Adopting dogs from shelters is an increasingly popular way of providing homes for animals in need, but many new owners face challenges during the first weeks. Vitulová et al. (2018) conducted a survey of adopters in the Czech Republic to assess behavioral outcomes of shelter-adopted dogs during the critical post-adoption period.
According to the survey, 72% of dogs showed behavioral problems within the first week. The most common issues were aggression (24%), fearfulness (21%), destructiveness (17%), excessive vocalization (15%), and separation anxiety (13%). Interestingly, factors such as sex, age, size, or health status did not significantly influence outcomes. However, dogs with a history of abuse were more likely to display behavioral issues than non-abused dogs.
Despite the high rate of initial problems, the follow-up survey revealed major behavioral improvements after six months in adoptive homes. These positive changes occurred even though most adopters had little experience and did not seek professional help. The findings suggest that patience and a stable home environment are often enough to resolve many problems, though professional behavioral support may be essential for more severe cases, particularly aggression.
The study highlights the resilience of shelter dogs and the importance of time, support, and understanding in ensuring adoption success. It also underscores the potential benefits of providing structured post-adoption counseling to further increase long-term success rates and prevent returns to shelters.
Source: Vitulová, S., Voslářová, E., Večerek, V., & Bedáňová, I. (2018). Behaviour of dogs adopted from an animal shelter. Acta Veterinaria Brno, 87, 155–163. https://doi.org/10.2754/avb201887020155. Published June 27, 2018.
