Ethical Canine Professionals Register
The 3 Stages of Adjustment
Ethical Guidance for Welcoming a Rehomed Dog
In this free 20-page guide, canine behaviour expert Jo Middleton explains the emotional journey many rescue dogs experience when entering a new home.
Instead of rigid timelines like the popular “3-3-3 rule”, this framework focuses on the dog’s emotional needs and how to support them with patience, observation and compassion.
Inside the guide you’ll discover:
✔ The 3 emotional stages rescue dogs move through after adoption
✔ Why many dogs appear calm at first… then suddenly show challenging behaviours
✔ The early signals dogs show when they are overwhelmed or stressed
✔ What dogs truly need during the critical decompression stage
✔ How to support confidence during the adjustment and exploration phase
✔ The signs that real trust and emotional safety are beginning to develop
✔ When it may be time to seek professional behavioural support
This framework helps you understand what your dog may be feeling internally, so you can respond in ways that support their emotional recovery and long-term wellbeing.
Why This Matters
Every year, thousands of dogs are returned to rescue organisations.
Often not because the dog is “bad”,
but because their adjustment process is misunderstood.
When we understand what dogs are experiencing emotionally, we can:
• prevent unnecessary stress
• build trust faster
• reduce behavioural problems
• create stronger lifelong bonds
This guide shows you how.
Download the guide
If you'd like to explore this approach in more detail, you can get the full guide by entering your email below.
About the author: Jo Middleton
Cognitive-Led Dog Rehabilitation & Behaviour Expert
Director of the International Institute for Canine Ethics (IICE)
Jo specialises in choice-based, science-backed rehabilitation methods that support dogs in rebuilding emotional resilience after rehoming. Her approach is thoughtful and responsive, shaped by what each individual dog needs to feel safe, understood, and respected. Rather than following rigid protocols, Jo works with the dog in front of her, allowing space for natural recovery, trust-building, and meaningful behavioural change.
Through her work, Jo gives dogs the freedom to think, choose, and heal on their own terms. She brings together experience from rescue, behaviour, and education to support both dogs and the humans who care for them. Her focus is always on relationships, helping guardians and professionals to foster calm, collaborative environments where dogs can thrive without pressure or fear.
