Moving into a new home comes with a long to-do list:
- Finding a reliable plumber
- Choosing a grocery store
- Locating the nearest veterinarian
- Meeting the neighbors
The top priority, right after unpacking boxes, is learning the rhythms of your new community. And for many new movers, there’s one family member who speeds up that process more than anyone else: the family dog.
This National Dog Day, we’re celebrating the role dogs play in helping people build connections, discover local businesses, and feel a true sense of belonging after a move.
For pet-focused businesses, this is also a reminder that new movers with pets represent one of the most engaged and active audiences you can reach in their first few months in town.
Dogs Are the Ultimate Welcome Committee
If you’ve ever moved with a dog, you’ve probably experienced this firsthand. A quick, routine walk around the block can quickly turn into:
- Conversations with neighbors
- Recommendations for local services
- Introductions to nearby parks and trails
- Referrals to veterinarians, groomers, and pet stores
- New friendships with fellow pet owners
Dogs naturally create opportunities for connection. They help to spark conversations and make unfamiliar places feel more familiar.
Our own dog, Ruby, is a perfect example, she greets every new face on the sidewalk with total enthusiasm, and she’s turned into the easiest icebreaker we could ask for since moving into our neighborhood.
That’s exactly the moment your business can step in with relevance. New movers with pets are actively searching for local recommendations, building new routines, and making dozens of purchasing decisions in a short window of time. Research shows new movers spend more in six months than many consumers spend in three years, and they’re five times more likely to become loyal customers when a business reaches them first.
Ideas to try:
- Invite them to your dog-friendly restaurant patio with complimentary water dishes
- Offer a free “pup cup” with the purchase of a medium ice cream cone
Pet Ownership Is Still Growing
The impact of pets on consumer spending has never been stronger.
According to the American Pet Products Association’s 2026 State of the Industry Report:
- 95 million U.S. households owned at least one pet in 2025, demonstrating continued strength in pet ownership across the country.
- The U.S. pet industry also reached $158 billion in expenditures during 2025, a 3.7% year-over-year increase.
- The U.S. pet industry is projected to grow to $165 billion in 2026.
- Dogs continue to be America’s most popular pet, with 53% of U.S. households, approximately 71 million homes, owning at least one dog in 2025.
- Dog ownership is up from 68 million households the previous year.
- Growth has been driven largely by Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X pet owners.
What this means for your business: a significant share of new movers in your area are bringing pets with them, and those pets have a major say in where the family shops, eats, and spends.
When we moved into our own new house, one of the first things we did was scope out nearby pet stores, doggy daycares, groomers, and dog-friendly patios. Our pets are family, and they shaped our moving priority list just as much as anything else.
Moving Creates New Decisions for Pet Owners
When a family relocates, they’re rebuilding their entire network of trusted local resources — for themselves and their pets. Within weeks of moving, dog owners are typically searching for:
- Veterinarians
- Emergency animal hospitals
- Groomers
- Pet supply stores
- Dog trainers
- Boarding facilities
- Dog walkers
- Pet-friendly restaurants
- Local parks and recreation areas
This is your opening. Something as simple as a water bowl outside your storefront, a pet adoption event, sponsoring a dog park cleanup, or featuring pet-friendly amenities in your marketing can make an outsized first impression. New movers notice which businesses welcome their pets, and those early impressions often turn into long-term loyalty.
The First Few Months Matter Most
85% of new movers choose the first business that contacts them. That means arriving early with a warm, relevant welcome — before your competitors do — is critical.
Moving is one of the biggest transitions a household goes through, and in the first several months after a move, families are actively testing local businesses and deciding who earns their long-term loyalty. For pet owners, many of those decisions happen even faster:
- A veterinarian, sometimes before they’ve finished unpacking
- A groomer during the early weeks of settling in
- A trusted boarding facility for an upcoming trip
- Or simply the search for every dog-friendly coffee shop in town
The businesses that show up first are the ones new movers remember longest.
Direct Mail Creates a Welcome Worth Remembering
In a world full of digital noise, a personalized offer delivered straight to the mailbox stands out. For new movers, direct mail often serves as a trusted guide to their new community — and a brand-new mailbox is exactly where they look for local recommendations and savings.
For pet-focused businesses, direct mail is a chance to deliver the right offer at the right moment. Consider including:
- A new client discount for veterinary services
- A complimentary first grooming appointment upgrade
- A free treat with purchase at your pet store
- A special offer for dog training classes
- A discounted daycare trial
- A coupon for pet-friendly dining or outdoor activities
- A curated map of dog-friendly spots in town
The key is relevance. Tailor your mail piece to their identity as a proud pet parent. Direct mail puts your message directly into new residents’ hands, positioning your business as a helpful local resource rather than just another ad.
A Wagging Tail Opens the Door to New Relationships
National Dog Day is about celebrating the joy and companionship dogs bring to our lives — but it’s also a reminder of how much they help people feel at home.
At Welcome Wagon, we’ve spent nearly a century helping local businesses connect with residents during one of life’s biggest transitions, through:
- Personalized Gift Books
- Targeted Direct Mail Campaigns
- Postcard Programs
- Digital Advertising
- Email Marketing
- Online Directory & App Listings
You can introduce your business to new movers while they’re actively searching for services and forming long-term buying habits.
Conclusion
National Dog Day is about more than celebrating our pets, it’s about recognizing the role they play in helping people form relationships, discover local businesses, and feel connected to where they live.
They spark conversations, help us meet new people, and encourage us to explore our communities.
Most of all, dogs represent a real opportunity for your business to connect with new residents who are eager to discover everything their new neighborhood has to offer — for themselves and their pets.
Ready to reach new movers with pets in your area? Call Welcome Wagon at (800) 77-WELCOME or email hello@welcomewagon.com to learn how we help pet care and grooming professionals connect with new families and build trusted, long-term client relationships.
We specialize in New Mover Marketing Solutions for the Pet Industry and introduce your business to new households right when they’re actively looking for the services you provide.
