Change is hard for dogs. Harder, perhaps, than most of us realise.
A house move. Surgery. The gradual onset of age. Even something as simple as rearranging furniture can leave a dog feeling disoriented, anxious, or withdrawn. For an animal whose sense of safety is so deeply tied to routine and familiarity, transitions—even necessary ones—can feel profoundly destabilising.
Recognition & Normalisation
If your dog has regressed during a period of change, you're not alone. It's common. And it's not a failure—yours or theirs.
Regression is a normal and even healthy coping mechanism in dogs experiencing stress. It involves a dog retreating to previous developmental stages or losing behaviours they once knew reliably—house training, recall, the ability to settle. It's their way of managing overwhelm.
For owners, this can be deeply frustrating. You might feel like you're going backwards. You might wonder why your dog, who has been reliably trained for years, is suddenly having accidents or refusing to respond to familiar cues. But this isn't defiance. It's vulnerability.
And recognising it as such allows you to respond with patience rather than correction.
Understanding What's Happening
Transitions are periods of profound vulnerability for dogs. Whether the transition is biological (ageing), physical (post-surgical recovery), or environmental (a house move, a new baby, a change in routine), the effect is the same: the dog's internal sense of security is disrupted.
Veterinary behaviourists describe this as a reduction in "resilience." A dog who once "bounced back" from a weekend away may now take weeks to recover their confidence. A dog who adapted easily to new environments may now become hyper-reactive to unfamiliar sounds or smells.
This isn't weakness. It's a reflection of the fact that as dogs age, experience illness, or face significant stress, their brains become less flexible and less capable of handling change.
Different types of transitions bring different vulnerabilities:
Post-surgery recovery often involves disorientation from anaesthesia, irritability from pain, and clinginess as hormone levels shift. The dog may not understand what has happened to them, only that something feels wrong.
Ageing brings decreased sensory acuity, the onset of arthritis, and cognitive "fog" or memory loss. What was once automatic—navigating stairs, responding to a name—becomes effortful or confusing.
Environmental or routine changes can trigger hyper-reactivity to new sounds, loss of appetite, excessive grooming, or destructive behaviours. The dog is trying to make sense of a world that no longer matches their mental map.
According to the American Animal Hospital Association, the key is to recognise that these behaviours are not "bad." They are adaptive responses to stress. And the best way to support a dog through them is not to retrain, but to provide stability.
Supportive Perspective
The concept of a "good life" for a dog changes throughout their life stages. In youth, it might involve play, exploration, and learning. In the senior years, or during recovery, the priority shifts to comfort, dignity, and social fulfilment.
This is often referred to as the "HHHHHMM" scale—Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility, and More Good Days. It's a framework that helps owners objectively assess when their dog needs more support, and what kind of support matters most.
During transitions, the goal is not to "fix" the dog or return them to their former self. It's to meet them where they are, and to make the environment easier to navigate while they adapt.
This requires a shift from reactive to proactive care. Rather than waiting for a problem to emerge and then trying to solve it, proactive care involves anticipating obstacles and adapting the environment in advance.
For example, if a dog is facing surgery, the home can be "pre-acclimated" with recovery tools—ramps, soft bedding, non-slip surfaces—so that the tools themselves don't become new stressors. If a dog is ageing, twice-yearly wellness checks can identify underlying issues early, before they escalate into behavioural changes.
Practical Takeaways
If your dog is navigating a period of change, here are some gentle, research-backed ways to support them:
Maintain as much routine as possible. Predictability is a form of comfort. Try to keep feeding times, walk schedules, and sleep locations consistent, even if other aspects of life are shifting.
Adapt bathroom habits proactively. An ageing or recovering dog may simply not be able to "hold it" for long periods. Rather than expecting them to struggle, consider providing dignified, absorbent indoor stations that feel like a natural part of the home.
Create a safe, undisturbed space. A quiet corner with familiar bedding, soft lighting, and familiar scents can act as a psychological anchor. This is especially important during recovery or environmental change.
Preserve the bond through low-impact activities. If your dog can't engage in their usual play, consider scent games, gentle grooming, or simply sitting together. These activities provide social connection without physical strain.
Expect regression, and meet it with patience. If your dog loses house training or seems to "forget" familiar cues, resist the urge to retrain. Instead, consider whether they're struggling with memory, sensory changes, or physical discomfort. The goal is support, not correction.
Recognise the role of presence. Research shows that physical touch and presence reduce stress hormones (cortisol) and increase oxytocin—often called the "bonding hormone"—in both humans and dogs. During difficult transitions, your dog's reliance on you as a "secure base" increases. Simply being near them can help.
Quiet Closing
There's a particular kind of care that emerges during transitions. It's not about training or performance. It's about steadiness. About being present while your dog navigates something difficult.
It's about recognising that regression is not failure—it's communication. And that adaptation, not correction, is the kindest path forward.
Change will always be hard for dogs. But it doesn't have to be isolating. With patience, routine, and small acts of environmental support, you can help your dog feel safe enough to adapt. And in doing so, you honour the trust they've placed in you—to be their anchor when the world feels uncertain.
References
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Helping our senior dogs age gracefully
- ASPCA: Behaviour problems in older dogs
- Bond Vet: Understanding senior dog behaviour and when to worry
- A Canine Affinity: What regressions are and why they happen
- Muenster Pet: Helping your dog cope with transitions
- American Animal Hospital Association: 2023 Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats
DISCLAIMER: This article is intended for general information and does not replace veterinary advice. If your dog is showing signs of cognitive decline, mobility issues, or incontinence, please consult your veterinarian.
This article was written by Liz, founder of Snr & Co, drawing on veterinary research and behavioural science to support thoughtful, compassionate dog care at home.