Inside: 6 Tips for Getting Your Dog Used to Your New Home. Collaborative post.
Dogs can face several challenges when transitioning to a new home. Dealing with an unfamiliar place, changes in routine, and the absence of familiar scents and sounds can stress them out. Oftentimes, this feeling can manifest in worrisome behaviors such as restlessness, decreased appetite, excessive barking, or even house soiling.
If you anticipate moving to a new place soon, it’s in your best interest—as well as your dog’s—to prepare for their reaction and to quell their fears about being in a strange new environment.
Being creatures of routine and familiarity, it’s normal for dogs to experience heightened levels of stress and anxiety while they’re getting used to a new house or apartment. In general, it may take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months for a dog to truly feel settled in.
This period, of course, can vary depending on the dog’s temperament, their past experiences, and your efforts to acclimatize them. As a dog parent, it’s crucial for you to be both patient and empathetic with your dog while you both go through the adjustment process.
To that end, here are six tips to help your dog get used to their new surroundings and eventually make them feel right at home:
Prepare Your Dog for the Big Day
Prioritize your dog’s needs by maintaining their regular routines as much as possible in the months or weeks leading up to the move. Keep their belongings, such as their toys and custom dog beds, easily accessible to them so that they can play and rest whenever they need to, even while you’re busy organizing your belongings.
For safety, ensure that your dog has updated identification tags with your new contact information. It’s also a good idea to gradually introduce your dog to moving-related activities, such as packing boxes and driving from your old property to the new one. This way, they’ll have time to warm up to changes in their routine and feel less anxious about living their life somewhere other than their old home.
Minimize Your Dog’s Stress Levels During the Move
Moving day will be a busy day indeed, for both you and your pet. Knowing that you’ll be managing the move and will be preoccupied for a good portion of the day, it’s best to keep your dog in a quiet and secure space away from the hustle and bustle.
Consider confining them to a separate room and giving them access to food, water, and familiar items like toys and blankets. It’s also an option to have a trusted friend or pet sitter take care of them on the big day. If you’re cleared to do so by your vet, you can also use pheromone sprays or calming aids to reduce your dog’s anxiety and keep them calm while you’re busy working with your moving team.
Create a Safe Haven in the New Home Just for Your Dog
Next, as early as possible into the move, designate a specific area in your new home where your dog can retreat to feel safe and secure. This should serve as their resting area while you’re busy organizing the space, so make sure it’s out of your way.
Put your dog’s bed, toys, and water bowl in their special corner. Meanwhile, make an effort to address areas and items that can be hazards to your dog. For instance, you can install baby gates indoors to keep your dog out of places that aren’t safe for them to explore yet.
Establish a Routine and Familiarize Your Dog with the New Space
Again, dogs thrive on routine, and it will be good to establish a consistent daily schedule that includes regular feeding times, exercise, and bathroom breaks. Once it’s safe to do so, take them around your home and slowly introduce them to spaces that they can use.
When you can, take your dog on leashed walks around the neighborhood to familiarize them with the new sights, sounds, and smells that come with it. Gradually introduce them to new people, pets, and environments to build positive associations around these.
Use Training Techniques for Adaptation
Positive reinforcement training techniques will also help your dog adjust to their new surroundings. Reward desired behaviors, such as asking to be let out to potty, and provide mental stimulation through the use of interactive toys and puzzle games.
You can also gradually increase the duration of your dog’s alone time to prevent separation anxiety. This way, your dog will feel comfortable on their own even when you have to stay out of your new home for extended periods.
Accustom Your Dog to New Toilet Spots
It’s also crucial to help your dog find appropriate toilet spots immediately after the move. Take your dog outside frequently—especially after meals, naps, and playtime—and patiently wait for them to finish doing their business.
Keep a close eye on their behavior and body language, as they may sniff around, circle the area, or become restless when they need to go. Once your dog relieves themselves in the desired spot, praise and reward them to reinforce the behavior. If accidents happen indoors, avoid punishment and instead redirect your dog to the correct area outdoors.
Takeaway: Is Your Dog Adapting Well to Their New Surroundings?
Lastly, as a dog owner, it’s essential to observe your dog for signs of positive adaptation to their new home. Look for indications such as a healthy appetite, normal sleep patterns, engagement in play and exercise, and the reestablishment of their regular behaviors. You should also observe their body language for signs of relaxation and contentment, such as loose body posture, wagging tail, and comfortable eye contact.
If your dog has anxiety or fear issues, however, you should expect to give them additional attention during the adjustment period. Watch out for pronounced signs of stress, like excessive panting, pacing, drooling, or withdrawal. In such cases, you may have to put some more effort into configuring a calm and secure environment for your dog and offering gradual exposure to new stimuli.
When in doubt, don’t be ashamed to seek additional assistance from a veterinarian or a certified dog behaviorist. These professionals will be able to provide guidance and teach you specialized techniques to address your dog’s specific needs.
Each dog is different, and it can take time and a bit of training to get your canine companion used to their new environment compared to other dogs. But be sure to keep these tips in mind and to monitor your dog’s progress so that they can feel comforted and supported throughout this big new adventure in both of your lives.