How To Prepare Your Dog For A New Home

How To Prepare Your Dog For A New Home

Dogs are emotional creatures. They often get attached to the place they live in for a long time. If you have a pet and are planning to move to a new place, you will need to prepare your furry friend for its new home.
Never make the mistake of directly taking your dog to a new place and starting a new life there. The new place may be familiar to you, but it is alien to your dog. Take your time and help your furry friend ease into the new environment.
The best way to prepare dogs for a new home depends on their breeds and temperament. You can always consult a local dog breeder for help if you find things difficult. For example, if you live in Pune, approach the most dog breeders in Pune to know your furry friend’s emotional makeup.
A few preparation steps remain the same for all dogs. Let us see what you should do to prepare your dog for a new home:

Set Up The New Home

Just like you would set up your new home for yourself, you should do the same for your dog. Put all your furry friend’s basics in the right places before it moves on. This will make it feel at home in no time.
For example, put the food and water bowls at a spot consistent with the previous home. Set up the crate and put your dog’s toys in it to welcome it. You will also need to choose a specific potty area to make housebreaking easier.

Give Your Dog A Safe Space

Create a safe space for your furry friend in advance. Your dog may get overwhelmed with the new home and a new environment. Choose a corner where your pet can feel calm and secure.
It can be a room, a crate, or anywhere in the new house. Once you create this space, let your dog explore the house knowing it has a comfort zone nearby. This will make it feel more secure in the house over time.

Stick To The Routine

When everything around your dog is changing, bringing in some routine helps. Despite shifting to a new place, do not change your furry friend’s eating, exercising, grooming, playing, and sleeping routine.
Continue with the routine you followed back in the older home. This will make your dog comfortable, and it will know what to expect as things around it change.

Allow Your Pet To Explore

Do not expect your dog to be as excited as you when you move to a new home. Dogs may not process such shifts the same way as we do. Allow your furry friend to explore the new home by itself. If possible, take it to visit the new home before finally shifting there. Make your dog as familiar with the new environment as possible. Its curiosity will make it explore different corners of the house.

Bring In Old And Familiar Items

A complete change of environment is never a good idea for dogs. When you move to a new home, bring your dog’s old items with you. These items may include its crate, toys, blankets, food, treats, etc.
These items will comfort your furry friend when everything around them feels new. It will slowly start associating them with the new home, helping it get used to the surroundings.

Be Patient

Do not rush the process when it comes to familiarizing your dog with your new home. Be patient as your furry friend takes its time getting comfortable.
You might notice some behavioral changes initially. Your dog may sulk, speak less, get easily agitated, or bark more than usual. All these signs are normal, and you need not worry about taking any strong action.
Give your furry friend its space for the first few days. If possible, limit visitors during this time. If they do come, ensure that your dog stays in its designated safe zone.

The Final Word

These were some of the most effective ways to prepare your dog for a new home. Shifting homes can be more stressful for dogs than humans. A little bit of empathy and a lot of patience will help you control things better!