Photo credit: Pixabay

 

What Your Pets Want You to Know About Moving to a New Home Together

 

It’s the new year and along with New Year Resolutions, many of us may be preparing for a change in our jobs, homes, locations, or future plans. If your plans this year include a move, here are some tips to help your pet cope with the change.

If you’re feeling stressed about your upcoming move, imagine how your pets must feel! Pets don’t understand what all the hustle and bustle is about, but they do sense our emotions, including stress. It isn’t realistic to think you could eliminate that stress entirely, but what you can do is lower the stress level for humans and animals alike. Whiskers to Tails Petsitting offers the following advice when moving with your pet.

 

Preparing to Move

While you’re busy taking care of preparations, don’t forget to prepare your pets too (just like you prepared before bringing your dog home for the first time). One of the first things to do is check that their health needs, vet care, and vaccinations are in order. Not only do you need these documents to transition to a new vet, but you’ll also want to be sure that they’re in good health before making such a big transition.

 

This is also a good time to ensure all pets are getting a nutritious diet because this can make a big difference in alleviating health problems. Puppy parents should take extra care in choosing puppy food because growing pups have such specific nutritional needs. A good puppy food does more than meet basic nutrition; it also helps with brain health, muscle development, and even good vision. The healthiest puppy foods are full of lean protein sources while leaving out ingredients that dogs are often sensitive to, like corn, soy, and grains.

 

Along with taking care of your pup’s health needs, you can also prepare by helping pets get used to the sights and sounds of moving. Even before you start packing, bring a few boxes into your home. Dogs may feel anxious about the boxes, but most cats love this part! At the same time, try to keep other aspects of their environment consistent until it’s time to move.

 

How to Handle Moving Day

If you’ll be traveling very far, planning should include how to keep your pets safe in the car, plus making arrangements for pet-friendly stops along the way. You may want to use a dog seat belt or crate in the car, but whatever you do, give it a test run to help your pets get comfortable with it before the big trip. When moving day arrives, look to Whiskers to Tails Petsitting, a good friend, or a relative to watch your dog while boxes and furniture are being moved out. Doing this helps reduce your pup’s stress level, plus it’s a good way to avoid the risk of both cats and dogs dashing out the door while movers are working.

 

Getting Comfy in Your New Home

The last part of the process is settling into your new home. Of course, this process will take a few weeks or even months, but you can help your pets settle more quickly with these tips from Pup Jobs. Here are a few of the most important tips to keep in mind:

 

• First introductions: VCA Hospitals recommends helping your dog get familiar with the new space by letting him sniff and explore, both outside and in. Give plenty of treats, play with him, and show him where his favorite stuff is, including his bed, bowls, and toys.

 

• Create a sense of normalcy: Maintaining your regular routines will help create the sense that everything is going to be ok. This is especially important in the first few days, so it’s best to be home with your pets as much as possible.

 

• Shower them with love: On top of everything else, remember that pets will need your love and affection now more than ever. Extra cuddles, walks, and playtime will work wonders in relieving any anxiety they may have.

 

• Provide room to play: If you’ve recently purchased a home with no fencing, securing your yard with a new fence gives your dog the chance to run around freely, plus you remove the potential stress of your pup running off. The national average to build a fence is $2,800, but prices can vary based on materials and length.

 

As much time as it takes to prepare, careful planning is what makes your move go as smoothly as possible. The same holds true for preparing your dogs and cats for a move. Making these plans to keep them safe and calm will go a long way towards easing the transition for everyone.

If you need a dog walker or a regular pet sitter, turn to the experts at Whiskers to Tails Petsitting to keep your pet happy, engaged and active!

 

Linda Robinson is a contributing author. She can be contacted at info@youdidyourbest.org.