Moving to a new home is stressful for everyone, whether it is across the street or across the country. The preparation, the packing, and the complete upheaval of their surroundings can be difficult for your dog to understand. This is why it is important to consider your dog’s perspective as you prepare for your new life in your new home. Here are 8 ways to help your dog transition to your new home.
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Dog’s Sense the Changes in Their Environment Very Early in the Moving Process
The changes can actually begin before you even start packing. Dog’s sense energy and excitement. They feel your stress and fears. They are used to your routines and habits. When you begin house hunting, your routines change. Your excitement or stress about moving will affect your dog from the very beginning.
Are you moving because you have a new job? Are you upgrading to a larger home? Is the move a result of family changes such as marriage or divorce? Do you need a larger space to accommodate a growing family? There are a lot of emotions when it comes to major life changes, even if they are positive. Your dog feels every one of these emotions and needs you to help them process, understand and feel secure throughout the move.
How Do I Know if My Dog is Affected By Change?
Every 4 weeks I have to head out of town for the day. I am gone for 12 to 14 hours and my daughter is home with my dogs. They have their breakfast at the regular time, I take them for a walk before I go and when I come back, and they are let out in the yard several times while I am away.
The only change to their routine is the time of their second walk and the fact that I am not present, but one of my dogs still struggles. He will not eat his lunch or dinner the entire time I am gone.
As soon as I walk in the door, he goes to his bowl and eats the entire contents. It is clear that he does not do well with a minor change to his routine, even though it happens every month. I can’t imagine how he would cope with a complete overhaul to his environment and schedule, while everyone in the family swirls around him, stressed and overwhelmed.
While Zorro shows his confusion outwardly, other dogs may not be so clear. They can become depressed or agitated. They can become nervous or they may act out. No matter how your pup reacts, you can guarantee that a significant life change like moving, and the preparation for it, will affect your pup mentally and emotionally.
Maintaining Your Dog’s Schedule Helps Them Cope with Change
A dog relies on a daily routine. Knowing what is coming next provides a sense of security and comfort. When things are “off” your pup will become confused and may not know how to deal with it. This is why it is important to be consistent when it comes to feeding and walking schedules.
It is so easy to get distracted when you are experiencing major life changes, like moving. Set a timer, ask Alexa or Google to remind you, do whatever you have to do to remind you of your doggo’s schedule. It will help them to feel more relaxed and confident that some things are still the same. This will help to reduce their anxiety level.
I am neither a veterinarian nor a medical professional. The information in this article has been researched and sourced at the end of the post if required. All safety and medical issues or questions regarding your pet’s health or symptoms should always be brought to the attention of your veterinarian for clarification, assessment, advice and treatment.
Keep Your Dog’s Bed and Food Area Consistent While You Pack and Move
Your pup has become used to eating from a specific bowl in a specific place. They often have a play area or a bed, sofa or favourite chair where they spend their indoor time. For as long as possible, keep your dog’s “world” as familiar as possible.
Pack all the decorations, pictures, books and magazines, but leave the bed where it always is. Feed them in the same corner of the kitchen from the bowl they recognize. If they have one, leave the toybox in the same corner of the room. These are things that can be packed or moved last.
Your dog will be confused with all the changes, but knowing where their own things are and that nothing about their personal items is changing, will be reassuring.
Take Your Dog to the New House to Introduce Them to Their New Home
If possible, take your dog to your new home. Go in with them and let them explore. Becoming familiar with the new place will make it less intimidating when you move in. Just as you would introduce your pup to a new caregiver to create a comfort level, you can introduce them to your new home for the same reason. Bring a favourite toy with you.
You can walk through each room of the house with your dog, letting them sniff and investigate the house. Let them take time to become familiar with the new scents, noises, and spaces. When you move their stuff into this new surrounding, they will not feel the shock as much as if they had never been there.
Sit down in the room where you plan to put your dog’s bed and toys. Spend some time playing with their favorite toy. Let them know this is a safe place for them to enjoy, just like their old house.
Show them where they can “potty”. If it is a back yard, take them out and let them experience their new space. While you are out there, you can ensure that the fence is secure and that the latch on the gate is safe. If it is an apartment or condo, take them down the stairs or elevator and through the building to where they will be allowed to pee and poop.
If you are using an indoor potty or outdoor greenspace on the balcony, you can wait until the space is set up and then show your pup where they can go.
Take Them for a Walk in the New Neighborhood
To help your dog transition to their new home you should include learning about the outside as well. Taking a walk around the neighborhood can be helpful to learn about their new environment. Your new home will have new sounds, new animals, and new neighbors. Spending time outside and letting your dog sniff will offer an opportunity to acclimate with some of the local activities that create these new sounds and smells. Perhaps meeting a new neighbour – human or canine – will help with the adjustment that is about to happen.
Introduce your Dog to Different People in the New House
If you are moving to a new home where there will be different people than your dog is used to, you should be sure to introduce your dog to the new people ahead of time. The more meetings, the better. Your dog will want to get to know their new housemates. Letting them be together for longer periods of time will allow the housemate and the doggo to form a friendship. This will help when you move in.
If formal meetings or introductions are not possible, be sure to spend time with the new roommate and your dog as soon as you move in. Have them meet, you can all pay together or go for a walk as a group. Your dog will be confused and will need emotional support for both the change to their environment and the additional human(s) around them. Staying close while your dog learns about the new people will reassure them. If you think this person is ok, then your pup will as well.
Finally, teach the new person the commands that your dog has been trained to respond to. Have them practice the basics (sit and stay) while you are present. Use treats and positive reinforcement when the dog responds well to the new person. This way the dog will know who they should listen to.
Introduce Your Dog to Additional Pets in the New House
If different pets will be in the new house, it is always best to introduce them slowly. Separate them with gates or put them in different rooms until they become familiar with one another’s scent. Be sure each has their own space with their own toys and bed. You can put something that smells like each pet in the other’s area so that they can adapt to the constant presence of the scent.
Only introduce them physically when they are supervised. Keep your dog on a leash to be sure you are in control of the situation. Make sure you move both animals to an area of the house that is separate from their safe space.
Slowly move them toward each other, watching for signs of discomfort, fear, or aggression. If you see any of these signs, back away and try again later, once they are more familiar with the other’s scents and sounds. If all goes well for both, you can bring them a little closer. Treats and positive reinforcement can be used to let them know they are doing a good job.
Even if they appear to be getting along well, do not leave them alone for several days. Supervised visits and lots of love and cuddles for both will help them to become friends.
Be Understanding with Potential Accidents or Marking
Sometimes, the changes are too much and your dog may have accidents in the new house. Some may feel the need to mark their space to ensure that it is their own. While this behaviour is not acceptable and should be discouraged, you should remember that they are just trying to make sense of all of the changes.
Take them outside frequently and show them where the potty place is. This could prevent issues, and serve as a reminder in case there is any confusion.
If the problem persists, it might be wise to return to the method of training you use to train them as puppies. Alternatively, a professional trainer may be of some assistance.
Stay Calm and Be Patient Around Your Dog When You Move
Moving is considered one of the most stressful events in a person’s life, even when they are excited about it. When you are packing and making arrangements, running around and getting organized, you will be stressed. It is inevitable.
This is where you need to pause and remember that every emotion you feel, your dog feels too. It will be difficult, but try to keep the anxiety levels down when your dog is around. Take a moment every now and again to play with your pup, go for a short walk, or just give them a pet or a hug. Knowing that you are alright and that some things are still “normal” will help them to interpret the whirlwind of changes around them.
Remember, they are stressed too, but they don’t understand what is happening. You do.
