Moving can be overwhelming for the whole family, including your furry friends! From their favorite patch of carpet where the sun shines to the doggy door that leads out to the yard, your four-legged pals have probably made themselves very comfortable in your current home.
How will they handle leaving all of that behind? To help your dog adjust to living under a new woof, we’re here to tail you all about these canine-approved tips and tricks for moving with a dog!
How Should I Prepare My Dog Before Moving Day?
When you’re preparing your dog for the moving process, you can’t leave all the to-dos for the last minute. There are several steps you should take in the weeks leading up to your move, including:
- Check the laws. Will your new yard need a fence? What are the leash laws? Are there dog breed restrictions? Search for information on dog ordinances at the city and state levels to make sure your new neighborhood is fully dog friendly and ready to welcome you both.
- Make sure your dog has a microchip and identification. Make sure there’s an updated ID tag on your pet’s collar, and have your veterinarian microchip the dog for permanent identification in case they get lost in your unfamiliar new neighborhood.
- Crate train your dog. If you’re moving cross-country with a dog, you will likely be leaving your dog in a crate for at least part of the drive. To make sure they’re comfortable with that experience, introduce them to their crate gradually with crate training.
How to Acclimate Your Dog to a New Home
Most dogs can tolerate a great deal of change so long as their social structure and daily routine remain consistent. That’s why the number one tip for how to get a dog used to a new home is consistency. Following your normal, predictable routine as best you can will help create a comforting environment for your dog in your new home.
Tips for Your Dog’s First Night in a New Home
- Give them attention. As a dog owner, this is probably second nature to you. But while your dog adjusts to the new house that first night, there’s a good chance they’ll be craving your attention even more than usual. Make time, even amidst the busy moving process, to give your dog all the care and interaction they crave.
- Get on their level. Something that helps dogs feel at home is familiar smells. You can spread those smells around faster on the first night by spending time on the floor with your dog.
- Keep their old stuff. While moving is a great chance to declutter, when it comes to dogs, it’s better to try and keep as many of their favorite toys and belongings as possible. Dogs love routine and familiarity, so keeping their familiar things is a surefire way to help them feel comfortable with their new surroundings.
- Make it fun. Of course, you can always supplement their existing belongings with something fun and new too! Getting your dog something you know they’ll love, like a new chew toy or a Kong filled with peanut butter, can help put them in a positive headspace and associate this new home with happy experiences.
Tips for Your Dog’s First Week in a New Home
- Create familiarity. Each day, do your best to stick to your dog’s previous daily routine for feeding and walks. If you can, arrange their dog bed or crate in a similar way to your old house. Also, be consistent in where their food and water are placed.
Explore together. Bring them to different areas of your new neighborhood when you go out for walks. This process helps dogs settle into their new surroundings. Plus, it’ll help you to get to know your new neighbors and their dogs as well! - Explore together. Bring them to different areas of your new neighborhood when you go out for walks. This process helps dogs settle into their new surroundings. Plus, it’ll help you to get to know your new neighbors and their dogs as well!
How Long Does It Take for a Dog to Adjust to a New Home?
Every pooch is different, but on average it should only take a few days for your dog to relax in its new environment. To get a sense of whether they’re settling in alright, keep tabs on their behavior and look for signs of anxiety.
Signs Your Dog is Adjusting to Its New Home
So long as your dog was happy with their previous home, you can interpret a continuation of their prior behavior as a sign that they’re adjusting well to their new home.
- Normal appetite. They should be eating their food with a similar level of enthusiasm as they did in their previous home.
- Relaxed behavior. They should be sleeping comfortably and maintaining a similar proximity to you as they did in their previous home. They may bark or react more if there’s more activity around your new home, but so long as they’re reacting to the same types of stimulus and with the same general intensity as they did before, they’re likely still adjusting okay.
- Confidence and curiosity. When your dog is proactively exploring its new home and neighborhood, it’s a strong indicator that your dog feels confident and relaxed in its new surroundings.
Signs Your Dog is Experiencing Anxiety After Moving to Its New Home
- Urinating in the house. If misplaced urination was never a problem in your old home, or if it has become a much more frequent problem in your new home, then first you need to rule out a UTI. This requires a visit to your vet. If there are no underlying health problems, then it may be a sign that your dog is struggling with anxiety after moving to your new home.
- Avoiding food. Again, if your dog stops eating, it’s important to have a vet check them promptly to rule out an underlying medical problem. If they’re otherwise healthy, then anxiety around the move may in fact be the root cause.
- Behavioral abnormalities. Panting, drooling, barking and growling are all normal dog behaviors. However, if these behaviors have increased markedly since moving, they can also indicate anxiety about your new home. Other behaviors to watch for include pacing, hiding, and extreme avoidance. Even excessive neediness or friendliness can indicate anxiety, as your dog looks for more reassurance.
If these problems persist for more than a few days after your move, it may be time to seek professional help. Steps for helping dogs manage and overcome anxiety include:
- Increasing their exercise
- Creating a safe space dedicated to your dog, like a crate
- Working with a canine behaviorist
- Starting them on anti-anxiety medications
Bekins Takes the Bark Out of Moving
You can rely on our team of experts to move your belongings safely, quickly and efficiently so you can focus on what really matters: enjoying your new home with your family and furry friends. Get in touch with Bekins Van Lines today!
