Dog Days of Recovery
Encouragement when embarking on the journey

We are dog people.
Our families are dog families.

When a newly adopted dog comes into their new home, a common moniker to remember is that the dog will need (at least):

🐾 3 days to decompress

🐾 3 weeks to learn your routine, and

🐾 3 months to start to feel at home.

• • •

The 3/3/3 rule isn’t a science. I honestly don’t even know where it came from but it’s been spot on in my experience.

Think about it.

And give yourself the same understanding and patience when you embark on the recovery journey with your loved one.

• • •

You‘ll need to … decompress.

First, from the immediate trauma of what’s recently transpired but most certainly from anxiety and exhaustion leading up to now.

• • •

You‘ll need to … learn your new routine.

What things do you need to do to take care of yourself? What does a day in your new life look like? What habits do you want to stick to?

• • •

You‘ll need to … start to feel at home in your new life.

You may be alone in new situations. You may need to do and try new things. You’ll have time to spare and not enough time to get it all done.

• • •

Above all else, realize that you are on a learning journey. You won’t get it right all day every day. You might feel scared, confused, angry, and unsure.

You’ll need to rest, forgive yourself, forgive others, practice patience, and try your best.

• • •

So don’t forget to throw yourself a bone every now and again … and maybe even take a nap in the sun some days.