And our move and my doggie...

[readyin07]

He stayed with my parents for a few days while we had contractors and whatnot in and out of our new house b/c he isn't a big fan of strangers. We brought him home last night and he is SO weirded out. We didn't do much today but go back to our old house to clean so I brought him with me. I have to leave him alone here tomorrow for a school event. What can I do to make him more comfy besided leave out his favorite blanket. I feel awful. He is an 11 year old long haird chihuahua. I was unloading boxes in the garage and he was scratching to get out to me, he's following DH and I everywhere. I showed him where his water and food were, but he hasn't really gone to his bowl much. He was lapping up puddles on the bathroom floor this morning and I took him back over to where his food is. I keep trying to show him

[thinkofthesoldiers]

I think you need to enclose him somewhere with his things. It will help him feel more secure and you'll know that he won't go without his food/water because he can't find them or is panicking because he is overwhelmed with the new space.

[isabel]

I do think he'll figure it out and settle in. We moved to our house in June. Our beagle is 12. She definitely was weirded out, but she came around pretty quickly. Extra snuggles and walks, especially coming "home" to the same place seemed to help.

[tacokick]

When we did this I also made a big deal of leaving (not talking to them but obviously getting dressed/grabbing my bag in front of them) and coming home so they had a routine. That helped a lot.

[MixedBerryJam]

Long haired chihuahua, you say? I'm going to need to see a picture of this cutie, please and thank you!

Good luck with his adjustment - I think TOTS is giving valuable advice here. Enclose in a room (or crate) with some familiar items and maybe a blanket that smells like you?

[orangeblossom]

He's not used to the new place. Our dog hates our new place, and has full on panic when we leave. We're working on it, and will probably have to medicate him, as well as desensitizing and counterconditioning.

People on here recommended I'll Be Home Soon by Patricia McConnell to help prevent and treat separation anxiety before it gets out of hand.

Like pp, I would give him his own space, with his own things, to let him slowly get used to it. Don't initially leave him alone in the house for long periods of time, so he won't have to get used to a new place AND being by himself in a new place.

Good luck. It's tough when they're so unhappy.

[readyin07]

Nov 25, 2014 6:37:47 GMT -5 MixedBerryJam said:

Long haired chihuahua, you say? I'm going to need to see a picture of this cutie, please and thank you!

Good luck with his adjustment - I think TOTS is giving valuable advice here. Enclose in a room (or crate) with some familiar items and maybe a blanket that smells like you?

He is by far the cutest of our boys haha. I left him in our bedroom this am and he was still scratching the door as we were leaving...sniff sniff. He is also driving me slightly crazy. I am coming in and out of the front unloading stuff and he is trying to follow me out EVERY time. 

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[MixedBerryJam]

Nov 25, 2014 11:06:56 GMT -5 readyin07 said:

Nov 25, 2014 6:37:47 GMT -5 MixedBerryJam said:

Long haired chihuahua, you say? I'm going to need to see a picture of this cutie, please and thank you!

Good luck with his adjustment - I think TOTS is giving valuable advice here. Enclose in a room (or crate) with some familiar items and maybe a blanket that smells like you?

He is by far the cutest of our boys haha. I left him in our bedroom this am and he was still scratching the door as we were leaving...sniff sniff. He is also driving me slightly crazy. I am coming in and out of the front unloading stuff and he is trying to follow me out EVERY time. 

Oh my heavens. That might be the cutest damn dog I've ever seen. How dare you move to a new house and get him all upset like that.

[elleblue]

He'll adjust in time. It's a huge change for him, remember he's having to navigate a human world that often doesn't make sense from his pov. Being with you makes him feel more secure, so of course he wants to be where his humans (and pack leaders) are. Is he crate trained? Packing him up in a space that's familiar while your gone will be best. Too much room to roam can be very anxiety inducing, especially when it's unfamiliar territory.