{"id":32453,"date":"2020-11-24T09:50:35","date_gmt":"2020-11-24T13:50:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mymovingreviews.com\/move\/?p=32453"},"modified":"2022-05-20T07:04:31","modified_gmt":"2022-05-20T11:04:31","slug":"how-to-help-a-dog-adjust-to-a-new-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/how-to-help-a-dog-adjust-to-a-new-home\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Help a Dog Adjust to a New Home After Moving"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This article is the final chapter of a comprehensive guide to moving with a dog to a new home<\/a>. It deals with the tough post-relocation adaptation period and gives useful advice on how to help a dog adjust to a new home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Moving
Home is a safe haven. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

When moving to a new place, you and your family need to get settled into your new home, get used to your new surroundings, and get adjusted to your new world. Your canine family member needs to do the same – and it\u2019s really stressful for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dogs tend to struggle to adjust to a new environment – they\u2019re creatures of habit, so taking them out of their comfort zone causes anxiety and wretchedness, and they get attached to their home, so taking them to a new place makes them upset and fearful. Moving house is quite the ordeal for Fido and friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, when moving to a new home with your dog, you need to help your furry friend settle in – calm them down, ease their anxieties, and make them feel comfortable in the new environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on to find out how to achieve all this and keep your doggy safe, healthy, and happy after the move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Introduce a Dog to a New Home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Moving a dog to a new home is not as simple as transporting your loyal pet to your new place – you need to find a way to ease them into the new environment, to make them feel safe and calm in your new house or apartment. Your first step is to properly introduce your canine friend to the new home:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take your dog to the new place before the move<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pre-move visits won\u2019t be possible if you\u2019re moving long distance, of course, but if your home-to-be is located near your current one, you\u2019re strongly advised to visit the new place as many times as you can with your dog before the relocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take Fido with you every time when you go to your new home to complete a task there – or just visit the place together whenever you have the time. Walk around the house, play in the yard, and spend time in the living areas (if you already have the keys) – give your pup treats and attention, so they get a good feeling and create positive associations with the new home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dog specialist Becca Barnett advises \u201cGradually introduce your dog to your new home over several visits. Create good associations with the home by giving your pet many treats while you walk around the house.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also a good idea to leave some of your pooch\u2019s toys in the new place, so there is always a familiar scent to greet your furry friend when they visit your new home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your dog will get used to the sights, sounds and scents of the new place, will have good recollections of the house, and will even leave their scent behind – so when you move, the new surroundings won\u2019t be so foreign and scary to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bonus tip: Give the place a thorough cleaning before moving in<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Dogs use scents to process the world and interact with it. When you move to a new home, it will be full of new scents – and unless you\u2019re moving to a newly built place, there may be lingering scents of other pets that have lived in the house too. It will be quite overwhelming for your pooch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"It
So, this will be my new home? I approve.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

To help your pet feel calm in the new home, you should eliminate as much of the foreign scents as possible – clean the place well before you move in to get rid of residual scents and provide a \u201cclean slate\u201d for your family and Fido to fill the space with familiar smells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set up a safe place for your dog immediately after arrival<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first thing to do when you reach your new home with your dog is to take them to a secure, quiet room where they will be safe until their initial shock fades away, the movers are gone, and your larger household items are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure there are no potential hazards in the room and the windows and doors are securely closed (some dogs may try to escape when feeling stressed and anxious).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unpack your dog\u2019s essentials box and set up a corner with familiar items – your pet\u2019s bed and blanket, water bowl and food dish, favorite toys, treats, etc. These things will provide a sense of security and will help your canine friend feel comfortable in the new surroundings – your stressed pet will have their own sanctuary with familiar and comforting smells and items that feel like home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your pup traveled in a carrier, keep them in it until you have set up their space, then open the crate. Let your furry friend stay inside the carrier for as long as they want to – it is a safe place for them. They will venture out when they\u2019re ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your dog didn\u2019t travel in a carrier, keep them on a leash until the safe room is ready. When everything is set up, remove the leash, close the door, and let your pooch get used to the small, safe area in their own way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dog expert Kristen Levine<\/a> gladly shares some useful advice for all dog owners wondering what exactly to do with their confused pets shortly after the arrival:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour pet may feel confused in your new home and will take some time to adjust to the new surroundings. Offer lots of love and affection to soothe their nerves. Introduce dogs to a new home when furniture is in place. Familiarize them with one room before introducing to another. This can take a few days, but will ease nerves and prevent an escape.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bonus tip: Dog-proof your new home<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A new home can hide numerous dangers for a dog \u2013 both well-known hazards (windows, electrical cords, fireplace, etc.) and unexpected ones (such as poisonous plants in the yard). Before you let your furry friend explore the new place at will, you need to take measures to eliminate these dangers and ensure your pet\u2019s safety:<\/p>\n\n\n\n