A Step by Step Guide on Moving With a Dog
If you’re moving soon, then you might not have considered what this will do to your little pooch. While it’s an exciting time for you, moving with a dog can be a stressful time for your pet if they are not introduced to the new location properly, or if they notice the packing around the current house.
Dogs have different routines and senses than us humans do, so if you’re planning an upcoming move, we have laid out all the information you need to make this as smooth a transition as possible for your furry family member.
Preparing for moving with a dog to a new home
It is inevitable that with moving comes lots of boxes and packing tape. One thing you should keep in mind is that the boxes may throw off your dog’s daily routine.
Dogs can sense when things are changing, and with a big change like a big move coming up, you should keep your pooch’s routine as normal as possible until the last minute.
When dogs sense change they are unaware of, it can trigger your dog's anxiety. While it’s not completely possible to keep every box hidden when it comes time to pack certain things, the mix of boxes and you not spending as much time with your dog because of how stressed you are trying to pack the house is a bad combination.
Dogs are like babies in the sense that they have certain routines they become used to. If you work out of the house, your dog has already adjusted to the schedule you have set for them for when you leave, when you come home, when it's playtime, and the amount of time you spend together in the evenings.
Routines are good and should be instilled once you prepare to move. Keep the routine as normal as you can and bring it with you to your new environment.
Reduce the stress
When it comes time to load up the truck and begin the process of actually moving from your current place to your new neighborhood, put your dog somewhere out of the way where it’s quiet and less chaotic. It’s so easy to stir up a dog, and when you have multiple people helping you move, or you’re carrying boxes from one place to another, they may get excited or even anxious.
To ensure things are stress-free for your pup, consider leaving them a friend's house with their favorite toys, asking a pet sitter to take them to the dog park, or taking them to daycare so they don't have to be around the chaos.
When it comes to the drive, especially if you're moving cross-country, you can try a calming cbd supplement or consult your veterinarian on how to handle long-distance travel with a dog for the first time. Take plenty of potty breaks on the road trip, always make sure they're wearing id tags with your phone number, are up to date on vaccinations, and have a microchip.
Everyone knows how crazy moving day can be. The last thing you want to worry about is the stress of your dog, so prepare them beforehand to make the moving process easier on you!
Getting your dog accustomed to the new home
When it comes time to actually settling into your new address, your fur-baby is going to need some time to get acquainted with it. Unlike your old home, the territory will be unfamiliar to them, but there are ways you can make this transition easier for your dog!
First and foremost, you are going to want to keep your dog safe while you unpack. We don’t want Sparky getting into items they shouldn’t be getting into, so establishing a room for them to lounge in that’s blocked off from the rooms you’re unpacking is a priority. Set them up with a calming dog bed or dog crate with their favorite things to keep them comfortable. A DAP diffuser with relaxing pheromones can help as well.
When you move into a new house, adopt the same routines that you had in the old place so your dog will become familiar with their old routine in the new location. This could provide a sense of normalcy. With that, establish to your dog where their bed and food bowls are.
In order to get them familiar and comfortable with the new space, you will need to show them around. Using a light and happy tone and giving them their toys to play with can help establish comfort early on. Be aware that sometimes when a dog is stressed they have a bad habit of chewing or possibly using the bathroom on the floor. It will take time for them to get used to things.
Having your sweet dog getting comfortable with the new area is going to take some effort on your end to calm their nerves. With these tips, your dog should feel the comfort in no time once their routines are established and they become familiar with where things are in the house.
How long should it take for your dog to adjust?
There is no set time for how long it should take your dog to adjust to the new place, but the sooner you start showing them where their things are and establishing routines, the quicker they will catch on!
The trick to getting dogs accustomed to new surroundings is how you handle the situation at hand. Dogs look to their owners for security and comfort, so if you give them those things then you will have a happy dog during the moving process!
Remembering our tricks for establishing normalcy and your dog’s normal routines will quickly comfort them to the newness of their unfamiliar surroundings.