When you get the news that your dog has landed at their final destination, you’ll be so excited to smother them with love and introduce them to its new home—you might feel let down if they don’t act normal immediately.
Hold up—let's paws. Try getting into the sweet little brain of your dog for a minute! They just took quite a journey and landed at a new house or apartment with a new layout and thousands of new smells, probably piled high with boxes. They have no idea where they are now or why.
We, humans, have a leg up when it comes to getting our bearings in a new location: verbal communication. When Dorothy landed in Oz, she quickly met friends who explained things. Meanwhile, Toto was dazed and confused!
You may notice strange behaviors when introducing a dog (or dogs) to a new home. It's important to know what's normal, what's not, and how to help them settle in. They may have heightened cortisol for days from the journey, and they’re certainly smart enough to wonder, “What happened to my normal life?” New home acclimation is critical to help you and your dog get back into your trusting partnership and a healthy routine.
In this article, we will discuss how long it can take a dog to adjust to a new home and common signs of anxiety when introducing a dog to a new home, as well as provide tips to help your dog adjust to their new home.
We get this question a lot! The answer depends on your dog. Are they anxious? Did they experience trauma before finding you? Had they ever traveled a long distance before this big move?
It can take days, weeks, or even months for a dog to feel confident and secure in a new home. Following the tips in this article should help you shorten the acclimation period significantly so you and your furbaby can hit a happy stride within a few weeks of moving in, but some dogs are more anxious—and for these guys, establishing a daily routine is even more important.
When you first introduce your dog to its new home, you may notice them:
These are all common signs of anxiety. If your dog isn't typically prone to these behaviors, they should subside within days or weeks if you commit to a consistent routine and introduce new stimuli slowly, one at a time.
Alternatively, these are more concerning signs that your dog may have contracted an illness while traveling:
Call your new vet immediately if you think your dog could be ill!
We also recommend scheduling a visit with your new vet within a week of arrival. If you hire PetRelocation, your dedicated coordinator will remind you about this. Getting on your new vet’s schedule immediately is a good idea to ensure your dog is healthy after their travels. They may also need vaccinations in their new home country or state.
Congratulations on the big move! We hope your dog can settle in quickly and enjoy their new location with you.