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Moving – A Stressful Process, Indeed

Moving to a new house is a very time-consuming and stressful process, so it can be challenging for you and your pets. Animals may not understand everything but can definitely sense every change in their environment. So, you not only have to get ready and pack your belongings but also need to prepare your dog or other pets for this new journey.

After moving to a new house, your dog or cat may go missing as they will find it challenging to adjust to their changing environment. You might see them trying to find their previous territory. In this case, give them time, and to avoid this unusual behaviour, you have to provide them with special attention. Here are a few preventive methods that can help you do so.

Great Tips To Prepare Your Dog For Moving

Here are some practical tips that will be very helpful for your dog to adjust to a new environment without any stress.

Make Your Pup Familiar With the New Place

Whether you are moving somewhere close by or far away, try to make your dog familiar with the place. If you can't go there, just get help from pictures online. It doesn’t matter if you are going there via a road trip or moving to a place internationally on a plane; if your dog becomes familiar with that area or things, it will help your furry friend adjust there in no time.

Make Your Dog Aware About the New Happenings

Try to keep your dog around the luggage and bags you will take with you on the journey. This will help them become aware of what is happening and get used to new stuff. To do so, you can play with your dog near these supplies or place them where your furry friend can easily access them.

Use Pheromones to Provide a Secure Feeling

Pheromones are the chemical signals which animals use to send messages to each other. Dog Appeasing Pheromones (DAP) are chemicals made by female dogs, usually after they have babies. This helps make the puppies feel safe and secure no matter where they are. You can also buy your dog a collar or plug-in diffusers that can release DAP into the air. This calming sensation is beneficial and has shown to be effective on adult dogs too. Just make sure that plugging in a diffuser or putting a pheromone collar on your dog is done almost 48 hours before you start any shifting process, including your packing.

Relax Your Pup on the Moving Day

Try leaving your furry friend with someone fun or a family member, or you might try kennels. It is vital for them to feel comfortable and relaxed on the day you move/travel. Also, try doing it once you reach the new place, to keep them calm. Doing this will also give you extra time to easily pack and unpack your things. Bringing them into a new environment and instantly finding friends to vibe with will make it a lot easier for your dog to feel at home. In this way, they will become emotionally stable too, so this is a great way to teach that their new home is a safe and relaxed place to live, and there is nothing to worry about.

However, don’t forget, if you leave your pal at kennels, you will need to stay up-to-date with their medical treatments and vaccinations. Make sure to organise and plan this stuff before time.

How To Make The New Place Easy For Your Dog To Fit In

After moving to your new house, you also have to make that environment familiar for your dog. You can easily make your dog feel secure there by making some extra arrangements.

Make Your New House Pleasant for Your Pawed Pal

Of course, you will clean your new house as you move in, but do this while keeping your dog in mind. This is because they are much more sensitive than humans so, make sure to prepare everything accordingly and keep it relative. It would be preferable if you could get the cleaning and unpacking done before bringing your dog into the house. In this way, they will not feel too far away from their home or personal things.

Set Your Dog’s Room First

Arrange the room your dog will live in first and fill it with all the things that they love. Try not to disturb your fur baby and allow them to rest there comfortably, away from the hustle and bustle of shifting and unpacking. Make the room’s environment relaxing to help them feel at ease, and offer them their favourite toy and meals to eliminate boredom.

Maintain the Same Routine

Although this might be difficult for you, maintaining your furry friend’s routine can be of great help. They won't feel disturbed or stressed due to the change of place if you retain the same routine. So, try giving them food at their regular times, keep going on the walk the same as before, and avoid changing your pup's stuff or toys. Even if they are too old or worn out, pack them all, at least until your dog feels at home again. Doing this will give your dog a sense of calmness and security in their new home environment. So, try to maintain your behaviour, as usual, to keep your pet’s stress levels down.

Pay Regular Visits to a Vet

Keep track of your pup’s health by visiting a vet regularly. Moreover, remember to see your local vet a couple of days before moving and ask them for a copy of your pet's history along with vaccination and the desexing certificate. If your pal has health problems, ask for a mild sedative before travel.

With an unfamiliar environment and lots of newly opened doors and strangers around, it is easy for the dog to get sick or feel down. So make sure to know a good veterinarian around to go to in case of an emergency.

