32 A moving experience a guide for moving home with dogs Despite the best planning and organisation, moving house can be a bit stressful (although ultimately very rewarding). For those people who are also dog owners, the process of moving can be a source of added stress, as well as the initial settling in period once in the new home. Fortunately, the transition can be made far more stress-free for the dogs (and therefore for the owners too). On moving day, have the dog go somewhere else. A friend, relative or kennel can look after the pooch, while the multitude of boxes, furniture and (in some cases) the kitchen sink gets transported from one place to another. Whether there are going to be removal services (i.e. complete strangers in the house) or you are doing the job yourself, it is a good idea to have the dog out of harm’s way. Once everything is ready to go, pick the dog up without making a fuss. Often we humans tend to make a big fuss to try to reassure a dog that everything is OK. The best way to do this is to act like everything is under control. No reaction is better than an overreaction. The new home can be a big deal for a dog The new territory, new sights and smells etc. can overwhelm a dog. It is important to take things slow and give your dog time to get used to the new environment. It is a good idea to take your dog out to where you would like it to toilet as soon as possible. Be patient; let the dog sniff about and praise when it goes in the right place. A dog might get it wrong at first – sometimes due to stress at the change of circumstances – so if that happens simply put the dog out of the way and clean up without a word. This is easier said than done but for some dogs the new place needs to smell more “homely” and scent marking is one possible way to do this. Make the place more familiar by making sure that the dog’s bed/blankets are set up in the home as soon as you can. This way there is already a familiar smell to the place which can avoid the previous problem. If your dog has a favourite toy then that can be brought out too. The new neighbourhood needs checking out but make sure that you are the one to take your dog, not the other way around. Dogs that pull on the leash are dogs that are making decisions (I will take us here and get there first). Starting in the home and garden (if you have one), walk around and change direction often. This is done calmly and slowly in case your dog tears around all the time. When the dog is walking nicely (the leash is slack) you can then venture further using the same technique. Explore the outside one bit at a time being happy and in control of the walk. If your dog barks at a stranger or other dog, calmly thank them. Their job is to let you know that there is a problem. If they carry on, have a look at what they are barking at and thank again. If they continue then without speaking put the dog somewhere on its own to calm down. The last thing you want is for the dog to think that this new place is dangerous and gets you upset too! To find out exactly what you can do to help your dog to settle into the new home as calmly as possible, I have created an audio download which is easy to follow. It is full of useful advice and you can listen to it while unpacking all those boxes! Go to www.tonyknightdoglistener.com and look for the audio “Think Like A Dog”. T: 07786 776409 E: tony.amichien@gmail.com www.tonyknightdoglistener.com
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