You’ve found the perfect house. It’s affordable, it gives you the room you need, and it’s in a great neighborhood. After weeks or even months of paperwork and inspections, that home is finally yours.
It’s time to move, but if you have a dog, that can be a bit troublesome. You don’t want your faithful friend getting underfoot or stressed out about the move, especially since you’re facing enough stress as it is. Here are some tips for making sure your moving day goes smoothly for both you and your dog.
How To Get Your Dog Ready
As you start packing and cleaning your old home, your dog can quite literally get in the way. They just want to help! That’s why you need to prepare your dog before moving day. Ceasarsway.com has a good list of how to help your dog, including:
- Take your dog on more walks so they have less energy and stress.
- Start restricting your dog from certain rooms. You can keep your full boxes in there so your pet doesn’t get into them.
- Leave your pet’s supplies (food, toys, etc.) out as long as possible so their environment remains the same as long as possible.
You also want to start the packing process early. Not only does this make the move less stressful for you, it can help prevent your dog from getting too worried about where everything is going. While dogs may not understand what packing means, many can get anxious or worried about such a strange change in their home. Smaller changes over time are easier to deal with.
Movers And Your Dog
Now that you have a plan in place for packing up your belongings, it’s time to find a moving company. Professional movers can help with the packing, loading, unloading, and even unpacking if you need. You can compare prices, read customer reviews, and schedule everything online prior to making the final decision.
But when you settle on a moving company, you need to tell them about your dog ahead of time. You know your pet, but the movers do not. If your dog is a bit aggressive, loud, or overly friendly, this can intimidate movers and make the process take forever. Give them a head’s up on how your dog will likely react. On moving day, it is recommended that you get a pet sitter or drop your pooch off at daycare to keep them safe and out of harm’s way. Doing so not only ensures that your dog doesn’t make an escape through an open door, but gives you peace of mind knowing your dog isn’t overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of moving day.
Helping Your Pet Acclimate To The New Home
Once your boxes are in your new home, you will probably be excited about everything. The big move is finally done! But your dog can feel anything from excitement to stress over a huge change like this. That’s why you need to help acclimate your dog to your new home.
Start by taking your dog on a leashed walk both inside the home and in the nearby area. If you have a crate, you can keep your pet in there while you unpack and organize a bit. Just don’t keep them inside for too long.
AARP then recommends you bring out your dog’s favorite toys and food. Whatever routine or schedule you had back in your old place should definitely be followed here as well. Don’t spend the whole time unpacking, as your dog will likely need some reassuring attention.
Both Of You Can Enjoy The New Home
It will take some time to adjust to the move, but dogs are resilient and smart. Start by giving your dog plenty of exercise and leaving their toys out as long as possible. Explain to any movers about how your dog will act, and once you get to your new place, spend some time with your pet so they feel welcome and reassured. This way, both of you will quickly start loving your new home.
Guest post written by Cindy Aldridge of OurDogFriends.org. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.