When it comes to moving house it is normally a stressful and chaotic time, there’s a lot to do. And most of us as homeowners also have pets, which of course move house with us. So when it comes to moving house with our dogs what do we do, how do we prepare to move our dogs to their new home too. Let’s have a look at things I would do before moving your dog to its new home.
Travelling
Does your dog travel well? Some dogs will travel ok whilst others may not. If you’re planning on a long journey it would be a good idea to maybe plan a toilet/leg stretch stop for your dog. If your dog isn’t a keen traveller then it would be a good idea to practise some car journeys prior to the move day. Doing this would hopefully make the whole situation less stressful for you and your dog. If practising with some short journeys doesn’t work then consult your vet; they can hopefully prescribe some medication to help your dog keep calm.
Stress
Moving house can be stressful for us and dogs – well any pets really: new environments are scary. They don’t understand why you’re packing up all the belongings around the house. Try to keep your dog reassured during this time. Leave your dog’s bedding and toys all till the last minute until you pack them up. It may cause more stress packing their things up before move day as then they have no safe place to sleep. If your dog is nervous it might be worth looking into calming aids such as Adaptil to place in the new house or even for travelling. Adaptil releases pheromones that help keep the dog relaxed. It is available in the form of collars, sprays or plug in devices in the house.
Space
What space in the new house do you have for the dog to stay in (well, for a bed at least!). Are they going to be restricted to one room/area? If the dog is kept in a crate where can the crate fit? If you have a plan with this then move the crate or bed to the new room before you move the dog so they recognize their own bedding and know where to sleep and feel safe. To also minimise stress, try to keep to the same routine, feed times and walks. Everyone likes routines, even our dogs. Especially when it comes to food and walks!
Storage
You’ll need to set up a storage area. Some people keep their dog’s food in a food bin, we obviously want to keep this out of reach of the dog, do you have a suitable area for this?
Garden
This would be my biggest concern. Is the garden secure? The last thing we want is for our dogs to escape and especially being in a new area. Before moving your dog to the house check the garden thoroughly for any broken fences, gaps in hedges etc. Make sure the gate is secure. We don’t want any escapees.
Microchip update
This is one thing most pet owners forget to update. It is so important to update your dog’s microchip details. Even though you might have the same contact number, the microchip still tells a finder the address for the dog. What if your mobile number isn’t working and they try your old address? This is a situation that is easily avoided. All we have to do to change microchip details is to contact the microchip company that the microchip is registered to and change details. There may be a small fee for this but it is very much worth it.
Veterinary practice
If you’re moving out of the immediate area and the current veterinary practice that you’re registered with is too far away, have a look around and see what new practice you can register with. It is important to find a practice as soon as you can just in case your dog does get unwell, at least you know where you can take him to. To be super organised let your old practice know that you have moved area and moved practice, doing this then allows them to send your dogs history to your new vets.
Conclusion
The last thing we might have thought of is a checklist for our dogs when moving house, but it is important to keep them happy through this whole new process too. Being organised and having a checklist can hopefully make the whole process run a lot smoother. Good luck with the move!
Discussion