Moving can be stressful for every member of your family, including your furry friends. Dogs and other pets are creatures of routine, and moving can disrupt everything, leading to destructive behavior, bathroom accidents, eating problems, and more. Fortunately, you can approach your move with your pets in mind, helping them adjust to your new home – and making it easier for you in the process!
Here are 10 useful steps you can take to make the moving process less stressful for your pets.
Plan Before Your Move
#1: Find a New Vet: We recommend you research the area of your new home and find a new vet. You don’t want to wait until your dog or cat gets injured or sick to find a vet. It’s best to be prepared and research the best vet in your area in case of an emergency.
#2: Update Your Pet’s Name Tag: Since you’ll be moving into a new home, you should update your pet’s name tag to match your new address and the information on your pet’s microchip, if they have one.
#3: Get Your Pet Microchipped: You wouldn’t want to risk your dog getting lost in your new neighborhood, so if your dog isn’t already microchipped, you should have them microchipped as soon as possible. Since it’s common for anxious and nervous dogs to run off, it’s best to have your pet microchipped if they don’t have one already.
#4: Packing Up Anxiety: You may notice your pets get nervous when you pull out your suitcase for a trip. Imagine how anxious they will be when they see the whole house being packed up. For that reason, condition your pets by having a few boxes and suitcases out ahead of time so they don’t associate those objects with you leaving.
What to Do on Moving Day
#5: Take Your Pet to a Pet Sitter: On moving day, we recommend leaving your pets with a pet sitter. This will prevent them from becoming anxious or getting hurt during the moving hustle. Plus, it will free you up to focus on directing the movers and handling everything else you need to take care of on the big day.
Help Pets Adjust to Their New Home
#6: Pet-Proof Your New Home: It is possible for your new home to have areas where your pet could escape. You should check every inch of your outdoor fencing to ensure there are no areas your pet will escape from. Take a few minutes and walk through your new home, checking for hazards like tools or sharp objects left around, doors or windows left open, and similar situations.
#7: Create a Familiar Space: Arrange beds, crates, and toys close to your pet’s old set up so they can feel more comfortable. The familiar scent of your dog’s beds and blankets will also be very comforting in a new home with unfamiliar scents. You may also want to limit your pet’s access to your new house with gates or barriers, so they can gradually become adjusted to the new space.
#8: Take Your Dog for Walks: You should take your dog on frequent walks so they can become familiar with the area and feel more comfortable. Additionally, the activity of walking helps dogs work off excess energy and keeps them calm at home. Try to let your dog outside more often than usual, if possible, to encourage and re-instill potty training. You might need to be vigilant at first to avoid scent marking and bathroom accidents!
#9: Get into the Same Old Routines: Dogs like routines because they feel more relaxed if they know what to expect. Try to establish your regular habits in the new home as quickly as possible. Feed them at the same time and go for walks regularly to recreate their previous routine. The quicker you do this, the easier it will be for your dog to adjust.
#10: Spend Lots of Time Together: During this time, you should give your pets lots of attention and affection to make them feel protected in their new environment. Although you may get busy unpacking and arranging your new home, you should take breaks to play and cuddle with your furry friend.
Moving with Pets? Call Our SoCal Movers Today!
It’s important to make sure your pet can adjust to your new home, but you have a lot on your plate. If you’re moving – whether it’s a few streets over, to another state, or even to a different country – you can turn to the team at Affordable Quality Moving and Storage to help. Our packing and unpacking, moving, and storage services are customizable to your needs, and we’ve been helping people and businesses move since 1996. We have extensive experience with all types of home and office moves and can do all the heavy lifting so you can focus on everything else – including your pets.
Spend more time with your pets during your move by letting the moving professionals at Affordable Quality Moving and Storage handle the rest! Contact us today at (661) 622-2636 for a free estimate.
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