The experience of moving to a new home can be exciting for us, humans. Then again, after moving in, there are scores of tasks to do, like unpacking the boxes, arranging the furniture, and endless details to manage. Amidst the chaos, one “family member” experiences this in a completely different way, and it is none other than your dog.
Understandably, dogs are ignorant of the concept of selling a house, changing neighborhoods, or starting afresh in a new environment. They are clueless about why furniture is disappearing from the place where it stays, along with routine changes. Moreover, after reaching an unfamiliar place, they might feel the entire world has changed without a proper explanation.
Indeed, moving to a new home can be treated as a significant event in the life of a dog, not because they are attached to a particular place, but because they rely a lot on familiarity, routine, and scent. Thus, understanding what they might feel like when moving to a new home can help owners make the transition smoother and less stressful.
When the changes initiate before moving
Well, the moving process isn’t completed in a single day; long before the actual day of shifting to the new home arrives, vehicles would arrive to drive away the existing belongings to the new home. As dogs are incredibly observant, they notice small changes that humans generally overlook. So, the sudden abundance of cardboard boxes, rearranging of furniture, and family members spending more time packing can all signal that something different is ongoing,
In this regard, even subtle changes in human emotions can affect the dogs. Since moving can be stressful, dogs can sense the mood almost instantly by observing the body language. If the family members seem anxious, distracted, or busy, dogs may also feel unsettled. If you notice closely, your dog in such circumstances would try to follow you closely, seeking extra attention, or by acting strangely. Some breeds may display quieter behavior and remain withdrawn. These reactions are often classified as the dog’s way of responding to such uncertainty.
The gradual absence of familiar things
Regardless of the dog breed, familiarity is the most comforting aspect for them. Each thing familiar to them carries a specific smell, and so are the locations of the different places where they take meals, sleep, or play. When suddenly things start disappearing, for instance, the couch is moved, the rugs are rolled, and boxes replace the open spaces, the dog can feel confused, as the environment known to them is gradually changing. Unlike humans, dogs cannot anticipate that all these belongings will reappear in another place. They simply sense that things that make their world are slowly becoming non-existent. So, it is necessary to include all the puppy essentials in the shopping list to make their lives easier.
Moving day can be the most challenging
Finally, when the moving day arrives, it can be pretty overwhelming for dogs. Everything they see around them would be unfamiliar, including strangers carrying familiar furniture, random opening and closing of doors, unusual noises, and family members seemingly in a situation of chaos. Naturally, the dog’s normal routine goes for a toss. While some dogs can become excited witnessing all these activities, some of them may become nervous and uncertain.
The new home does not feel like “home”
Understandably, there would be differences in the approach between humans and dogs walking into the new home. Humans visualize how they would commence arranging the place, but for a dog, the new place is filled with unfamiliar aspects. They would instantly experience new smells, new sounds, different lighting, unknown neighbors, different outdoor spaces, and much more. It is natural for them to feel the surroundings as strange. A confident, intelligent dog may begin exploring right away, but a sensitive dog may stay close to its owner and move cautiously from one room to the other.
A dog’s world is built on scent
As a dog owner, it is important to realize that, for dogs, the world around them is mainly experienced through their noses. We, humans, rely on sight, but dogs rely heavily on smell. Thus, each home has a unique scent profile; the previous home carried thousands of familiar smells like the scent of family members, the smell of furniture, favorite resting places, the backyard, nearby animals, and everyday household activities. After moving to a new place, dogs suddenly lose this entire scent map.
As mentioned earlier, the new home contains unfamiliar scents, and in many ways, for dogs, moving to such new places can seem confusing. They feel, all of a sudden, they are in a place where nothing smells familiar.
Creating a new scent map
Reading thus far, it might seem that for dog owners, moving to a new home can be the toughest challenge for dogs. But that does not mean that if the owner has plans to sell their existing house and move into a newer and better one, those plans should be put on hold. The good news is, dogs are remarkably adaptable too. After moving into the new home, they instantly start exploring the surroundings.
Very soon, they start creating a new mental map of their new home. In a short period, the familiar scents start to reappear: their bed smells like home, their favorite toys smell familiar, and above all, the people they love are familiar too. Therefore, these comforting scents help dogs realize that, although the environment is new, the things that matter most are still present. You should know how to be an exceptional pet parent, and that can help the dogs to adjust well.
Do dogs miss their old home?
Often, dog owners ask this question. Research done thus far suggests that dogs would not miss the physical building in the same way humans might miss a childhood home. Still, they do miss familiar routines, scents, and experiences associated with the earlier place. Thus, a dog may miss the walks it used to take on the familiar route, their favorite spot in the backyard, familiar neighborhood sounds, the canine friends nearby, and of course the daily routines that made their lives predictable. The adjustment time for some dogs can be only a few days; for some it may take several weeks.
Why do some dogs adapt faster than others?
As mentioned before, not every dog experiences moving identically. Several factors are responsible for how fluently a dog might adapt to their new home, and these are:
- Personality: Confident and curious dogs tend to adjust more quickly, while sensitive ones would take more time.
- Age: Puppies generally adapt easily because everything is new to them. Senior dogs can struggle more, as they have spent many years building familiarity with their environment.
- Previous experiences: Dogs that have moved before or frequently travel with families can adjust more comfortably to changing environments.
- Dependence on routine: Some dogs thrive on predictability and can find sudden changes to be stressful.
Subtle signs the dog is starting to feel at home
The adjustment process would not happen overnight, but it is gradual. One day, the owner might notice the dog is sleeping more comfortably than before, and then on another day they start playing with their toys. They can also start exploring confidently and settle down to new routines. Some encouraging signs include:
- Relaxed body language.
- Normal eating habits.
- Comfortable sleeping patterns.
- Developing interest in playing games.
- Exploring independently.
- Stress reduction.
Helping your dog through the transition period
Of course, there are ways to lessen the stress on the dogs to make life easier for them. The below steps should prove rather beneficial in such circumstances:
- Maintaining familiar routines: One should try to feed, walk, and ensure bedtime consistently. Routine can help them become stable.
- Introduce familiar items to them soon: Give them their familiar beds, blankets, toys, and food bowls carrying comforting scents, and it can help the dog feel secure.
- Let them explore on their own: One should not forget to let the dog investigate the new environment on their terms and pace. As you can understand, sniffing and exploring are integral aspects of their adjustment process; owners should give them the time to do so.
- Creating a safe space: Setting up a quiet area can help the dog to relax. It can be the ideal move for nervous dogs.
- Remain patient: As mentioned earlier, some dogs adjust to their new home in a few days, while others need more time. Owners should never force interactions or expect immediate adjustment from the dogs. Patience is the key to success.
So, it is evident that moving to a new house can be challenging, but it can also be seen as an opportunity to learn new things. Many dogs eventually thrive in their new homes and develop entirely new routines and favorite places. What once seemed unfamiliar gradually becomes normal.