Advice pls...existing dog, new house!

WELCOME!
 
When I moved, I did it gradually.  So, Zoe would spend a weekend there, then eventually after many evenings and weekends, it was a total move.  I don't think she is bothered too much by new places... as long as we're there.

Bach's Rescue Remedy helps dogs, and humans, with anxiety.  Perhaps you can try using this with him. I got it at a local Vitamin Shoppe, but you can find it at health stores, GNC, online, etc.

You are very wise to be concerned about Cody's adjustment to a new home and environment.  I think easing him into it would help tremendously.  If you move in over a week-end then get up and go to work Monday morning leaving him there by himself I'm afraid you might come home to find mass destruction or worse.  U might consider crate training him now before you move so he will have a place of comfort.  Call your vet and ask about phenobarb for Cody.  May help his anxiety and fears..
Good luck!

Ummmm, isn't phenobarb for SEIZURES?  I can't think that a responsible vet would use such a potent med for anything BUT......
 
I don't know your situation, but when I move, there are a lot of pre-move trips...cleaning, lining cupboards, scrubbing bathrooms, generally getting stuff cleaned MY way since anyone elses usually isn't clean enough to satisfy me.....being that I have SIX dogs, I bring a couple with me every trip.  I make sure that they get a chance to explore the yard, the house, etc BEFORE moving day.  When that isn't possible, such as in a long distance move, I really TALK it up to them. I tell them we're gonna have a LONG ride in the RV, and  I tell them that they are going to have a nice NEW house and a nice NEW yard, etc AFTER the long ride.  When the truck is loading and again while it is unloading, everyone stays CRATED except for potty breaks on leash.  Always on leash.  And I place furniture as quickly as is humanly possible so that they see our stuff, and of course smell our stuff.......I put their water dish in the same room it's always been in, their toy basket in the same room that it's ALWAYS been in and as close as possible to the same position relative to the furniture......and try to really keep some sameness.  I also make a HUGE big deal about "outside" to go "potty" and make sure that they know just exactly where and how we GET to outside.  Dogs don't generalize well and might know full well not to potty in house A, but house B?  Well, that could be a different story, and especially if there has been a dog there before.  In THIS house, for example, there was a boxer on the lower level and a mastiff on the main level, so I used a black light to check for spots (didn't find any) and still cleaned with a strong OdoBan/ white vinegar solution BEFORE I turned the dogs loose in the house. Even nuetered dogs might mark if they find another dogs scent, urine or otherwise.  I don't take chances on that happening.  I also used the type of spray bottle that attaches to the garden house and hit the fenced area with the same combination before they got to play there.  My youngest was 10 months when we moved so I didn't have to be concerned about parvo, but I have bleach treated yards before as well....and if the grass dies, oh well.  Better it than a litter of foster pups......[]
 
It's difficult with moving, but do try to keep your routine somewhat the same.  If you normally drink coffee and read the paper while he eats breakfast, set up a card table if you have to and drink coffee and read the paper while he eats breakfast.  If you normally take him for a walk before or after he eats, do the same in your new yard.  Even if it's a fenced yard, if hes at all anxious, running free might be frightening, so START with the leash on, and then maybe just let it drop, but still be there WITH him so he has that security.  And before you expect him to just go out and play, well, remember, he's not used to that freedom so it's gonna be scarey.  he's gonna want YOU out there for a long time before it finally clicks that it's OK and safe for him to be out there alone.
 
Now I am the self proclaimed QUEEN of moving....DH is in radio and we have MOVED more times than you can shake a stick at.....usually LONG moves (as in MA to CA)  In Feb '05 we moved to MI from GA (WHAT was I thinking?) and in August had to move out of the city to a place in the country with only a 9 month lease cuz the owners wanted to sell, then he was offered a better job 70 miles down the road, so we moved again as soon as the lease was up......so THREE moves in 15 months, not my idea of fun, but because we are careful about the dogs, they do fine....much better than I do....I'm getting too old for all this moving!
 
