They say I have a sad look.

They say I have a sad look. But I’ve only been here a short while, still not used to it. At first, I peed in the house from stress, but not anymore. It’s nice here — I go for walks, get petted. I even steal food from the cats, but only when the humans aren’t around because I respect them. And I’m getting less scared when someone grabs a cable. I think it’s going to be okay now.

A dog under long-term, intense stress can stay in a state of chronic stress even after adoption. They might feel down and be scared of many things.

Don’t expect immediate happiness, playfulness, or gratitude from a dog like that just because you gave them a home.

Patience is key. Give the dog space to start feeling joy in life. Avoid extra stimuli like visits to friends, trips, or groomers whenever possible. What helps most are things that lift the dog’s mood — activities they somewhat enjoy and places where they can relax.

#dontbuyadopt