Moving to a new house is a stressful time. With lots of rushing around and packing, plus the time needed to get settled in at the other end. But what about our pets? Sometimes they can be forgotten in all of the hustle and bustle, with elderly pets in particular feeling quite worried about all the changes. This blog looks at some practical tips to help them settle into their new home more smoothly.
Preparing for the move
Dogs can sense when things are changing. They will pick up on your excited chatter, the extra cleaning and sorting, plus all the boxes everywhere. This can make some dogs feel a bit anxious. To help counteract this you should try and stick to their normal routine as much as possible. Ensure they are still getting out for their regular walks and exercise. Try and leave their bed and belongings in-situ until the last possible moment, so that they feel secure.
Calming pheromones (such as Adaptil) can help put some dogs at ease. These products contain natural appeasing pheromones which are useful at times of stress. It is important to start using these products well ahead of the move for them to be most effective. Other supplements or anxiety medications can be helpful in some situations, so speak to your veterinarian if you need further advice.
When packing, you should try to make things easier at the other end, by packing all your dog’s essential items in one or two boxes. Label them and place them somewhere that will be easy to access when you arrive at your new home. This will allow you to set your pet up quickly with his bed, toys and food.
Ahead of the move, you should make sure your dog has his regular flea prevention applied, just in case the previous homeowner’s pets have left any creepy crawly friends behind in the carpets or garden! The last thing you want is a flea problem whilst you are unpacking. So, ensuring your dog already has
Moving day!
On the day, you should have your dog looked after by somebody else so that you can concentrate on the actual move, without worrying that he might wander out whilst all the doors are open for loading the van. You could book your dog in kennels or with a pet sitter for a couple of days or ask family or friends to take care of them. You will find your old dog is less stressed if he is not around for all the comings and goings of the removal men.
Once you are in your new house you should get your dog’s area set up as soon as possible. with his bed and water bowl, so that he knows immediately where to settle himself. Start his calming pheromones in the new house too, to continue with their calming action. Only bring him back in the house once you have finished unloading the removal van and everything has settled down.
Another priority will be to check how dog-proof your new garden is. You may need to get fencing sorted or gates put in as a priority to stop your dog from escaping. If he gets lost in a new environment, he may become confused and disorientated, and not able to find his way back again. Whilst you are waiting on this work to be sorted you might have to supervise your dog closely outside or only take him out on the lead in the garden, to begin with.
Settling in
Part of the fun of moving into a new area is exploring! You should try and get familiar with some good local dog walks early on so that you and your pet can confidently go out for exercise. It is worth joining your local community on Facebook or other social media pages and asking for recommendations there.
You can also look at footpath maps online or invest in a paper map, but it can be hard to know how dog safe/friendly these walks are until you try them out. Therefore recommendations might be better, particularly when you have an elderly large breed dog that may not be able to jump over stiles or bend under gates.
Walking your dog can be an excellent way of meeting other locals, and once you get chatting you can probe them about other walks that they might be able to recommend too.
You should also make it a priority to register with a local vet quickly too, just in case your dog gets poorly or has an accident. Again, you could ask your local social media page for recommendations, or check out local vets here. A quick google search will often come up with local vets (and often reviews/ratings for them) too. You can also get a feel for the practice by joining their Facebook or Instagram page. Some practices will host open days too, so you can meet the staff and check out the facilities.
One of the key things you should find out from your new vet practice is what their provisions are for their out-of-hours services. Many practices use an out-of-hours service provider. This means travelling to another location at night or on a weekend when there is an emergency. Just be sure you are happy with where you might need to travel should an emergency arise.
Conclusion
It is natural for your elderly dog to feel a bit stressed about his house move, particularly if your current home is all he’s ever known since he was a pup! Hopefully following some of the advice in this article will help ease the transition though. If you are worried about your dog, always speak to your vet who might be able to help you further. Wishing you a safe move and hope you all enjoy your new home!
You may also be interested in;
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- We’ve moved house, how do I update my dog’s microchip?
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