Moving is a stressful process, not only for humans, but also for their furry friends. The change in their routine, as well as unfamiliar sights, smells, and sounds caused by the preparation for a move, can be overwhelming for a dog. For all pet parents, it is important to help their dog adjust to their new environment and feel safe throughout the process. While companies like Safe Ship Moving Services can help manage the moving process, pet parents need to do some prep and planning of their own for their pup.
Safe Ship Moving Services talks about the approach to follow when moving with dogs
Prior to starting to pack, it would be a good idea to start leaving the moving boxes out in the living room so that the dogs get used to the smell of them. If one is going to move furniture around, it would be better to move a couple of pieces into different rooms, like a chair or a small table, and subsequently move them back a few hours or maybe days later. This can help dogs to get desensitised to seeing familiar items being in strange places. All the toys, bowls and other things of the pets should however be left at their usual place.
No matter whether it is with a family member close by or at their usual dog boarder or daycare facility, it would be a smart choice to have the pet entirely out of the way on moving day. The team of Safe Ship Moving Services mentions that doing so is especially vital if people have packers or movers coming in to load vans. All the activity of the moving day can be very stressful both for the dog and the pet owner. The pet owner also must ensure to carry all the things of their dog with them in their vehicle, and unpack it as soon as they arrive at the new home. The dog is likely to be more comfortable at the new space if they have familiar things around.
While moving to a new home, it can be tempting to buy new beds, new blankets and new toys for the pets, or at least wash all the old items. However, doing so will not be a good idea as all the old, familiar smell will be comforting and reassuring to the dog. As the dogs are introduced to the new house, it would be smart to take them straight out into the garden first as they are likely to want to do some marking. After that, they can be brought inside, so that they can take their time in exploring the new home. Pet parents should go around with their furry friend and let them sniff everything.
To help the dog adjust to a new home, it is crucial to maintain as much of their previous routine as possible. If one has moved near to their old home, it would be prudent to continue walking the dog in familiar areas before gradually introducing new routes. The same principle should be applied to where they sleep and eat in the new house. For instance, if the dog used to sleep in a busy area like the living room, it is better to avoid isolating them in a different, quieter space like a utility room right away.