Charles Bainbridge 2020 (9)

42 / 44

40
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 downloadwhich is easy to follow. It is full
of useful advice and you can listen to it while unpacking
all those boxes! Go to
and look for the audio “Think Like A Dog”.
T: 07786 776409
E: