Moving from hardwood floors to carpeting....

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

Hi all,
In January we will be moving from our spacious townhome with hardwood floors to a new 2 bedroom apartment with wall to wall carpeting. Any suggestions on how to prepare Whopper for this type of move? We thought of putting treats around and special toys the few times we go there before officially moving in but would love other suggestions. Also, as an example, Whopper was not happy being left alone today and decided to tear up our door mat. We have had one other instance of her chewing a rug when we left her for a while and are concerned that carpeting may prove to be an issue. Has anyone else made such a transition? My husband has been home with her most of the time for the last ten months so now that he'll be going back to work she will be alone more often. She's been out of a crate since 3 1/2 months and we don't want to go that route because she never took to it. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated. We're hoping barking won't become an issue in our new place but recommendations on how to have your doodle become a "good quiet neighbor" would probably prove beneficial as well.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I can't help you on the barking, because we haven't faced that with Guinness. Just one caution on the carpeting. My daughter moved into a house with wall to wall carpeting. They were not the first owners so they had the carpets professionally cleaned before moving in. The downstairs is hardwood, and the upstairs is carpeting. There dog is totally housebroken, but started having "accidents" (probably marking) on the carpeted area. They later learned that the first owners had a dog. Apparently, even though the carpets had been cleaned, there was a scent of the other dog. She has had to reclean the carpets using a cleaner that removes all scent. Just something to think about if you are not the first ones with a dog in the new apartment. Good luck!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, the most important thing is to use an "odor neutralizer" specifically made for that purpose. I found that out the hard way many years ago, too.

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

Thanks for the pointers on the carpet issue. I wouldn't have thought of that as I know they cleaned the carpets. I will definitely try and find out if a dog was in our unit previously and be prepared for it either way.

[DeeDee and Sheila]

We made a moving transition with a rescued dog and it took alot of patience. Sandy, our lab, started marking on the carpets, even though she was female. She also knew she was in a different place and I could tell she was "stressed". Your dog is going through many transitions at once. New home. She will be alone more. She will chew more I'll bet. This is anxiety behavior. How long will Whopper be alone? Have you looked into daycare? Dog walker? Whopper is going to need help and time to adjust. I'd have alot of bones handy. Exercise before work. Exercise after work.

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

We aren't exactly sure at this point how long Whopper will be alone because my husbands schedule is up in the air still. Our building has a dog walker that they use and so we will initially have them come to get it her out midday for 30 minutes. The most she will probably be alone is 5 hours. We will also make use of the building dog run before and after work. I think the everlasting treat ball will be utilized heavily and we will need to stock up on additional bones and some toys that will keep her stimulated. I am thinking about getting the pyramid treat toy but we'll see...

[Amanda and Quinn]

She may surprise you--we just moved a few weeks ago, and Quinn took it in stride. He was a little freaked out by the elevator in our building, but that's it. As soon his bed was in place, he went to sleep like nothing was different. The separation will probably be the bigger issue: he's gotten super attached to me since I've been working from home, so I know how that is. Can you gate off the kitchen or something like that, rather than a crate, until you know whether she's going to chew the rugs? I wouldn't leave her alone with the carpeting for a full day until she's accepted the place and is a little more used to being left alone again.

Are you guys staying in JC, by the way? Can you do Boca for day care once or twice week, if so? Congrats on selling your place!

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

We are actually moving more central to New Brunswick. We found a great building with a dog run and everything so Whopper will definitely be in a great place for exercising and socializing with other dogs in our building. Whopper has stayed in a lot of different places and will even be in SC for 2 weeks coming up so as long as we bring her things she's typically okay. The being alone more is what we're afraid of in terms of causing damage. The building has a dog walker they use that will take her out for 30 minutes so we plan to use that initially. I'm also working less than 5 miles away so I may be able to work something out where I can come home for a quick break. Where did you guys move? Still in Hoboken?

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Usually changing homes for a dog is not that big of deal of dogs if you remember that dogs do not generalize very well. Whopper will need to be shown where to pee and poop just like when you first housebroke him. He will need to shown where to sleep, unless it is in bed with you - that he will see as the same. Outside may be outside to you, but to Whopper it is going to smell entirely differrent than his outside before. If Whopper has a bed, blanket, or something that he has his smell on - even a throw rug from your previous home- do not wash it. Bring it full of his smell to his new home and put it in an appropriate place. I would really try and reintroduce an open wire crate with his smelly rug in it at this time. Beginning right now feed Whopper every meal, every treat, etc in the crate with it open and then just leave it open. After a week or so start leaving him for short times in the closed crate and you gone (even if you are just outside the house). With patience and persistence even very old dogs can learn to stay in and like a crate. That ability to stay in a crate is going to save you a world of problems with Whopper in your new home, when you leave him.

If you are just plain opposed to the whole crate thing then use your new apartments bathroom as a giant crate to leave Whopper in. Puppy proof it as much as possible, at least it will contain the damage. Then that becomes Whopper's new dining and treat room while you are home, so that he learns that it is a good place to be. If he ate a mat when you left him, he's probably going to chew, poop or otherwise express his thoughts about being left home alone. He can and will get used to it, but he is going to need some help from you, by giving him a secure place to be and some time to adjust. Taking him for a long (1/2 hour to hour) walk before you leave him is a must. Yeah, I know it sucks to get up an hour early. But it sucks to come home to an empty house and you won't have to because Whopper will be there waiting for you!

Also I would put Whopper back on his long light line for a few weeks in his new home so you can correct him immediately if he starts rug chewing, etc. You may only need it a few days, you will soon be able to tell.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The only thing I would add is that if you use the bathroom as a "giant crate", use a gate at the doorway rather than closing the bathroom door. Solid barriers can be anxiety provoking for dogs, especially if they're already stressed.