Tips on Moving a Dog Away From Family Members

When a dog is separated from the family who has cared for it and shown it affection, it may become confused and anxious. Sometimes, dogs must be moved away from family members because of a change in the dynamic of the family -- such as a divorce, death or birth -- or because the dog doesn't fit well with the family due to its temperament or other issues. As the dog makes the transition from his former family to a different one, give it attention and encouragement to accept its new home.

  1. Obtain Information

    • Ask the former family for health records. Inquire about the animal's diet and eating habits, its likes and dislikes, where it prefers to sleep and how much exercise it gets each day. Ask if it has any behavioral problems. Find out if it gets along well with children, men, women and how it reacts to strangers. The more you know about the animal, the easier it will be to accept it as a member of your family.

    Invest Time

    • If possible, spend some time with the dog before moving it away from the family it knows. Play with the animal, take it for a walk and show it affection. If you develop a relationship with the dog, it will be more at ease when you move it away from the family. Once you move the dog to its new home, its new family needs to invest as much time as possible with the animal by taking it for walks, engaging in play or petting or brushing its fur.

    Transition Schedules

    • If the dog has been on a certain schedule for feeding, walks or other daily activities -- mimic the schedule -- and then slowly transition it to one that works well for you. For instance, you can move the feeding time up or back by 30 minutes to an hour each day, if the animal is used to eating at a time that's not convenient for you. You also can transition it to a new food, if needed. To avoid digestive upset, start by giving the dog only its familiar food on the first day. On the second day, mix three-quarters of the old food with a quarter of the new food. Continue integrating this way until the fourth day, when the transition to new food should be complete. If the dog is used to getting in its crate at 10 p.m., set up the crate when you bring the dog to your home so it's available.

    Continue Care

    • New owners need to make an effort to continue the care of the dog or to give the dog care it hasn't had in the past. If the dog's coat is in poor condition or it has fleas or ticks, a bath, dip and grooming is in order. If the dog has a condition that needs medical attention, make an appointment with a veterinarian as soon as possible. Keep vaccinations current to protect the dog. If possible, wait a few days before subjecting the dog to anything stressful such as bath, dip, grooming or vet visit.