New pet parents should expect a period of strange or stressed behavior when they bring home a shelter dog, and they should allow the animal time to settle, experts say. Nationwide data indicate that about 65% of shelter intakes resulted in an adoption in 2023, according to Shelter Animals Count’s 2023 analysis, underscoring the importance of understanding the transition for these animals.

The guidance comes in an evergreen article aimed at helping guardians recognize stress signals and respond without escalating tension. The piece stresses that many recently adopted dogs arrive from shelters, foster homes, or the streets and may be carrying trauma that shows up as shutdown, overexcitement, or inconsistent reactions. Common signs of stress in newly adopted shelter dogs include body language such as a tucked tail, flattened ears, lowered posture, trembling, and avoidance behaviors like hiding or refusing to eat or drink.

Signs of stress or fear the article highlights include low, stiff posture; shaking or jumpiness; growling or snarling; excessive lip-licking; raised hackles; ears pinned down or pointed forward; a tucked tail; wide “whale eyes” or rapid eye movement. It also notes that “Most dogs are still kind of traumatized from being in the shelter and foster care, and/or on the streets.”

“As a guardian, knowing how to read your dog’s body language, understanding what aggression escalation looks like, and the various states of canine maturity and what they entail, is so important,” said Laurie Lawless, certified dog behavior consultant and Shelter Behavior Integrations owner. Creating a safe, welcoming environment is crucial; new pet parents can do this by pet-proofing their home and setting up a quiet, dedicated space where the dog can decompress and feel secure.

The article connects that practical reading of signals to professional approaches to changing behavior, noting the American Animal Hospital Association’s role in defining behavior modification as a formal technique for altering unwanted responses.

Emily Scott, a certified dog behavior consultant and accredited dog trainer, emphasized the need for time and early action. “All dogs need time to decompress,” she said. She added: “Training should start right away.” Together, those remarks capture the dual message: patience, paired with structured help, can speed recovery from acute stress and reduce harmful outcomes.

The article also urges new guardians to contact professionals sooner rather than later. “Don’t wait until something bad happens to get in touch with an expert,” Lawless said. Making early contact with professionals can significantly aid in the successful transition of the newly adopted canine.

For readers seeking more formal guidance on assessing shelter dogs and how shelters approach behavior, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has published a position statement on shelter dog behavior assessments that outlines accepted practices and cautions; that resource is available from the ASPCA. Additional background on common signs of stress in newly adopted dogs is discussed by outlets such as the Whole-Dog Journal, which catalogs behaviors new owners may see as a dog adjusts.

The article frames its advice as anticipatory: by expecting hiding, clinginess, changes in friendliness, refusal to play, accidents in the house, chewing, or escape attempts, guardians can respond calmly rather than react out of frustration. That approach aims to reduce the risk of punishment or abrupt changes that can worsen a stressed dog’s behavior. With a substantial share of shelter dogs still experiencing outcomes other than direct adoption or return to owner—such as transfer to other organizations or euthanasia—this early, informed response can be vital for their new opportunity at life.

Beyond the immediate observables, the piece emphasizes a mindset shift for new guardians — treating early weeks and months as a recovery period in which patterns take time to emerge and training can be introduced gently but consistently. It encourages people to become familiar with canine body language and with professional help so interventions happen before situations escalate.

Wherever owners seek further reading or formal guidance, the article points them toward established animal-welfare and behavior resources and to qualified trainers and behavior consultants who can provide individualized plans.

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Original reporting: view the original article.