How to help your dog to adjust to their new home
When your new dog finally gets home, you might be tempted to smother them with love and affection. You might feel sad if your dog does not act normally immediately. However try to understand this from your dog point of view, they just landed in a completely new house that has a million new and different smells. They are surrounded by completely new and different people without their family. It is essential that you understand what behaviours are normal and which are not normal for a dog adjusting to a new home and how to help your dog settle as new home acclimation is essential to help you and your dog into a trusting relationship and into a healthy routine.
How long does it take for your dog to adjust to a new home?
How long it takes for a dog to adjust to a new home depends on the dog and other important factors such as if the dog has faced abuse or if the dog has travelled a lot before this move. It can take days, weeks, months for a dog to feel confident and secure in a new home but the tips in this article should help make your dog get more comfortable quicker.
Common signs of anxiety when introducing a dog to a new home
Some typical signs of anxiety when introducing a dog to a new home include:
Following you around
Showing heightened separation anxiety
Eating less or refusing to eat
Having diarrhea or constipation
Playing less
Growling, barking, and other signs of aggression in new situations
If your dog is not prone to these behaviours, they should fade or stop within weeks or days if you commit to a certain routine and introduce new stimuli slowly, one at a time.
Tips to help your dog adjust to their new home:
Stick to the daily routine they are used to. Feed, walk and play with your dog at times they are used to as routines make them feel safe.
Keep their old items. Even though you may be tempted to give your dog new things, you should keep their items around as a familiar comfort and replace the items one at a time.
Create a sanctuary for your dog and give them some personal space as even the most social dog will need some alone time and most dogs will want more time while adjusting to a new environment. It might help to know where your dog loved to have alone time in their old home and recreate it in your new home. It might be a good idea to use in their new sanctuary a familiar bed or rug from their old home which smells like their old personal area .
If your dog needs to start eating new food, start slowly. Keep your dog on the same food for as long as possible especially for the first few weeks after the move as changing diets can upset a dog’s stomach especially if you are adding a new protein.
Use treats and play to create positive associations. Train your dog using treats and positive reinforcement around the house and the neighbourhood. Toss or hide treats around the house for a game where they are supposed to find it in order to help them get familiar with each room in the house.
Make sure to introduce your dog to one new experience or thing at a time. When facing new or stressful events, cortisol (the stress hormone) builds up in their system and can stay heightened for a couple of days. Introduce new places, people and animals to your dog once at a time with a few days between each new thing.
If your dog is showing signs of aggression or anxiety or both, it is recommended to work with a professional trainer which can understand your dog’s behaviours and help you reestablish yours dog’s trust in you in order to help your dog relax.
It is recommended that you schedule a visit with your vet within a week of your dog’s arrival. This can help make sure your dog is healthy and has all their necessary vaccinations.
