Dog Care and Moving

There's no way you can avoid some of the unpleasantness of moving, but there are ways that you can ease your dog's transition to a new home.

Keep old routines. ...

Don't buy new gear right now. ...

Lots of loving. ...

Leave treats and familiar things when you depart. ...

Spend time on the floor with your dog. ...

Be patient.

Moving can be fun and exciting for us, but for a dog it can mean stress and anxiety. Their routine gets changed, they are moved to a new location possibly without all the family members present, things don't look, sound, smell familiar, and sometimes they don't even have familiar toys or beds.

Find nearby dog-friendly locations

Do you currently love taking your pup to the dog park or for a walk down to your local café, where the baristas leave him a bowl of water and a treat? Make sure you can maintain similar routines in your new location.

 Consider your dog’s new living quarters

It’s likely you’ve ensured the new home has enough bedrooms for the human occupants, but what about your dog? Where will his dog bed live? His food and water?

Check the local laws: Find out if you need a new license, what the leash laws are, and whether there are breed bans in place. Your new landlord might be fine with a Rottweiler but some local governments, neighborhood associations, and insurance companies do not allow certain breeds.

Find a new vet: Don’t wait until your dog gets injured or sick. Do some research to find out if they’ll need any new vaccinations or preventative medications. Does your new area have ticks, heartworm, or leptospirosis?

Get your dog microchipped and put be certain your cell phone number is on their collar.

Make sure your dog has identification: “We’ve all read the wonderful stories about dogs who were lost during a household move and eventually found their way home across country,” says Dr. Mary Beth Leininger of ASPCA Health Insurance. “This is so rare that it’s always news. Better to have an ID tag on the pet’s collar and have your veterinarian microchip the dog for permanent identification.”

Before you move:

Dogs know something is up before you move. You start packing things up, getting rid of things, rearranging, and deep cleaning. Strange people come in and out as you talk with realtors, have repairs done, or let potential buyers/renters see the place. And, as our schedule gets crazy, your dog’s meal time might start to vary, they may get less exercise and attention, and spend more time in their kennel or a closed room as you try to get things done.

All of these contribute to your dog anxiety before you even leave your old home. Watch for signs of stress and anxiety, including not eating, listlessness, aloofness, whining, going to the bathroom in the house, etc. Here are some tips to help your dog stay at ease pre-move:

Try to keep meal times the same as before. If you worked your dog for their meals, make sure you are still doing that, even if the training session is shorter.

Play with your dog. Nothing stresses a dog out like suddenly being ignored. Make sure you are still giving them attention.

Take them out. Whenever possible, take your pup on outings to get them out of the craziness in the house. If you are having open houses, have your dog go to a daycare they like, to a friend’s, or take them with you when you leave the house so they are not subjected to all the coming and goings of strangers.