Moving to an Apartment With a Dog

Moving is a high-stress activity for everyone involved, including your dog. Dogs are creatures of habit and get very comfortable in familiar surroundings. Pay special attention to your dog's needs when it's thrust into a new situation, such as moving to an apartment and make it a priority to help your dog get settled.

  1. Know the Rules and Laws

    • Make sure that your pet's vaccinations and license are up-to-date, especially if you are moving from one state to another. Check with your apartment management or landlord to find out what rules and regulations apply to your dog. Check with the local city clerk's office to find out about leash laws, pooper-scooper laws and other laws that may affect your pet and your new situation. Some locales require references for your pet, such as from previous landlords, veterinarians, or even former neighbors.

    Acclimating to New Surroundings

    • Before moving any furniture into the new apartment (unless it is pre-furnished), allow your dog to have the run of the apartment. Let it explore every room and learn all the new smells and sounds that go with its new surroundings. Then, keep it safely confined to one of the smaller rooms while the furniture and your belongings are moved in. Once the movers are gone or all of your belongings are in the apartment, let your dog loose. The familiarity of the belongings will help it get acclimated to the new apartment. If your dog has an accident, do not scold or spank; just talk to it in low, soothing tones and give it lots of attention, especially in the first few days.

    Going For a Walk

    • If your dog had its own backyard and now has to live in an apartment, be prepared to spend a lot of time walking it. If you work outside of the home and live alone, walk the dog prior to leaving for work and immediately after coming home. Any time the dog wants to go outside, plan to do so in order to avoid any unwanted accidents. Bring plastic and paper bags with you on your rounds so you can dispose of any waste material properly. This is also a good time to get your pet's exercise time in as a pet that has been well exercised tends to be less rambunctious.

    No Barking Allowed

    • If your dog is a barker, you will need to find some way to quell that noise. Train your dog to not bark with a stern "No," then follow that up with a spritz of water from a water bottle. If you can't control your dog's barking, consider obedience training. As a worst case scenario, consider a bark collar -- one that emits a high-pitched noise whenever the dog barks -- or other bark control devices to keep the peace with your neighbors and your landlord.