What is the rule of 3 in dog training?

The Polyvagal Theory, developed by Stephen Porges, suggests that the vagus nerve links together different aspects of our emotional and physiological regulation. This theory states that the autonomic nervous system offers two distinct paths for regulating distress in response to threats and safety. The vagal nerve has three operational strata. The ventral vagal state is a physiological state characterized by a relaxed and balanced nervous system. The sympathetic nervous state is a physiological state associated with the body’s fight-or-flight response. The dorsal vagal state is a physiological state associated with fight or flight responses.

The Rule of Three means that you can gauge the time it might take for your dog to fully acclimate to his home in threes: three days, three weeks, and three months. At 3 days, the first 3 days are the initial detox period as the dog transitions from the shelter to your home. Your home is new and exciting, with more stimulating activity and space and freedom than a shelter can ever provide. At 3 weeks, your dog is probably getting used to your comings and goings, learning the daily routine, and starting to figure out when the next meal is coming. You'll start to see more of his true personality and less of his initial response. At 3 months, most dogs know they are home. It's a process to get there, but with patience and a sense of humor, the two of you can scale the mountain together and enjoy the journey toward a great relationship. These first few days require an immense amount of patience on your part. Take a deep breath and remember that your home is like Disneyland for a shelter dog. He will settle into your routine if you give him time and patience.

The 3-3-3 rule is a guideline for transitioning a rescue dog into their new home and helping them to settle in. It suggests that the first three days should be used for adjusting to their new surroundings, the next three weeks for training and bonding, and the first three months for continued socialization and training. The 3-3-3 rule provides a roadmap for the adoption process and helps ensure a smooth transition for both the dog and the owner. It also helps set realistic expectations and prevents common mistakes such as overloading the dog with too much too soon. By following the 3-3-3 rule, owners can give their rescue dog the time and support they needs to adjust and become a well-behaved member of the household.

The Three-Second Rule: -Three seconds is the maximum amount of time an initial greeting should last. Three seconds is ‘one elephant, two elephants, three’ then space apart or walk away. If either of the dogs is showing signs that they are not comfortable during the three seconds, turn and walk away earlier. Do not force them to stay in that situation for the full three seconds. After several little meets using the three-second rule, both owners are better equipped with the information whether or not each other’s dogs are suitable to have a play with each other or not. These three-second meets are invaluable to the amount of information both dogs are giving each owner to help make the best decision for all involved. In an ideal world, all greetings should take place like this, not just first time greets with new dogs. So remember you have three seconds. Use those three seconds to watch what your dog is trying to tell you.

The Rules of Three include THREE DAYS, during which your dog should start warming up to you. During the first three days, provide a quiet environment. Keep to a regular schedule for eating, sleeping and walks. THREE WEEKS is when your dog is beginning to fit in and is learning the daily routine, this is when to reinforce good behaviors on a regular basis. Consistency and repetition are key. THREE MONTHS is when the dog is at home in your household, by this time, most dogs know they are “home.”

The Rules of Three helps puppies learn at their own rate. What are the Rules of Three? The Three D’s Consider these three aspects of the pup’s environment to better set them up for success during training. Duration: how long a puppy is asked to maintain a behavior Distance: how close the puppy can be to a distraction or novel object -OR- how far the puppy can be from the handler to maintain a behavior Distraction: how challenging a distraction is. The Rules of Three include Three Chances and Three’s a Charm. Three Chances If a puppy is unsuccessful too many times while learning a new behavior, they can get frustrated and disengaged. Three’s a Charm This helps identify when a pup is ready to level up the difficulty when learning a new behavior. If they complete a task perfectly three times in a row, they are ready for the next level of difficulty.