STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

nicoley · Coach

Need tips for moving my dog

Kelly · Hermes

awww, the same thing happened when I tried to make Traci my apartment dog. She just wasn't happy. For her, I think it was because she couldn't run around and play like she used to, and she never go to go outside except for walks. When she lived with my parents, she was out 100% of the time except overnight in the winter she got to sleep in a crate inside. I eventually just had to give her back to my parents until I graduated.

Does he have anything that smells like "home" in your apartment? Like his bed? That could be comforting because it's his bed and he loves it, it smells like him, and it also smells like his old home. How far away do you live from your parents? Would it be feasible for him to come visit for a day or two several times so he gets used to the new surroundings without all the trauma that a longer visit creates?

boobaby · Kate Spade

My childhood dogs were like that. As much as I hated to admit it, they were much happier living with my parents and the routines they were used to. cry

emery · BCBG

That is strange. I was just reading a dog book about moving your dog from one location to another, and the book said that dogs do not really associate places with their home, but that people are associated with it. (i.e. wherever their owner is is their home). I am not sure if I 100% agree, but that is what I read. Maybe you could go to the bookstore and see if there is a book that talks about tips for moving your dog? I know there was a chapter on it in the book I just got about labs. HTH

AllieGurl · Marc Jacobs

maybe your dog is lonely during th day at your new place. Try leaving the tv on or the radio on , bring some toys, towels , blankets from home that smell like the old place too.

Elle · Hermes

Dogs are such creatures of habit, I can understand that a change of place after 7 years would be a bit upsetting, especially if he's used to living with your parents (or whoever) instead of just with you.

I think it's going to take more than just having him there and trying to do a normal routine. I'd get some treats that he really likes and a few new toys, one or two that you guys can play with together and one or two that he only gets when you leave. When you're home (and/or right before you leave) you can hide a bunch of treats around the house, under tables and around the sides of furniture and stuff. If he starts to associate your apartment with hidden treats and fun new toys to play with, hopefully the 'apartment is fun' feeling will start to overtake the 'apartment is scary and unfamiliar' feeling. Dogs are also supposed to understand the idea of a 'jackpot' - a big/special treat, so you can try giving a larger one as you walk out the door to help with the crying. Then be sure to be really low-key when you come back home. It's supposed to replace the you leaving=bad association with a you leaving=jackpot! association, and by being low key as you return you make less of a deal out of them being alone in the first place.

If you're not actively trying to create some new, better associations for him, there's no reason for the upset feelings to leave, you know? They don't seem to dissipate over time really, so they seem to really hold onto them until something better comes along, if that makes sense. Some dogs just have more trouble with transitions than others do - I have one of them too! It can be really frustrating and tedious to help them work it out, but it's sooo much nicer once they do.