Moving to a New Home with Your Dog?
Helpful Hints from Becky Hutchins and
Van Allen Apartments
Packed, ready and excited to move to your new home? You’ve found a dog-friendly community and can’t wait for your dog to see your new digs! What’s your dog thinking? Does he love the new granite countertops and large kitchen island? Or is he noticing the strange sounds, smells, sights, and textures? Don’t be surprised if your dog has a lot to say about his new surroundings. With the right measures, you can help make your dog feel more secure about the move.
Residents have moved into the area’s first “Pets Are Welcome” community – Van Allen Apartments in North Greenbush, NY – and certified 
professional dog trainer Becky Hutchins has offered tips for dog owners to help ease their dog’s transition to a new home.
- If your pup likes to bark at activities outside your apartment, close the blinds. The first step is managing your dog, so he doesn’t keep practicing his barking, he’ll get better and better the more he practices!
- Leave the radio on. I prefer classical music and leave that on to help cover some of the noises they may hear. Some dogs will bark more if they hear sounds but can’t see what is actually making them.
- Reward your dog for being quiet. Try to wait them out when the barking starts, and as soon as they are quiet, they get something wonderful! Be consistent! And don’t forget to reward them when they are calm and not reacting to sounds when you’re home. If he alerts to something, reward him before he barks.
- Make sure your dog is getting plenty of exercise! They need to get out and be a dog, sniff their surroundings and go potty, but they also need exercise. Make sure they are getting a sufficient amount daily.
- Give them something else to do! A bored dog will find something to do whether it’s eating your pillows or barking out the window. Find things that they can work on during the day when they are home alone.
Do Bark Collars work? Not really in my opinion.
The first reason is that you’re not addressing the underlying problem of why your dog is barking, whether it’s boredom, lack of exercise, aggression, or overexcitability. As a responsible dog parent, it’s up to you help your dog be comfortable in their environment.
The second reason is that these can malfunction. And even when they are functioning properly, there could be another stimulus that could set off by noises your dog has not produced. This could have an adverse reaction for your poor dog and cause some fear issues.
Remember that rewarding your dog for not barking will have better long term results than punishing them when they do.
Here are some of my favorite things to keep your dog busy!
KONG – you can fill them with a variety of treats and food, to make them last a little longer, they can also be frozen! Just make sure you get the appropriate size for your dog, if you aren’t sure… get the bigger size!
KONG Wobbler – great for gradually dispensing kibble for pups to work on!
Buster Cube – another great distraction toy for dispensing kibble!
Interactive Toys – there are so many interactive toys, take a look and see what your dog might be interested in!
About Becky
Becky has been professionally training dogs and people for more than a decade. She teaches classes at her training facility, Good Choice Dog Training, in Albany, NY. Becky is a certified knowledge-assessed professional dog trainer through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and is an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. She is also a member of the Association for Professional Dog Trainers.
Becky volunteers her time as a dog trainer with the Albany Damien Center’s PAWS program, helping clients with HIV/AIDS manage and care for their dogs, and also works with shelter dogs at the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society in Menands, NY. She also holds special classes for foster dogs in rescue from local rescue organizations
Becky has trained and competed with her own dogs in agility and obedience, earning multiple titles and awards. She currently has one Labrador retriever, two Cairn terriers, a Pitbull, and two cats. To contact Becky Hutchins, visit www.goodchoicedogtraining.net.
About Van Allen Apartments
Van Allen Apartments offers luxurious living for you and the ones you love. The community boasts a clubhouse, swimming pool, and fitness club. Apartments feature oversized kitchen islands, granite countertops, and a balcony or patio to relax and enjoy your coffee.
More than pet-friendly, Van Allen is truly pet welcoming with no breed restrictions, a pet grooming center, dog parks, and a walking trail.
Your Amedore-built home is nestled in a large wooded area and managed by professionals of the highest caliber from Sunrise Management & Consulting.
To schedule a time to see Van Allen Apartments, visit www.VanAllenApartments.com.
