Moving Mayhem

My husband and I are in the process of moving from our apartment in Queens, to the suburbs of Westchester County. As we pack up box after box of personal items, I am reminded of all the times I have been called to help clients who’s dog was exhibiting behavioral problems since they had moved from one home to another. In the hustle and bustle of a move, we sometimes forget that our dogs feel the stress too. We may think that they won’t know the difference between living in an apartment to having the space of a house and yard to explore and enjoy. But on the contrary, dogs are very sensitive to change. And out of respect to them, it is our job to prep our pup for this change as best as we can in order to make the transition as smooth as possible.

As you prepare for your departure from location A to location B, make sure your dog is kept in a calm and focused state of mind. Have him join you in the packing adventures by putting him in Place wherever you are and have him observe the goings on calmly. This will not only prevent him from getting under foot, but lots of commotion in ones home can create a level of stress that was never originally present. By giving your dog a job to do, you are preventing his stress level from escalating and thus he has an opportunity to experience this move from a healthier perspective. You are creating the energy you are going to want when you finally bring him to his new home.

First impressions are everything. When it is time to move in, don’t immediately take your dog from the car to the new home. Walk him first. Expose him to his new environment by taking him on a structured walk through the new neighborhood. After he has had the opportunity to explore and get some energy out, then it is time to introduce him to his new digs. As with any threshold, he is not allowed to go in anywhere first. The threshold of your new home is no exception. Invite him in, and then on leash, take him through the new home, allowing him to explore each new room. And then, when this exercise is complete, bring in his bed or crate, and have him safely positioned inside the crate or in Place as you begin the grueling task of unpacking. What you have just said to your dog is, welcome to your new home. Now come in and relax. By going about this process step by step, you are taking a proactive step in helping your dog make a healthy transition into a new home thereby avoiding a lot of the nonsense issues that tend to arise when a dog is not given this opportunity. By advocating for your dog’s state of mind, you are avoiding behavioral problems.

I know Bo Diddly will thoroughly enjoy living in a quieter neighborhood with the freedom of a backyard to have fun in and explore. But, I know he will enjoy it even more if I prep him properly for this new experience!