HealthyPets Blog

Moving is stressful enough even if you don’t have pets, but if you throw a dog or two into the mix, the experience can quickly escalate into crazy territory. While moving is, of course, a big change for you, it is an even bigger change for your furry little friend, especially considering they don’t understand why it is happening or if it is permanent. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to ensure that your move goes off without a hitch, allowing you and your pet to enjoy settling in to the new place in comfort.

Keep Your Stuff (And Your Pet) Safe!

Prepping for a move can be quite hectic — whether you’re moving across the street or across the country. Organizing your entire life into dozens of boxes can fray your nerves and frazzle your brain, and it can be easy to accidentally leave items that could be potentially dangerous to your dog within their reach. Keeping a close eye on your pup while you pack can be a real burden, so going in with an idea of what you should keep away from them can save you some stress.

Of course, cleaning supplies from dish soap to laundry detergent and everything in between should always be kept well out of reach of your curious little friend. Packing these items and other products that might contain harmful substances for your dog like essential oils and the like should be done first so that you’re certain you know they aren’t at risk of getting into them. Plus, when it comes time to deep clean your empty home, you’ll have all your cleaning supplies in one location.

Downsizing inevitably happens whenever you move. Whether you’re deciding if you should lug that old stereo system to your new place or getting rid of dozens of cords that you no longer have a use for, knowing how to properly dispose of electronic waste is key. Cords and other electronics can be incredibly harmful to your pet if ingested or caught around their body, so making sure that they are taken care of is important.

Beating Stress On Moving Day

Young or old, all dogs need regular physical exercise in order to maintain their health. When it comes to moving day, take the time to go above and beyond with their daily exercise — within reason of course — to tucker them out before they have to deal with moving to their new location. If your dog has too much energy pent up when it comes time to move, they might end up being far more stressed out than they would be if they had gotten a bit more playtime or walked around the block just one more time.

Stress and anxiety can be very harmful to your pet, and taking the extra time to give them additional exercise or even to simply show them extra love and attention on moving day can do wonders for their well-being. If your dog has a history of not handling travel so well, using a thunder shirt or other natural anxiety-relieving aids can be a wise idea to prevent too much stress.

Another step you can take is to slowly ease them into the idea of moving. Instead of just pulling out dozens of boxes on moving day and packing everything away within the span of a few hours, take the weeks prior to start introducing boxes, rolls of packing tape, and other moving-related items that your dog might not be familiar with. That way, when moving day actually arrives it will feel more like any regular day than some massive and stressful event.

Pet-Proofing Your New Pad

When you get to your new place, it is important that you go over it to check for any dangers your pet might run into and take care of them. Keeping your pet healthy and safe in your new home doesn’t take too much effort and will give you peace of mind going forward. If your new home has a balcony, check to see if your dog is able to get through the railing or is at risk of getting their head stuck. Check cabinets to make sure that they are secure from curious pups, and check to see if any of the plants around your home are toxic to animals.

It is also important that you set up a space for your pet as soon as you arrive at your new home. Dogs like to have “dens,” and putting your dog’s toys, food and water dishes, and comfy dog beds in a specific area where they are able to get away if they need will help them adjust more quickly to their new surroundings and ease their anxiety.

Pets are part of the family and making sure that they have a comfortable move lets them know that you see them that way. Moving is hard, but moving with a pet doesn’t have to be if you remember to keep them safe and happy before, during, and after the move.