Moving House With Your Dog.
How to Help Your Dog Cope With the Change.
Moving house is exciting but it can also be a surprisingly big adjustment for our dogs. Over the last couple of months, I’ve helped two of my clients who, after moving house, noticed their dogs experiencing some difficulties with the transition.
For us, moving house is usually a decision we have thought about, planned and prepared for. We understand why the boxes are appearing, why furniture is being moved and why our daily routine suddenly looks very different. Our dogs don't have that same understanding.
From their perspective, familiar smells disappear, furniture moves around, strangers may come and go, their routine changes and eventually they are taken somewhere completely unfamiliar.
Even confident, adaptable dogs can find moving house unsettling and whilst some may take everything in their stride, others can show changes in behaviour that indicate they are struggling with the upheaval.
The good news is that there is plenty we can do to make moving house easier for our dogs. By considering their needs before, during and after the move, we can reduce unnecessary stress and help them settle into their new home at their own pace.
Why can moving house affect dogs?
Dogs are creatures of habit and learn what to expect from their environment through familiar sights, sounds, smells, routines and experiences.
Their home isn't simply a building - it is a collection of familiar sensory information that helps them feel safe and secure. They know where their bed is, where they eat, where the door is, what noises they normally hear and what happens at different times of the day. They recognise the smells around their home and neighbourhood and may have favourite places to rest, explore or watch the world go by.
Moving house changes many of these things at once.
Suddenly, the familiar environment may be filled with packing boxes and unusual activity. Furniture may disappear, rooms may look different and unfamiliar people may be coming in and out. Their normal walks and routines might change too. Then, just as they have experienced all of this disruption, they are taken to a completely new environment.
Some dogs may become quieter or more withdrawn. Others may appear restless, clingy or unsettled. You might notice changes in their sleeping, eating, toileting, vocalisation or their ability to relax. Some dogs may become more alert to noises or visitors, while others may simply need more reassurance and time.
It's important to remember that these aren't necessarily signs that your dog ‘doesn't like’ the new house - they may simply be communicating that they are finding the change difficult.
Moving house with your dog: how to make it easier
There are three important stages to consider when moving house:
Before the move - preparing your dog for the changes ahead.
On moving day - keeping them safe, secure and away from the chaos.
The first few weeks - helping them gradually become comfortable in their new home and neighbourhood.
1. BEFORE THE MOVE: preparing your dog
The more predictable you can keep your dog's life while everything around them is changing, the better.
Keep their routine as consistent as possible
You may have a house full of boxes, but your dog doesn't need to have their entire world turned upside down at the same time. Try to maintain your dog's usual routine for meals, walks, sleep and downtime. Keeping familiar routines gives your dog something predictable to rely on while other things are changing.
If you normally walk at 8am, for example, try to continue doing so. If your dog has a regular evening settling routine, keep that too.
You don't need to maintain everything perfectly. Moving house is inevitably disruptive but the aim should be to preserve as much familiarity for them as reasonably possible.
Introduce packing gradually
If your dog is unsettled by change, don't suddenly transform the whole house overnight. Start packing well in advance where possible and introduce boxes and changes gradually. Allow your dog to investigate new objects in their own time rather than forcing them to interact with them.
Try to keep one area of the house relatively normal for as long as possible - this gives your dog somewhere familiar to retreat to when the rest of the house becomes busy.
Protect their safe space
If your dog has a bed, crate or favourite resting place, try to keep it available and undisturbed. This becomes particularly important as the move gets closer. Your dog should have somewhere they can go where nobody expects anything from them.
Avoid repeatedly moving their bed around simply because you're rearranging furniture or packing - their familiar resting place can provide a valuable sense of security.
Keep familiar smells
Smell is incredibly important to dogs, so don't be too quick to wash every blanket and bed before the move. Familiar-smelling bedding can help make a new environment feel more recognisable.
When you arrive at the new house, take some of these familiar items with you rather than replacing everything immediately. Their own bed, blankets and toys can provide familiar smells amongst all the new ones.
