How To Introduce Your Pyr To A New House

Written by Ariele Sieling

You’re moving! Congratulations!

Your Pyr might not be so excited. Moving from one home to another can be stressful, not only for the humans involved, but also for the pets. And how you approach the shift will depend on you, your dog, and the environment you’re moving into.

While it is hard to give absolute advice, since every situation is a little bit different, here are a few tips to help you ease the stress and make it easier for your pyr to get settled in their new digs.

1. Decide ahead of time where your dog’s “spot” is. If your dog sleeps in a crate, make sure that crate is set up and ready to go when you’ve arrived with your new dog. If your dog does not sleep in a crate, make sure you have a place picked out where that dog can go to feel comfortable. Put their bed there (or in the case of Doggo, we put his entire couch there) and maybe a few favorite toys, blankets, or treats.
2. Take your dog on a tour of their new home, both inside and outside. Let them sniff the trees, walk around the driveway, and let them explore a little outdoors. Take them through the various rooms of the house one by one on leash, allowing them to sniff and explore. Make sure you are there with them so they know they are safe and allowed.
3. If you haven’t unpacked yet, restrict your Pyr’s movements to a single part of the house. You don’t want them nosing about in stacks of boxes or trying to “unpack” for you—this could be dangerous for them. While you are working, ensure the dog is well-entertained or supervised. A new house means lots of things to be curious about, and you want to make sure your curious pup doesn’t get into anything they shouldn’t.
4. Take regular walks with your Pyr. Even if you have a fenced-in yard in your new home, be sure to spend regular time with your Pyr indoors and outdoors. You want them to know that you are staying in this new home too, and aren’t just going to drop them off and leave.
5. Expect a few accidents. Some dogs will do great in a new home, but others will feel nervous and uncomfortable. This can lead to accidents such as indoor urination. Don’t punish your dog for this. Instead, take them outside immediately, and reward them when they pee outside. Sometimes, new situations simply mean a little bit of re-training.
6. Keep your old routines in the new house. If you walked your Pyr every morning in the old house, do it every morning in the new house. If fed your Pyr at 5 PM in the old house, feed them at 5 PM in the new house. Keep the rules the same—and if things have to change, then help ease them into it.
7. Be patient. Every dog is different. Some might take a few days to adjust, others weeks or months. The most important thing is that you are there with them to guide and support them as they transition into their new house!