Moving With Your Dog: 10 Tips For A Stress Free Experience
A day in the life of a happy dog goes something like this: Wake up, go for a walk with the human, eat some delicious food, sleep all day waiting for human to get home, jump up and down and do a happy dance when human arrives home, go outside to play catch with favorite frisbee, come back to some delicious food, sleep in human’s lap while they watch a square that lights up, go to sleep, repeat. But what if one day, your dog wakes up to no furniture, their bed is in a different place, no walk at the usual time and all the while wondering why all these strange humans are coming in and out of the house taking all the things, including his favorite frisbee? Moving day is stressful for humans, but it is especially so for dogs. Not only does it disrupt the routine (something that dogs thrive on), but it uproots their life as they know and love it. As a result, dogs can become anxious. Watch out the following physical signs of stress and anxiety:
Loss of appetite
Aggression
Isolation
Digestive issues
Increased sleep
If you noticed any of the above symptoms in your dog, these tips for moving with your dog and how to make moving with your dog stress free may help.
Prepping Your Pup For the Move
Dogs are like children: they need nutritious food, lots of love and attention and help adjusting to big changes in their lives. Just as you would with your kids, it’s important to follow these tips for moving with pets to help prepare them for a move:
Have a positive chat with Buster. While it may seem a little strange to talk to your dog about what to expect from the move, dogs pick up on energy. So if you tell them about all the great things they will get to experience in their new home with a positive and excited tone, you will help your dog embody that positive energy. If you get excited, they’ll get excited. So tell them about the great new dog park they will go to where there will be other doggies to play with, where they will sleep nice and cozy next to your bed and the big backyard they will be able to roam around in.
Give your new home that new-pet smell. It is common knowledge that a dog’s keenest sense is their sense of smell. No dog will feel at home with another dog’s scent inhabiting their space. Before you bring your dog to the new home, make sure you’ve done your best to rid the place of previous pet smells, stains and scratches.
Let your dog roam his new digs. Before you move in, take a moment to let your dog get a feel for the lay of the new land that will soon be home. Set him free to explore all the rooms, sniff around, find a good nap spot and practice going in and out of the doggie door. That way when you actually move in, it won’t be such a strange and scary place. This is particularly important when moving with a dog with anxiety.
Let him know where his space will be. Dogs like to know what space is theirs. When you get to the new home, put his bed, toys and food bowl in a particular spot so he knows that’s where he can feel safe and comfortable.
Helping Your Dog During the Move
Moving when your dog has anxiety is tough. It may be too stressful for your dog to be present while he watches you pick apart his world piece by piece. Consider the following to help your dog cope on the day of the move:
Put him in doggie day care for the day of the move or have him stay with a friend or neighbor that he loves. This is particularly necessary if your dog is overly anxious or does not take kindly to strangers (aka movers) who will be in and out of your home all day long.
Find a safe, quiet space for him in the house. If it’s not an option to take your dog out of the house for the day, make your dog comfortable during the move by putting him in his crate with his favorite blanket in a cool and quiet place in the house away from all the commotion.
Talk to your vet about giving your dog something to calm him during the move. There are natural, safe alternatives to heavy sedatives such as essential oils and CBD oil that may help your dog to relax during the move without completely knocking him out.
Settling Into Your New Home
Once you have moved into your new home, it’s important to help your dog feel safe and comfortable in his new environment. The following tips might help:
Preserve his routine as much as possible. Keep meal times, walks, play time and bedtime at relatively the same times you’ve always had them. As mentioned before, dogs thrive on routine. If you have trouble getting your dog up because he is oversleeping due to stress, encourage him by offering their favorite treat. Hold off on trying anything new like the dog park or a change in food. Best to keep everything as consistent as possible for the first week or so.
Introduce him to the new neighborhood by going for a short walk around the block. It gives Fido a chance to smell the new smells, hear the strange sounds and check out his new environment for himself.
Help your dog make new furry friends. Once your dog has had a chance to feel more comfortable in his new home and neighborhood, invite some neighbors and new friends over so he can get a sense of familiarity. Encourage friends that have dogs to bring them to meet your dog. After all, dogs are social animals and like to make new friends too.
Conclusion
Dogs, like people, are sensitive to change. The stress of a move can really take a toll on their physical and mental health. To achieve moving stress free with a dog, take the time to familiarize them with their new surroundings and maintain their routine during the move. As a result, you will keep your pup happy and healthy throughout the whole moving process! When you’re ready to move, give the professional movers at Moving Forward San Francisco a call for a FREE quote!
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