding long absences. Step out briefly for a few seconds or a minute, then return calmly. Keep departures easy and unremarkable.
The goal isn’t to teach them to “handle being alone” right now—it’s to teach them that you always come back, and that life in this new home is safe and predictable.
What the First Few Weeks Can Look Like
There’s no perfect timeline (and please ignore the “3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months” rule—it’s an oversimplification). Every dog’s adjustment period is different. But generally, the first few weeks might look like this:
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Week 1: Rest, bonding, and decompression. Think quiet walks, naps, gentle exploration.
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Week 2: Begin introducing very short absences (seconds to a minute), always watching for signs of stress.
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Week 3 and beyond: Gradually build on those moments of calm alone-time, but only as your dog’s comfort allows.
If things feel bumpy, that’s okay. Healing and adjustment take time. Progress isn’t linear—it’s about patterns over time, not perfection day to day.
When to Ask for Help
If your rescue is panicking when left alone, or you’re unsure how to balance connection and independence, it’s okay to reach out for help. Early support can make a world of difference and prevent patterns of fear from becoming harder to change later.
This is the work I specialize in—helping dogs with separation anxiety or post-adoption stress feel secure and capable again. I know how emotional this process can be, and how much we want to do right by our dogs. The good news? With patience, planning, and the right support team, they absolutely can learn to feel at home.
Final Thoughts
Your new dog doesn’t need a perfect start—they just need a compassionate one. Focus less on how quickly you can do “normal life” things and more on how safe they feel with you.
When we slow down, listen, and meet them where they are, we set them up not just to adjust—but to truly thrive.
If you’re welcoming a rescue dog or are in those early weeks and unsure how to navigate alone-time, I’d love to help you build a plan that supports both of you.
You don’t need to figure it out alone—especially not when your dog’s emotional well-being depends on those early choices.
Read more on the blog at alpinedogs.ca or book a FREE Discovery Call to talk about your dog’s transition plan.
