As a pet parent with a new home in Boca Raton, you know it’s up to you to get your pooch accustomed to new surroundings – but where do you start? This guide offers five tips to help your dog adjust to your new home in Boca Raton.
5 Tips to Help Your Dog Adjust to Your New Home in Boca Raton
Moving into a new space is stressful – not just for you, but for your four-legged family members, too. Although there isn’t much you can do about your dog’s natural response to change, there are things you can do to help your pet start feeling comfortable in your new space. Check out these five tips to help your dog adjust to your new home:
- Set up some personal space.
- Go back to your normal routine as soon as you can.
- Let your dog explore on his or her own.
- Keep familiar items handy.
- Be patient and understanding.
Here’s a closer look at each.
Tip #1 to Help Your Dog Adjust to Your New Home: Set Up Some Personal Space
Make sure your dog has plenty of room to be alone, if that’s what he wants. Try to recreate your pooch’s favorite spot in your old home by including a familiar rug, blanket and toys. And most importantly, let your dog choose whether he wants to interact with you or his space – sometimes, he may just want to be alone.
Related: The dog-lover’s guide to buying a home in Boca Raton
Tip #2 to Help Your Dog Adjust to Your New Home: Go Back to Your Normal Routine As Soon As You Can
Dogs thrive on routine, so get back to what you usually do as soon as you can. Make feeding times, walk time and playtime consistent so she can get back into the swing of things. If your dog always takes an evening stroll with you, plays tug-of-war before breakfast, or naps in front of the window every afternoon, try to get her back on her regular schedule; that can help put her mind at ease.
Tip #3 to Help Your Dog Adjust to Your New Home: Let Your Dog Explore on Their Own
Let your dog choose which rooms to explore and when. Some dogs will tear through the house, sniffing every corner – and others will be more wary. Either way (or something in-between) is fine, as long as you let your dog decide how and when to explore. With that said, you should limit your dog’s exploration to a few rooms at first, just to prevent him from becoming overwhelmed.
Related: The top dog-friendly condos in Boca Raton
Tip #4 to Help Your Dog Adjust to Your New Home: Keep Familiar Items Handy
Putting familiar items – like your furniture – into your new home will help your dog adjust. (You may want to hold off on getting a new sofa, or whatever piece of furniture your dog loves, for now.) Try to put your furnishings in a similar set-up to what you had in your previous house; that can also help your dog find familiarity and become more comfortable.
Related: The pet-parent’s guide to buying a home in Boca Raton
Tip #5 to Help Your Dog Adjust to Your New Home: Be Patient and Understanding
Moving is stressful, and different dogs handle stress in different ways. One thing’s for sure, though: If you have a green light from your vet, try to get your dog a little extra exercise in the days and weeks immediately following your move. Exercise is a natural stress-buster for dogs.
Remember, you couldn’t explain the move ahead of time, so all your pooch knows is that things have changed. With your patience and understanding, she’ll be back to her old, stress-free self in no time.
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