Moving house with a dog is like you are having an additional family member that you need to look after. It will have some nostalgia for your old place. Dogs can fall into depression and they will most likely be exceedingly stressed while you are relocating.
It is up to you to limit the amount of stress for your companion and let it help you as well. Relocating with a pet can turn the stress levels up a notch, especially if not planned well.
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Take them for a walk, feed them, and get them to sleep at the same time you used to do in your previous home. If possible, take a couple of days off from work till your dog gets accustomed to its new territory. No one can say how a dog feels when rehomed, you will have to guess based on its behaviour.
You can also benefit from Dog Appeasing Pheromones (DAP). Those pheromones are released by a new mother to calm her puppies and “tell them” everything is alright and they are safe. Some adult dogs benefit from DAP. It is available as a collar or a plug-in-socket device that releases it all day long.
You may buy a collar for the move, and the plug-in option for your new property, if you believe it will be necessary.
Don’t go out and buy a new bed or bowls right away. Give your dog some time to get used to the place, and then replace any of his stuff.
Check all the things the professionals can help you with for your relocation.
It is a good idea to take long walks around your new place. Use the same route for the first couple of days, so your dog will get used to it faster.
The scent is a major factor for your K9 friend. You can bring something from the new property for your dog to sniff. This will help it get accustomed to the smell of its new home, before even setting paws in there. Bring a cloth with you when you are viewing the property.
You can rub that cloth on countertops, pieces of furniture, and the door frame. You will later bring this cloth to your dog as a sample.
Before leaving your dog home alone while you are at work, try to go for a coffee or go out with friends, and leave it for a couple of hours. This will help it cope with your absence once you return to work.
You can also toss some of your old clothes on your dog’s bed, so it will feel like you are around. Dogs are highly sensitive to smells and they love to have a familiar smell around when distressed.
Speaking of scents, you can rub your dog’s favourite blanket on corners at your new property, this will help it feel like it already marked its territory and will be more relaxed.
Whatever you do, don’t leave your dog outside, even if it’s secured in the backyard. Many dogs have jumped over high fences, just to return to their old kingdoms. In fact, you should carefully examine the garden at your new property, if any.
Check the state of the fence, there might be some escape routes, that you may not know about otherwise. You should fix the damaged fence as soon as possible. Also, inspect the vegetation for dangerous shrubs, mushrooms or plants that might be toxic to your dog and remove them.
Register your dog with a local vet and update the information on his collar and/or chip as soon as you can.
Some dogs might start to make “accidents” when settling into a new place. Don’t get mad, it’s quite normal. You will just have to run through some “potty training” exercises once more. Your dog will quickly catch up.
It may take a few weeks for your furry friend to fully get used to your new home. Do not rush it, instead be gentle and caring.
Let expert movers transport your belongings while you take care for your pet.
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Do you have any personal experience, relocating with a dog? Please, feel free to share it in the comment section. If you have ideas for pets that we haven’t written about, they are also welcomed.
Image source: depositphotos / dashek
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