Little is known about long-term dog behavior after adoption. Research published in PLOS ONE followed 99 dogs at 7, 30, 90, and 180 days after adoption, revealing a high prevalence of certain behaviors among the adopted dogs. Understanding how shelter dogs typically adjust to new homes over time can help set realistic expectations and guide interventions to support successful adoptions.
Data from the study period included:
- 82 percent of dogs showed some level of stranger-directed aggression
- 75 percent exhibited dog-directed aggression
- 96 percent displayed nonsocial fear
- 93 percent showed separation-related behaviors
Source: PLOS ONE, August 16, 2024. Link. Also: Faunalytics, October 2, 2024. Link.