This well could be an excellent time to reattack those potty training issues. Fresh house, no lingering reminders of where he DID pee before..... Honestly, if it were me, I'd get the BIGGEST crate I could find and let him stay crated during the day.....with a nice plush bed and lots of great toys and snacks, and really make that crate the BEST place in the whole world.  I have a GIANT crate that two of my german shepherds like to share....she's 67 lbs, he's 78 lbs, and both have plenty of room to lay down, stretch out, whatever.  I'd probably opt for a plastic crate over a metal one...metal might remind him of the cages at the shelter.  And, honestly?  I feel safer having mine crated when I'm gone......if for no other reason than fire safety.  Firefighters can and will drag crates out of a burning building, but they sure aren't going to risk their own safety with a frightened animal who may be lunging at them.  Just my two cents on crates.
 
Good luck with your move, and WELCOME to idog!
 
 
 
 

Thank you everyone so much!  The move is about a month away and so I'd like to be as prepared as possible. 
 
Thanks [link>http://forum.dog.com/asp/showProfile.asp?memid=15601]smilee1079[/link] for the suggestion about the natural medication.  My vet gave me something called amitriptyline.  We tried it for a while and it did help with the peeing a little but not much and as far as the hyperactivity when I got home it just seemed to dull him down and make him depressed.  He slept all the time and just looked sad.  I couldn't take it so I put down towels so he can pee if he has to and took him off the meds.  But I'd rather he not pee everywhere in the new house if we can avoid it and I don't want him to stress out a bunch the first day we go back to work.
 
The move is scheduled on a Wednesday and we have off the rest of that week and weekend so hopefully he'll have some adjustment time.  I'll take to heart that he should be on a leash initially though.  Thank you [link>http://forum.dog.com/asp/showProfile.asp?memid=6117]glenmar[/link] for all the moving ideas.  I don't believe the previous owners had dogs.  A blacklight is a neat idea though.  That might reveal all sorts of things! (yuck!!).  We have to be out of our place and into the new one in one day though.  So hopefully the time after that will be enough for him to understand we've moved.

Now I have a new question relating to crating.  [link>http://forum.dog.com/asp/showProfile.asp?memid=20692]cubbyrescue[/link], you suggested a crate now so he can get used to it, which seems to make a lot of sense.  A lot of people on this forum seem to use them but I've had bad experiences.  Cody's previous owner left him by himself, chained to a stake on a short leash outside in all weather from dawn to late evening, then brought him inside at night and shoved him in a crate.  When I got him he had fear issues and also damage to his ears and face where he had been attacked by flies and other insects and they had inflamed and eaten his skin.  The skin eventually grew back but the hair didn't.  (You can't tell though!)  So I was thrilled that instead of lashing out of fear he instead was so happy to be loved that he got really attached.  But I initially bought him a "humane crate" made of fabrics which he promptly chewed through to greet me at the door when I got home!  And he had toys in there, a big bed, etc.  So I don't know if it was bad association for him or what.  He hasn't been in a crate since.  I'd like to let him have free reign of the house (part of the reason I wanted a yard, give him some stimulation while we aren't there, he loves to watch birds) but I am worried he'll be scared and/or tear the place apart and pee on everything initially.  As it is he pees when he's anxious or he thinks I've been gone too long.  So would it be feasible to crate him while we're at work? At least in the beginning?  I have no problem buying a big one and filling it with fun/comfy things but that seems to defeat the purpose of letting him have the freedom he never had before.  Plus, add to that I've spoiled him horribly.  He's allowed on all furniture and sleeps in the bed!  We were going to get him his own dog bed (open not crated) because his hair is making my allergies nutty but a nice crate would work the same (and I guess we could leave the door open).  I'm worried he'll be super stressed if I crate him now but it has been more than 2 years since he's seen one...
 
Thanks again to everyone so much and for the welcomes!!!
 
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I'm in the process of learning to crate Mickey my hyper/anxious 55lb 9yr mutt. It's working!! I got a basic plastic one where she can turn and lay down, and I squeezed in with her the first few times, making it a game. Then I would bury a stinky treat in her blanket and send her in yayyyy Mickey. In less than an hour she stayed in there with it locked for twenty minutes before whining. LOL yes now I am at the 'how long do I let her cry?' stage. She has severe storm fear, my reason for crating her.
You may want to make a happy room for your dog while you're at work. A cleanable floor etc heh. Mickey too is a sleep in my bed dog and always with me, so she hated being locked in one room. She is okay so far with the crate tho.
Best of luck on your move and may you not find too many icky things with a blacklight!