How To Move Home With a Dog

Make Sure Your Dog is Safe

The days leading up to and after you moving home will not only be stressful for you, but can also cause a lot of disruption and stress to your dog. The normal day to day routine they’re used to will go completely out of the window and all the objects and smells your dog is familiar with will change drastically, so it’s not a surprise your dog will be worried and sensitive to the change.

Sometimes, it’s best to ask a member of your family or a friend to look after your dog whilst you move. This way you can concentrate properly on the task in hand, rather than worrying about where your dog is and how it is feeling. Then, once you are all unpacked and settled in, you can collect your dog and give them your full attention, helping them adjust to their new home.

Though, if you decide to keep your dog with you whilst you move, or you can’t find someone to look after them, here’s some quick tips that’ll make all the difference:

• Your official moving-in day will be extremely busy, with lots of people going in and out of both houses. Put your dog in one room where they won’t be constantly disturbed and let any removal teams know where the dog is.
• If this isn’t possible, then keep your dog either on a lead or in a crate. Fill the crate with items they’re fond of such as toys and blankets to make them comfy and make sure they have constant access to water and food.
• One person should see themselves as responsible for your dog on the day, that way you’ll always know your dog is being looked after and the dog has someone.

Once you arrive at your new home, ensure your dog is kept in one room again where they won’t be constantly disturbed. Give them some items which they are used to and are familiar to them, such as their bed, toys and water bowl and let them settle. Make everyone aware that the dog is in there so no one accidentally lets them out.

Then, you can keep on with the process of moving, knowing that your dog is safe. It may be worth both familiarising yourself with the area around your new home, and your dog, by taking a good walk after all your belongings are in the house.

Make sure Your Dog is Ready to Travel

Not all dogs like going in the car and can find travelling incredibly stressful. It can be a good idea to start taking your dog out on car journeys a couple of weeks before the move, so they can be prepared. This will help them familiarise themselves with the feeling of being in the car and driving along.

A great way to do this is to take a short drive somewhere to go for a walk. By doing so, you can teach your dog that driving somewhere doesn’t always end in a negative like going to the vets!

After your dog has become comfortable in the outside area or the car, you can plan the trip. One more thing that you must not miss is the dog period. There are many stages of the dog heat cycle, so you should ensure that you understand your dog’s behavior during this time, so that you can avoid any urinary mess on the road. Better yet, you can prepare some diapers for dogs in heat, so you will not have to worry when you move into a new house.

Helping your Dog Settle in To a New Space

Remember that this space will be completely different to your dog. Depending on your dog’s personality and temperament, they may settle in straight away, or they may take a little longer to feel comfortable. Try and stick to your dog’s normal routines and make them feel as at home as possible. Though, if your dog is taking a lot longer to adjust to the new space than you thought they would, it may be worth taking them to the vet to discuss pheromone products that may help.

Take Time To Explore

If your dog is used to going for walks everyday off the lead, then you won’t likely have many problems on new walks. Though, if you feel uncertain, then it’s a good idea to keep your dog on the lead for at least the first few days until you feel a little more comfortable. If you are keeping your dog on the lead, then a long line or extendable lead is a good choice to allow your dog more freedom.

Also, just in case of an emergency, make sure to update your dog’s emergency identification details as soon as possible.

Choose Moving Professionals To Make the Process Smooth

We hope this blog has given you the information you need ahead of moving with your dog. Yet, another great way to minimise stress all together for your family and your dog, is considering a reliable moving company you can trust such as AVM Storage, a top choice of removals companies Cheltenham.