Helping Your Dog to Understand the Moving Process

Helping Your Dog to Understand the Moving Process

Moving from an apartment to a house or even moving to the city from the country can be challenging for your dog. Mature dogs may have more issues with adjusting to the new home and puppies can experience nervousness around moving time. There are some techniques that you can follow to reduce your dog’s stress during this busy time.

It is advisable to maintain routines as much as possible while you are in the moving process. For instance, try to walk your dog at the same time before and after the move. If your dog continues to experience consistency before and after the move, this will reduce the potential stress and anxiety that the dog may experience.

If your dog is crate trained, it would be a good idea to have the create readily available upon moving to your new home. This is especially helpful when movers and other strangers are coming in and out of the home
You should also restrict rooms when your dog is unsupervised until you are able to be in your dog’s company. Moreover, you will have to teach your dog where the new location in which it should be relieving itself.

Even though people may not have noses astute enough to detect the smell of urine and other dog odors, your dog will be able to. Your dog will feel the need to mark its territory and this can be an unpleasant experience for both you and your dog. If you have cleaned the home before moving in, the dog will be less inclined to feel the need to mark its territory. If there have been previous pets in the house, especially if you have an intact male dog, be sure to completely and thoroughly clean the carpet, walls and any furniture that may remain.

Make certain to check the yard of your new home in advance for any escape routes. You should be checking to see if there are any loose boards in fences, exposed areas under chained fences where your dog could dig or just spots where your dog could jump over. Securing the yard in your new home in advance, as well as, providing toys and keeping your dog socialized with the family are all steps that will increase the chances of your dog becoming acclimated quickly to its new environment. In addition, taking your dog to the new home to sniff around a few times before the move will help in reducing stress on both you and your dog’s part.

Summarily, moving can be just as confusing for dogs as it is for people. Making an effort to prepare your dog for the move can cut down on unnecessary anxiety for your dog. Following the above tips as well as doing anything that will reduce the amount of time that your dog will have to get adjusted to its new home will be beneficial to you, your family and your new home.

Article provided by Debbie Plant – for more dog articles by Debbie, check out additional topics on dog carriers & dog traning skills.