{"id":25515,"date":"2026-03-10T10:00:45","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T17:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?p=25515"},"modified":"2026-03-10T10:26:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T17:26:17","slug":"introducing-your-dog-to-a-new-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/introducing-your-dog-to-a-new-home\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Introduce a Dog to a New Home After a Move"},"content":{"rendered":"

Moving to a new home ranks right up there among life\u2019s most stressful, yet exciting events. This also holds true for your dog. New rooms, unfamiliar smells, a new yard, and a neighborhood of new people and pets. Introducing your dog to a new home is very exciting \u2014 but also overwhelming.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

No matter if your home is in <\/span>Seattle<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>Denver<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>planning ahead<\/span><\/a> with these few simple steps you can take to help your dog adjust to new sights, sounds, and smells.<\/span><\/p>\n

Choose a home with walkability in mind<\/span><\/h2>\n

When house hunting with a dog in mind, the surrounding neighborhood matters just as much as the home itself. Dogs thrive on routine walks, new smells, and opportunities to burn off energy, so living somewhere that makes those outings easy can make a big difference in their overall well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n

One helpful tool for evaluating a neighborhood is <\/span>Walk Score<\/span><\/a>, which measures how walkable an area is based on proximity to parks, trails, sidewalks, and everyday amenities. A higher score typically means you\u2019ll have more destinations within walking distance, great for daily dog walks, quick potty breaks, and weekend strolls.<\/span><\/p>\n

Access to nearby green space is also worth prioritizing. Homes close to parks, walking paths, or dog-friendly trails can help your pet stay active and mentally stimulated. Even smaller neighborhood parks or tree-lined streets can provide the variety and exercise dogs need to adjust comfortably to their new environment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pack up gradually<\/span><\/h2>\n

Try your best to remain calm during the weeks that you\u2019re packing up your home. From gathering packing materials to organizing your moving boxes, there are tons of things to get done. If you\u2019re super-stressed, your dog will pick up on your emotions and feel uneasy as well. If you can stay organized and collected and pack up over time, your dog will feel more at ease during this transition.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Find a new vet\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Your hometown vet may have recommendations for an alternative in your new town. Or, if you\u2019re relocating<\/a> to a new city, like New York<\/a>, for work, check with your new employer. Their HR department may have referral services. If your chosen vet\u2019s office isn\u2019t open 24\/7, also find an emergency vet in your new area who\u2019s available at all hours. Add the vet\u2019s phone number and address to your phone, and learn how to find your way there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"dog<\/p>\n

Get new collar tags before you move<\/span><\/h2>\n

You should also get a new ID tag for your dog, and put it on <\/span>before<\/b> you move; many dogs get anxious and may try to run away in the first days in a new home. With many new smells and sounds, if your dog does run away during the first few days at your new home they may have less of an idea of where to come back to, which is why having these news tags is so important.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Check the house for pet hazards<\/span><\/h2>\n

Before you move in, carefully scan the house for potential pet hazards. Look high and low. Stoop down to your dog\u2019s level to look for hazards on the floor, and also look to levels where your dog may be able to climb or jump. Even if your dog isn\u2019t a climber, a new environment may cause stress and lead to unusual behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n

Be especially careful to look for:<\/span><\/p>\n