Moving can be stressful for everyone in your home- including your dog. While you are busy organizing your new home, your dog is busy adjusting to new smells. Your four-legged friend has also likely been out of routine between the home showings, packing, and travel. Here are some steps that you can take before, during, and after your move to potentially create a calmer environment for you dog.
For many dogs, being around new people can create stress and anxiety. Selling your home involves many new faces, from people who may come in to stage your home, to potential buyers, and finally movers. During these times, it may be wise to make arrangements for your dog outside of the home. You can have someone take them to the dog park, or make arrangements for them to stay with a familiar friend or in a doggy daycare for the day. People viewing your home could also be allergic to dogs or may not be comfortable with them in the home while they are viewing it. You may consider scheduling a deep cleaning of your home to remove pet hair or stains.
Moving can create a lot of chaos with routines, but try to keep your pet’s schedule as regular as possible. Keep walks, feeding times, and playtimes regular.
If you haven’t regularly traveled with your pet, the weeks leading up to your move may be the perfect time to do some training. If you plan on driving your pet to your new home, work on taking short car rides with your pet. You can get them more familiar with being in their travel carrier by offering treats or feeding them meals inside of it. If your dog gets motion sickness and you plan on driving, consult with your veterinarian to see what they recommend.
You may be anxious to get to your new place, but don’t forget to do some research before. If you are moving to a new state, check regulations for your destination state on animal health requirements. If you are flying commercially, learn what rules your airline has for travelling with animals.
It is also a good idea to research where the closest emergency vet clinic will be to your new home. Researching vet offices and seeing which ones are accepting new patients is also a wise choice.
Moving your belongings and the constant opening and closing of doors can create a lot of confusion for your dog. Consider having them wear a collar with your contact information in case your dog decides to escape during this process. If your dog has a microchip, update the address to your new one.
While your belongings are getting loaded, you may consider boarding your dog or having them stay with a trusted friend.
Before you introduce your dog to the new home, do a walk through and ensure that there are no hazardous chemicals or poisons that it can access. Check the grounds outside of the home to see if there are any poisonous plants it could ingest. If your yard, or part of your yard, is fenced, check to see if there are any gaps that they could escape through. Consider bringing your dog to the new home early before you move so they can explore and acclimate to new smells and noises. You may find that creating an adjustment room may help. This is a designated room with the dog’s food and water dishes, toys, blankets, and other familiar things. As they adjust to the new home, they can start exploring other rooms.
Once things are settled, get your dog back into their normal routine. Store toys, treats, and food in the same general area where they were kept in the old home. For example, if their food bowls were in the kitchen, store them in the kitchen in the new home. Monitor your pet for any unusual behaviors that could indicate that they are stressed, such as not eating as much.
If you are looking for insurance coverage for your new home, our team can help you. Our offices represent many of the top personal lines partners in the market. Having direct access to these carriers allows our team to achieve a competitive position for our clients in the marketplace. Reach out to our experienced team to see how we can assist you with your insurance needs.
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