Woman Unprepared for What Adopted Husky Does on First Night in New Home

A video featuring a recently adopted husky has melted hearts, as the dog’s new owner shared the unexpected way her dog behaved after coming home.

In the TikTok video, posted by Ty Vaissa from California, husky Voda was curled up quietly in one spot, wrapped in blankets, looking distant and still.

The caption read: “Adopted this husky from the shelter yesterday. She’s been in this spot pretty much the whole time. Chat is this real? I ain’t ever seen a husky act like this.”

But Voda’s story, as Vaissa later shared, is one of hope, transformation, and patience.

“I adopted Voda on April 21st, 2025,” said Vaissa told Newsweek. “She did stay in that spot for about a day as soon as we got home. She was decompressing—it’s a very common thing to happen in shelter dogs.”

The clip, shared at the end of last month, racked up more than 1.2 million views. Many viewers, and fellow pet adopters, chimed in with support and relatable stories. One commenter said: “She was just recharging her batteries,” while another playfully warned: “Wait until she REALLY gets comfortable and decides to cause utter chaos for the fun of it.”

Others praised the owner’s approach and reminded her of the “3-3-3 rule”—a widely accepted guideline in pet adoption that describes how dogs adjust over time in a new home:

• 3 Days to decompress: Dogs may hide, be shy, or avoid interaction.
• 3 Weeks to learn the routine: They start to settle in and show more personality.
• 3 Months to fully feel at home: Trust builds, routines form, and bonds solidify.

Vaissa credited the rule, and the TikTok community, for helping guide him through Voda’s early adjustment. “I got pretty much only positive responses just telling me to give her time and let her come to me when she’s ready,” she said. “The 3-3-3 rule is REALLY important to know.”

Thankfully, it didn’t take long for Voda to settle in, and even in the viral video, she found her way to her new owner’s bedroom, coming to curl up with her.

“She’s doing incredible now,” Vaissa said. “She plays outside with our other dog, jumps up on the bed to snuggle with us, and she’s already crate trained after only a few weeks.”

Now thriving in her new home, Vaissa hopes that Voda is a great example of what a little patience and love can do for a dog coming out of the shelter system.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.