Ask the AKC Animal Behaviorist - How Can I Help My Dog Adjust to a New Home?

Meet Mary Burch, American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Director and Paw Nation's expert columnist addressing your questions on animal behavior. Dr. Burch has over 25 years of experience working with dogs, and she is one of fewer than 50 Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists based in the United States. She is the author of 10 books, including the new official book on the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program, "Citizen Canine: 10 Essential Skills Every Well-Mannered Dog Should Know."

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My family and I are about to move. How can we help our dog adjust to a new home?

To help things go smoothly for your dog, one of the most important things you can do is to keep to a strict schedule so that your dog has the security that comes with a regular routine.

In the first few weeks of your move:

- Be consistent about routine trips outside so there are no house training accidents.

- Keep the dog's diet and mealtimes consistent so he knows when to expect meals.

- Be sure to plan daily walks, playtime and other activities such as daily brushing.

Finally, providing your dog with his own bed, toys, dishes and a place to eat will help him learn that he's there to stay. After all, there's no place like home.

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Do you have an animal behavior question for Dr. Burch? E-mail mary@pawnation.com.

If you have questions or concerns about your pet's health, you should consult your veterinarian as soon as possible. Unfortunately, Paw Nation is not staffed to address individual questions about pet health, and we want your pet to stay healthy!

Tags: animal behavior, AnimalBehavior, dogs, Mary Burch, MaryBurch, meetthebreeds