Moving houses, apartments or even from the country to the city or vice versa can be very difficult for many dogs. Older dogs tend to have more difficulty with adjusting to different environments but puppies can also experience anxiety around the time of the move.

In order to help your dog or dogs prepare for the move there are a few basic strategies that you can use. The following techniques can be used for dogs or puppies, regardless of their age:

- If possible take the dog or puppy to the new residence a few times prior to the move. Let them sniff around in the yard or in the house or apartment.
- Bring a few toys or bedding items that the dog or puppy has used or played with and have them in the house or apartment when the dog arrives. This will help the animal feel part of the environment, even when you are there for a visit.
- If there have been previous pets in the house, be sure to completely and thoroughly clean the carpet, walls and any furniture that may remain. Even though humans may not be able to detect the odor of any urine or other odors from the previous pets, your dog will. This can lead to problematic behaviors such as "marking" which will make the move unpleasant both for yourself and very stressful for your dog. With no prior dog odors your dog is much less likely to use these behaviors to designate this new territory as his own. Some females, especially those that are not spayed, may also engage in this behavior.
- If your dog or puppy is crate trained be sure the crate is with you as soon as the dog arrives. The crate will provide a safe area for the dog as well as help you manage the dog when the movers are coming in and out of the house.
- Restrict the rooms that your dog has access to until you are able to supervise them. The dog or puppy will need to understand where the outside bathroom area is and will need help in establishing this in the new residence.
- Keep routines as regular and on schedule as possible during the move and afterwards. Walk the dog at the same time, even if you are busy trying to get relocated. The more consistent the routine is with what the dog was used to the less stressful and anxious the dog will be.
- Plan to spend a few days with the dog before leaving him or her alone, especially for long periods of time. This will be especially true if your dog already had some anxiety or problems when you left him or her alone.

Lastly be sure to check the fenced yard for any possible escape routes. Look for loose boards in a privacy fence, areas that the dog could dig under on chain fences, or even low spots the dog could jump over. By securing the yard, providing toys and lots of interaction with the family at this time your dog will adjust to the new home positively and without problems.


Resource box:

When you do move, upgrade from the boring stuff- make your dog feel at home by decking out the new place with a designer dog bed or luxury dog couch!