Check Your Garden for Any Problems

Check your new garden, keeping the safety of your dog in view. The fence boundary should be high, with no holes in them and no routes for escape. The presence of poisonous plants can also cause problems. Therefore, go through this in time and fix these problems before your dog gets affected by any of them.

Remember to Update the Microchip Records

A new place is never immediately comfortable to live in. Each one of us takes time to adjust; animals need it too. With lots of disruptions going on, your dog may sneak out easily to go exploring. They will first try to go to the same old place they've been living in before. To avoid this, make sure your dog’s microchip details are up-to-date with your new address. Also, stay in contact with the new owners of your last house in case your dog goes there (it can happen if your home is somewhere near).

The Scent-Swapping Technique Works Wonders

A familiar scent is essential for your pet to feel safe as it helps them identify a place as theirs. You can bring the same cushions and blankets with you from your previous home so that their scent can help make your new home stress-free for your pal. You can also rub a soft cloth around your dog and then onto the corners and furniture of your new house. This technique may look odd as we can't experience their scent, but it is very effective to spread their scent around the home. This helps provide a calming sensation to your dog.

Be Prepared to Use Old Tricks

Even if your dog is well-mannered, fitting in a new place can be strenuous. Be patient with them and stay ready for any toilet accidents, as they will not be used to their surroundings. Give them a house tour, show your dog the toilet and encourage them by rewarding them. If necessary, don’t refrain from using the old toilet training tricks to bring them back on track.

A Guide To Buying And Using Dog Travelling Crates

Without any doubt, crates are proven the safest way to travel with a dog. You can choose a collapsible fabric dog traveling carrier depending on your preference and space. You can also go with a plastic carrier with a metal mesh door or a collapsible metal wire dog travel crate. Each of them is available in numerous sizes, shapes, and heights, so you can choose the one that suits you the most.

Keep it Comfortable

An important thing you have to keep in mind is to always look for a comfortable dog travel carrier, irrespective of how short or long your journey will be. To make things even more comfortable, you can arrange a double-coated bed. The cushions will not only make your dog’s travel comfortable but also make the overall crate maintenance easier. When needed, you just have to toss them in, and you can keep the crate clean easily.

Consider All Your Options

If you are new to this, experts recommend carefully considering all of your options when selecting a travelling crate. For instance, if your dog has a bad habit of chewing and scratching things, metal carriers are the most convenient option for this. Even if plastic crates are highly durable and strong, some dogs can still find ways to work their teeth through them.

Ensure Ventilation Openings

The last important thing to keep in mind is that when buying a new dog crate, remember to make sure that it has enough ventilation or air openings. This is essential so that your dog can get enough air which is compulsory when travelling for a longer period.

What To Do If Your Pup Is Sensitive To Travelling

Like humans, many dogs are fond of travelling, while some get anxious and experience travel sickness, even during short journeys. So, without wasting time, go to your vet or groomer if you notice signs of excessive drooling, panting, restlessness and trembling, retching, or vomiting in your dog whenever they travel.

Sometimes, the thought that they will soon be getting in the car is enough to trigger these signs. Don't fall into the temptation to use essential oils or other medicines. These may work for humans, but some can make your little friend feel even worse. Sometimes, anxiety and travel sickness feelings are linked. So, if your fur baby experiences any of these while travelling, have a conversation with your vet and ask them to suggest some effective mild sedatives that can help.

Be Patient With The Process

Remember, the most important thing is never losing patience while moving house with your dog. We know how stressful it can be to move house. As a dog parent, you need to be aware of the anxiety and pressure they may feel on move days. So don't be stressed if you see them barking and growling frequently. These are a few typical signs they will show until they become familiar with the voices and noises of new people. So, don't panic; give them time to adjust and let them settle in on their own.

Let Professionals Take Care Of It!

If you begin to feel overwhelmed by the whole process and feel like your fur baby is under too much stress, why not let moving professionals handle such a situation? Specifically speaking, if your furry friend is not comfortable or may get sick due to all the moving, it’d be preferable to contact a professional who will help you move with your cat or dog easily. After all, you wouldn't want your pets uncomfortable or scared on their way to their new home.

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