When moving with a pet, you may discover that your pets carry a lot of stress which can result in strange behavior. Like children, animals feel very safe in the environment that they are used to. When that environment is taken from them, they get nervous and may need special attention from their caregiver. Here are our tips for moving with a pet!
- During the Move – Isolate your pet from the action. By removing your animals from the area where you are actively packing items from the home, it will keep them calm and unaware of what is happening. This will also keep your pets away from being hurt or slipping out the front door when taking things out to the moving truck. You can separate the pets by keeping them in an already empty bedroom with treats, a kennel in the garage or have a friend take them for a long walk or to the dog park.
- For the Move – Create a Pet Grab n’ Go Basket. Keep this basket in the front or back seat of your car/moving truck so you can keep an assortment of toys, treats and food at an arm’s reach during your travels. Think of them like traveling with a baby … a fur baby!
- Moving-In – Apply the same concept of isolating your pet when moving out for when you are moving in! There is still a lot of action when entering into a new place so keep your pet safe until you have fully arrived and settled in for the night. Slowly allow your pet to roam on their own INSIDE only. When taking them outside, keep them on a leash and bring them back inside so they understand their boundaries for the first day or so.
- After the Move – Interview and find a nearby vet that you feel will have your pets’ best interest at heart! You will need all of the documents from your previous vet to transfer to the new office. If you are changing climates, it is important to have a general checkup of your pet after being in your new place for a couple of months to ensure they are adapting well.
- There isn’t a formula or solution to moving with a pet, so all we can do is try and make the moving experience as least stressful as possible! In addition to the tips listed above, giving your fur baby a lot of love and extra attention will keep reminding them they have not been forgotten about in the midst of chaos.
Happy Moving!