Moving day brings many challenges to most families and one of the biggest concerns for pet parents is how their pets will adapt to the new home.
Most new homeowners have a few odd jobs to do in their home before moving in. Depending on the things you need to do, this can be the perfect time to introduce your fur kids to the new home so they can get familiar with their surroundings. Of course you won't want to bring them along if you're painting or tackling a remodeling job, but if you're putting in shelf liners or measuring for new window coverings, having your pet along can be great company.
To make moving day easier on them, it's a good idea to schedule a day at their favorite boarding or daycare center. Drop them off early on moving day so you can be back at the old house before the movers arrive. You'll have peace of mind knowing they are safe and happy and it's one less thing you have to worry about.
With the pets out of the movers' way, you'll be able to prop doors and gates open for moving furniture and boxes out to the truck without fear of a stressed pet slipping out unnoticed.
Another good idea is to pack a "1st Day Survival Kit" for each member of the household, including your pets. Your pets' Kit should contain the necessities to survive the first night in your new home, including their food, can opener, medications, toys, beds and food & water dishes. And if you leave the kit in your car, you'll have no trouble finding their things when you get to the new house.
After the movers are finished unloading at the new house and before you pick up the pets, unpack their Kit and put their belongings in place. When you bring them home, hopefully tired after playing all day at daycare, it will be to their own things. And if you brought them along when you did your odd-jobs before moving day, they'll be in familiar surroundings, so there shouldn't be any anxiety.
If you follow these simple steps, your fur kids won't get stressed by all of the commotion on moving day and they'll adjust to their new home easily. Dogs don't care where they live - as long as they're with people they love.
What a great post. Beautiful dogs by the way! We have two Dobermans, a Cocker Spaniel and a Bombay Cat.
This is wonderful..pets have feelings too and its traumatic for them. I think having their favorite things around when the come "home" for the first time will make all the difference.
Great post. Nice looking dogs.
It is such a good idea to that if you can schedule yourself to be at home the first day your pets arrive that way they know they are in a new home and can check it all out with you and it will settle them down faster.
Great topic. So many people concern themselves with the moving family but don't include that their pets are an integral part of that family.
Rose-I can tell you are a genuine dog lover, because many folks don't think about their pets being upset with the move. Adorable and loveable fur baby.
I just moved and I did everything you recomended. He went to Grandmas house for moving day and got to play with his favorite playmate. When we brought him home we had his food and water where they are going to be, and his toy basket in place, and a few bones placed throughout the house. I am sure it helped, but he is still a bit stressed. We have been in our home now for 8 days, and he is a little antisocial, but I think he is starting to realize this is his new home.
Thomas, thanks for your kind words. I'll bet your kids keep you as busy as mine do.
Ruthmarie, pets definately have feelings and keeping them happy and stress-free is easier than most owners realize.
Terri, thanks, my kids are Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers and are very high maintenance, but grooming them is a labor of love and a great opportunity to bond with them on a regular basis (which, BTW, helps with the stress issue).
Larry, what a sweet photo of your fur-baby, thanks for sharing. What's his/her name?
Kathy, I wanted to include some tips for long distance moving, so perhaps another post on that topic.
Pat, I've had dogs most of my life and a cat once too. Your observation is why I've made it a point to be the "Pet-friendly Realtor" in Orange County.
Brady, Good for you for making the extra effort for your fur baby. Some dogs take a little longer to adjust than others. You may want to get a Comfort Zone difuser with DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone). It plugs into the wall just like the Glade oil diffusers. "D.A.P.® soothes dogs by mimicking the pheromone of a lactating female dog. By replicating this soothing maternal signal, D.A.P.® has been clinically proven to end or reduce stress-related canine destructive behavior by 86 percent and excessive barking by 70 percent." It comes in a spray and a collar too, but I recommend the diffuser so the dog will associate the area it is plugged in (your home) as a good place and not the collar. BTW, there is one for cats too. Good luck and keep us posted.
Rose, what an excellent and thoughtful post. I am also facinated by the DAP Diffuser that you mentioned. I wish I would have known about it while crate training my puppies.
Lara, The DAP diffuser is amazing. I noticed my dogs bark a lot less since I started using it. I'm going to get the spray and spritz it on a bandana for my nervous nellie on Thursdays when the Association gardners are here all day mowing & blowing. She is really anxious the whole time they're here.
Dogs don't care where they live - as long as they're with people they love.
She wants you to know that cool cats are the same way.