Adopting a dog who has been a long-term resident at a shelter can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Long stints in an animal shelter can be stressful for many dogs and some may develop stress- or anxiety-related behavior problems during their stay. In this article you’ll learn what to expect when adopting a long-term shelter dog, how to build trust, and how to help your new best friend adjust to home life.
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I had a shelter dog before my current dog, but she accidentally was ran over. She was a younger dog so she hadn’t really been in a shelter all that long. However she did have real separation anxiety when I left and I never dared leave her without being in her kennel. My theory was because she was shifted around some in the shelter, and then was in a foster environment before I got her I think she was in contact with a few very caring and pleasant people. I think she probably would start to feel like she adopted some as her human family, but then they were gone. So by the time I got her a couple months later I think she was weary of relationships going away on her. I know there’s nothing that can be done about this fact of shelter life, but maybe more shelter workers should warn this might need to be worked through.
In contrast I got my Golden Doodle when she was eight weeks old so she only knew her mother, siblings, and the breeders family. All for a very short time. So as she grew to know this was home and I was her human family I think she grew confident that I was always coming back. After her first couple months I never latched the kennel door anymore..