Moving to a new location means taking some time to adapt to your new surroundings, even if you are already familiar with the area. Imagine then a dog acclimating to a new home, and how strange and disorienting it must feel for her.
Whether you are a first-time dog owner or you are rehoming, we have some great dog advice to help you make the transition easy for your four-legged friend. And even though there is no direct answer to how long this acclimation will take, we can help you make it a little easier with some of the following tips.
And if you already have a dog, but need to move for a new job or personal reason, and you aren’t sure whether or not your new place allows pets we’ve got you covered in convincing your new landlord to let you bring in your pet.
- Consider a Kennel
Not all dogs can handle the chaos of a move and who can blame them? Everything is in boxes, people are coming and going out of the home, and everything just smells different to their little noses. Basically, your and their routines are completely different.
Since it becomes difficult to keep some consistency for them, and not everyone has a friend or family member who can watch them, you may want to consider a kennel. For those situations when you know a big change is coming, a place where she will be contained in one space may be the best option for you and her.
- The Routine
Dogs are creatures of habit and the sooner you get back to your routine with her the sooner she will find adjusting to your new home, or hers, easier. For example, if you take her for a walk every morning at 7 o’clock then keep that walk up.
Feeding times should also be kept as close to the same time as much as possible. There may be some parts of your routine that might not be able to be kept the same, maybe you get home sooner from work or maybe you can no longer come home for a quick visit at lunch but do your best to keep as much as possible the same.
- Creature Comforts
You have your favorite coffee mug, she has her favorite blankie. Make sure that she has her comfort items with her at all times. Create a spot for her as one of the first things you do, her blankie, her ragged sleeping buddy, and her favorite chew toy, even before you unpack your favorite mug.
And speaking of creature comforts, you may feel tempted to replace some old items before you move, like that old couch or your old mattress, but if she lies on that couch or sleeps with you every night, you may want to hold off for a bit. Keep the changes to a few at a time, and not all at once to ease the transition.
- Extra Attention
After moving with a dog, for the first few days, or even weeks, you may find that your favorite furry friend doesn’t want to leave your side, and that’s okay. Be sure to give her the extra attention that she needs and craves. Maybe even buy her a few of her favorite treats and play a few extra games with her to remind her that you’re not changing, just your location.
If in the case you are welcoming a new pup to your home, extra attention is still warranted and needed. Make sure that she feels welcome in your home and be sure to set rules and acceptable behavior guidelines. Just like a kid, a dog needs structure to feel safe in a new home.
- Take Your Time
It can take time to get her fully acclimated to a new home and sometimes the best thing you can give to her is your patience. If you are a first-time owner, she may take some time to feel comfortable with both you and the new home.
If you have had her for a while and she just doesn’t like change then acknowledge that it may take some time before she feels like she is the queen of her castle again. If, however, time goes by and it has been a few months and she still hasn’t gotten over the move don’t be hesitant to talk to a professional about her behavior.
Ensuring that your new or old furry friend loves your home as much as you do may take some time but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Simply follow the dog advice above and you will find that the time it takes for her to acclimate to your new home will be as minimal as she needs it to be.
Author’s Bio
Danielle thrives on researching and writing on all aspects of life. Further to writing for Zumper blog and personal finance, she is an advocate of self-improvement and living a life that is both financially responsible and knowledgeable. When she is not on her computer, she can be found spending time with her husband and two sons.
