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Settling Your Dog into Your New Home

Moving and settling into a new home can be a stressful time for everyone involved, including your furry friends. Dogs are creatures of habit, so adjusting to a new environment and way of life can be unnerving and confusing. In order to help your pooch adapt to their new surroundings, it's important to recognise when they’re feeling anxious and how you can help them feel more at home.

Why dogs may feel unsettled after moving

Dogs find comfort in consistency, so when they’re suddenly uprooted from their familiar surroundings, it can make them feel anxious and unsettled. A new home comes with new sights, sounds, smells, and people, which can all be overwhelming for your pooch. And if you’re feeling stressed out or anxious yourself, your dog may even pick up on your emotions and feel more rattled too.

Spotting signs of unease

While our furry friends can’t talk, they can communicate their emotions through their behaviour. During a move, it's important to keep an eye out for signs that your dog is anxious or feeling uneasy, such as: - Decreased appetite - Excessive barking or whining - Hiding or cowering - Pacing or restlessness - Excessive licking or chewing - Trembling or shaking

How to help your dog settle after a move

Helping your dog settle into a new home is about maintaining a level of familiarity so their new environment doesn’t feel completely alien to them. This can involve bringing their favourite toys, bedding, and keeping up their old routine. Most importantly, you need to be patient and understand that it may take them a little bit of time to feel completely themselves in their new home.

Prepare them for the move

Before you move, it's important to prepare your pooch for the big day. Try gradually introducing them to their crate or carrier (if you're travelling by car) and using plenty of treats and praise so they feel at ease. It could also be worth packing their belongings last, so they’re surrounded by familiar items for as long as possible. If you’re waiting until you’ve completed the move to take your pooch to your new home, make sure they have somewhere calm to relax while the moving is happening.

Give them a dedicated space

The first thing you should do when you arrive in your new home is set up a designated area for your dog, where they can retreat if they feel overwhelmed. This could be a crate or a comfy bed in a quiet corner, filled with all their favourite toys, as well as their old bed and blankets that will fill the new home with a familiar scent. It might be tempting to mark a fresh start with a brand-new bed for your furry friend, but it’s best to keep their old familiar one until they’re fully settled.

Stick to their routine

Dogs thrive on routine, so try and stick to your furry friend’s regular schedule as much as possible, even if it takes a little bit of extra effort on your part. This can include feeding them at the same time each day, taking them for walks at their regular times, and maintaining their usual exercise routines and playtime.

Let them explore

Allow your pooch to explore their new surroundings at their own pace, so they can take in all the new sights, sounds and smells. You might find they’ll want to check out every single inch of the new place in one go or they may approach each new room with caution. Either way, give them lots of praise and attention throughout, especially if they demonstrate any positive behaviours, such as going to the toilet in the correct place or settling calmly into their new area.

Try to stay home with them

If possible, try to spend as much time as you can at home with your pooch during the first few days. This will help them feel more secure as they adjust to their new surroundings and can also help strengthen the bond between you and your furry friend, so be generous with affection and playtime.

Give them time

Remember, settling into a new home takes time, so it's important to be patient with your pup. Try not to get frustrated or upset if they have accidents inside or take longer than usual to eat or sleep and be sure to give them plenty of love and affection to help them feel comfortable in their new home. Moving can be stressful for both you and your furry friend, so remember to be patient with them. Sticking to their routine, creating a cosy designated space, and spending some extra time with them during the first few days after the move can all help them settle in nicely. With a little bit of extra love and care, your dog will soon be feeling right at home in no time! To learn more about caring for your pooch, check out the PEDIGREE Help Hub. 

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