The New Bark City Health Library

​Topic: The "70-Day Myth" – Understanding the Decompression Timeline

​One of the most dangerous phrases in rescue is "they’re just shutting down." While a dog does need a "decompression" period, many adopters and shelters use "shutdown" as a permanent excuse for behavioral issues.

​The Nurse’s Insight: In our clinical observation, there is a distinct 70-day marker. By day 70, a dog is no longer "decompressing"—they have acclimated. If you are still seeing the same negative behaviors at the 70-day point, it is no longer a "shutdown" issue; it is a behavioral or medical issue that requires a specific care plan. We teach our partners and adopters to track these milestones so we can intervene with the right support at the right time.