Moving To A New Home & Why It Might Cause Your Dog Stress (Part 1)

If you are considering a move to a new house, or are actually in the process of moving right now, you are probably stressing about some of the details. A major change of location, people, and surroundings can be one of the most stressful times in a person’s life. And if you think this is tough for you, consider how confusing and tense this can be for your dog or puppy.

Dogs are creatures of habit and they like routine living. They become comfortable and self-confident as they get used to the same daily activities and the same environment over and over. This includes waking up at the same time every morning, going for walks at the same time, the same feeding times, you coming home from work at the same time, and above all, dogs expect the same atmosphere in their home.

So it’s perfectly understandable that moving can completely disrupt your dog’s expectations and daily routine. Add to that when you and the rest of the family are packing up the home, moving things out of the house, constantly leaving and coming home -all of this is enough to drive a dog a little crazy, especially when you have a young puppy.

When Good Dogs Get Stressed

Even the best trained dogs can become so stressed and anxious from a moving experience that they may revert back to their old puppy behavior in order to cope with the stress that they are going through. This behavior may include hyperactivity, urinating inside the house, unexpected jumping and barking, and even some nipping and biting has occurred on rare occasions.

This Is Perfectly Normal Behavior

There is good reason for this bad behavior from a puppy who does not realize what is going on around them during a busy move. You have basically taken everything that they know and learned and turned everything upside down.

Think about the last time you were upset and nervous, what were your vices? What did you do that helped you cope with the situation which might not have been the best of your character? Now consider the fact that this is a dog we are talking about and so his bad behavior is understandable. He is stressed and confused.

Avoid Scolding Or Punishing Your Dog

I completely understand it if your first response to your pet’s behavior is to yell and punish him. You are also probably stressed with financial matters, having your old home cleaned, ensuring that all of your stuff gets to the new home okay, etc., but when it comes to your dog and dealing with his “vices” towards the situation, be patient and understanding so that your dog will feel safer during the busy transition of the move.