Think about what your dog will experience during the move
If your dog is sensitive to strangers, noise or changes in their environment, consider how you can minimise their exposure to the busiest parts of the process. You may want to arrange for them to stay with someone they know, spend the day with a trusted dog walker or daycare centre or use another familiar care arrangement.
This isn't about excluding your dog from the move but about preventing them from being exposed to unnecessary stress while furniture is being carried, doors are repeatedly opened and unfamiliar people are coming and going.
2. MOVING DAY: keeping your dog safe and comfortable
Moving day can be particularly chaotic as doors are opened, people are carrying furniture, possessions are being moved in and out and everyone is understandably distracted. For many dogs, this combination of noise, unfamiliar people and open doors also creates a significant escape risk.
Keep your dog away from the main activity
Ideally, arrange for your dog to be somewhere safe and familiar while the actual move takes place but if this isn't possible, create a secure room away from the main activity with their bed, water and familiar items.
Make sure everyone involved in the move knows where your dog is and that the door remains securely closed. Putting a sign on the door can be useful if there are several people coming and going (especially removal people who may forget there is a dog present).
Be particularly careful with doors and gates
Dogs who would normally never attempt to leave the house may behave differently when they are unsettled. With people repeatedly opening external doors, there can be opportunities for even the most reliable dog to slip out.
Check that your dog's identification details and microchip information is updated with your new contact details as soon as possible and do a thorough check of your new garden to make sure it is secure before allowing your dog outside off lead.
Don't expect your dog to understand what's happening
It can be tempting to involve your dog in everything because they are part of the family, however, they don't need to supervise the removal of every piece of furniture! For many dogs, the kindest option is to let them spend moving day somewhere calm and familiar and introduce them to their new home once the majority of the disruption is over.
3. THE FIRST FEW WEEKS: helping your dog settle into their new home
Once you've moved in, it can be tempting to think the stressful part is over but for your dog, this may be when the real adjustment begins. They now have an unfamiliar house to understand, new smells to investigate, different sounds to process and potentially an entirely new neighbourhood to explore.
Give them time.
Let your dog explore at their own pace
You don't need to show your dog every room as soon as you arrive. Instead allow them to investigate gradually and don't worry if they spend the first few days sticking close to you or choosing one particular room. Some dogs will enthusiastically explore every corner but others will be much more cautious and neither response is necessarily a problem. Just let your dog decide how quickly they are comfortable exploring rather than encouraging them to investigate areas they aren't ready for.
Recreate familiar routines
One of the best ways to help your dog settle after moving house is to re-establish their familiar routine by feeding them at their usual times, providing their normal resting areas and maintaining familiar walks where possible . Whilst the house may be different, predictable routines can help communicate that life is still safe and familiar.
Don't be surprised if your dog struggles to sleep at night
One thing that can catch owners by surprise after moving house is a change in their dog's ability to settle and sleep at night. A dog who normally sleeps peacefully through until morning may suddenly become restless, pace around, whine, bark or repeatedly get up and move around. This isn't necessarily because they have suddenly developed a problem with sleeping but because their entire sensory environment has changed and familiar sounds and smells they associated with nighttime have disappeared and been replaced by unfamiliar noises, scents and surroundings. Even the acoustics of the new house can be different, meaning sounds from outside, neighbours or other parts of the building may suddenly be more noticeable. For a dog who hasn't yet learned that their new home is safe, being left alone in a different room at night can feel very different from being left alone in the home they knew well.
If your dog is struggling to settle at night, it can be helpful to temporarily go back to basics and provide a little extra reassurance. Just as we often recommend sleeping near a new puppy when they first arrive home, you can sleep near your dog for a few nights while they adjust to their new surroundings. This isn't ‘spoiling’ them or creating a bad habit - it’s helping them feel safe while they learn that this unfamiliar environment is their new home.
Once your dog is sleeping comfortably again, you can gradually return to your normal sleeping arrangement. You might start by moving further away from them, sleeping just outside the room or gradually increasing the distance over several nights, depending on what your dog needs.
