7 Moving Tips for Dog Owners

Moving is stressful for everyone involved, including the family pets. Special attention needs to be paid to the preparation, transportation, and relocation of dogs. It is important for your animals to stay as healthy and stress-free as possible during a move, so here are seven helpful moving tips for dog owners.

1. Find a new vet

It is important to do your research online to find the best vet in your new location. You can look up different vets and read reviews online, and you may also be able to ask your current vet for potential recommendations. After all, deciding who is going to take care of your pets is as important as finding your family a new primary care physician. Also, make sure you get a copy of your dog’s records from the current vet so you can give them to the vet you will choose near your new home.

2. Make the trip as stress-free as possible

There is spray you can buy that you can spray onto a pet bed or towel. There is special spray just for cats that reduces stress caused by moving. It promotes relaxation and reduces hyperactivity in stressful situations. There are also herbal remedies, like chamomile that has been shown to calm a dog’s belly down.

This can help them relax while being transported from their old home to their new home. In addition, make sure your animal is familiar with the carrier you will be using to transport them. Additionally, make sure they do not get nervous about things being packed up by leaving some boxes around. This will make them less likely to associate stress with moving boxes.

3. Make sure you have room to transport them

You cannot entrust your animals to the moving company. They will transport your belongings, but not your animals. Therefore, you need to have a plan on who will transport them, what they will be transported in, and any special needs they might have. Most people transport animals in a pet carrier.

They come in various sizes depending on your animal, and how they will get transported can depend on the distance you are moving to. If you are driving between homes, make room for them in your vehicle and take them with you. Also, make sure there will be places along the way to stop (if you have a dog that will need breaks).

If you are flying to your new home, you will have to make arrangements with the airline to have your animals transported with you. Just make sure you have their information, including microchip information in case the airline misplaces them. It will make it easier to find them.

4. Make sure the movers know

While the movers are moving your boxes and loading up the moving truck, you need to make sure the animals are secure. You may want to keep them in a certain room until it is time to pack them up with you to leave. Make sure the movers know that you have animals and where they are located. This way, your animals will not escape, and they will not get hurt by getting under foot during the move. This is a good practice whether you are at your old or your new house. Keep your animals safe, so there is no chance of them being in a dangerous situation.

5. Animal-proof your new home

Your new home may have dangers that are different from your old house. For instance, you might have a crawl space instead of a full basement. This is not someplace you would want your animals to explore or get stuck in. Make sure you evaluate each room in the new house and animal proof it appropriately. Take measures to keep animals out of dangerous areas and let them enjoy the places they can safely have access to.

6. Let your pet get to know the new house

Letting your animals have full reign of their new house may not be the best strategy, especially for cats. You may want to keep some rooms off limits as the animals get to know their new home. As they become more comfortable with the rooms, you can open additional areas until they have the entire house at their disposal.

Make sure their things are in each room as you open it up. You might want to put various pet toys or blankets in different rooms, so they smell something familiar and are less scared. Be patient with your animals as they explore their new home. The most important thing is that they know where they are expected to go to the bathroom.

7. Provide familiar smells

Familiar smells make animals feel more secure and calm. Make sure you do not get rid of all of their old stuff. You might be tempted to start over and buy them new beds, bowls, and other items. This is not the ideal way to introduce them into their new home. You want them to have familiar smells, like their bed. If you’re not able to take your toys with you for whatever reason, try to buy toys that are similar to the toys they used to have. This way they will begin to understand that even though they are in a new house, it is their house.  For a high efficiency way to buy dog and cat toys, you can buy through Honest Product Review’s pet section.

So, by planning ahead and including your pet’s needs in your moving organization, you can keep them calm and let them enjoy a less stressful move. Keeping your animals calm will help them reacclimate themselves to a new environment. If you take the right precautions, they will be enjoying themselves in their new home before you know it.