The important thing is not to rush this process. If your dog is genuinely worried, repeatedly leaving them to ‘cry it out’ isn't going to teach them that the new house is safe but providing appropriate support while they adjust can help them build confidence and, in many cases, sleep normally again once the new environment becomes familiar.
Be prepared to revisit alone-time training
The same can happen with being left alone during the day. A dog who was previously happy to spend time alone may find it harder in a new and unfamiliar environment. They may need to relearn that this new home is safe and that you will return, just as we would teach a puppy.
If your dog is struggling, temporarily go back to basics with alone-time training. Start with short absences that they can cope with and gradually build the duration again. Where possible, avoid leaving them for longer periods than they are currently comfortable with while they settle. This isn't lost training - it's simply giving your dog the support they need while they adjust to a significant change.
Don't overwhelm them with visitors
A new house can quickly become a social hub, particularly if friends and family are keen to visit and see the new home. While this is lovely for us, it can be a lot for a dog who is already processing a huge amount of change.
Give your dog the option to retreat somewhere quiet when visitors arrive and don't insist that they greet everyone. If your dog chooses to stay in their bed or another room, respect that choice as being able to move away from something they find overwhelming can help dogs feel safer and more in control.
Take time to explore the new neighbourhood
Your dog's world has changed beyond the front door too. They may now be experiencing completely different smells, sounds, dogs, people, traffic and walking environments.
Don't feel you need to cover miles immediately, instead, start with calm, manageable walks and allow your dog plenty of opportunities to sniff and investigate their new surroundings. Remember, sniffing isn't wasted time - it is one of the ways dogs gather information about their environment. Allowing them to explore at their own pace can help them become familiar with their new neighbourhood without feeling rushed.
Don't rush into too much too soon
It's easy to assume that because your dog appears happy, they have completely settled but adjustment isn't always linear. A dog may initially appear fine and then show signs of stress once the excitement has subsided. They may sleep more, become clingier, seem more alert to noises or find it harder to settle.
It’s important to keep life relatively predictable while they adjust - there is no prize for getting back to your old routine immediately - give your dog the time they need.
What signs might indicate that your dog is struggling?
Every dog is different and changes in behaviour don't automatically mean that your dog is stressed by the move, however, it's worth paying attention if you notice changes such as:
increased barking or vocalisation
pacing or restlessness
hiding or withdrawing
increased clinginess
changes in appetite
difficulty settling or sleeping
increased alertness to sounds
changes in toileting
increased panting when they aren't hot or exercising
destructive behaviour
becoming less interested in things they normally enjoy
changes in interactions with people or other dogs
Look at the bigger picture rather than focusing on one behaviour in isolation and if you're concerned about a significant or persistent change in your dog's behaviour, speak to your vet as behaviour changes can sometimes have an underlying medical cause - it's important not to automatically assume that everything is simply due to the move. If you are still struggling and your vet has given the all clear - contact a professional positive reinforcement trainer to help you.
Remember - settling in takes time
There isn't a fixed amount of time it takes for a dog to settle after moving house. Some dogs appear completely at home within a few days whilst others need considerably longer before they feel truly comfortable.
Try not to judge your dog's progress by how quickly another dog might settle but instead, focus on creating predictability, providing choice and giving them opportunities to explore their new environment without pressure.
Your dog doesn't need to understand why you've moved house, they simply need to learn that this new place is safe, predictable and filled with the people, routines, smells and experiences that make them feel secure.
With patience and thoughtful preparation, you can help your dog make that transition much more smoothly.
In Summary
Moving house is a big change for the whole family including your dog. Give them time, keep life predictable and let them settle at their own pace.
The most important thing to remember when moving house with a dog is that the building isn't what makes home feel like home to them - familiarity, safety and predictability are what matter.
By preparing your dog before the move, keeping them safe and calm on moving day and giving them time and space to adjust afterwards, you can help make the transition into their new home a much more positive experience.
