The Crucial Detail To Remember For Keeping Your Dog Calm During A Move

Moving ranks high on the list of most stressful life events for humans, but it can be a difficult time for a pet, too. Your dog won't understand why all the boxes keep showing up or why the rooms start to empty out, leaving nothing remaining but open space and echoes. They may experience sensory overload and anxiety with all the changes. To help keep your pup calm during a move, keep one crucial factor in mind: allow them access to as many familiar items as possible throughout the transition.

Dogs usually don't have many belongings, so it should be easy to gather all their toys, bowls, food, etc. into one or two boxes, but leave them out until everything else is packed up. When you do box their items, set aside a few comfort items for them for the drive, like their favorite pet blanket to keep your dog snuggly and warm. Put the boxes aside as well so they're among the last ones to go in the moving truck. 

Remember, packing, boxing, and loading up the truck are only the first few steps involved in moving. Next is the driving, unloading, unpacking, and arranging of furniture. After you vacate your old home, keep the "familiarity" tip in mind for your canine companion during the drive and once they arrive at your new home.

Many dogs enjoy car rides, especially if they associate them with something enjoyable, like a trip to the park or a visit to Grandma's. If your dog is one of them, you probably won't have to do much to keep them calm during the route to your new residence. That is, unless the drive is a lot longer than they're used to. Some dogs experience anxiety during long car rides while others experience it with rides of any length.

To help alleviate your dog's jitters on the way to their new pad, place a couple of those comfort items that you set aside earlier on the seat next to them. Their treasured blanket or a shirt that smells like you should suffice. Having your dog's favorite toys and some treats handy is also a good idea for later during the drive. You can use them as a soothing distraction in addition to being a comfort item. Remember, the goal is to create familiarity because with familiarity comes comfort.

When your dog walks into your new house, condo, or apartment for the first time, they're likely going to want to sniff everything, in every room. They might enjoy this exploration process, but they might also get a bit antsy and feel confused in their new surroundings. With this in mind, place the same comfort items they had in the car on the floor for them. Those items can be the first indicators for them that they're home.

You should also aim to unload the box or boxes with their belongings before any of the other boxes. Unpack their bed, food bowls, and toys, and set them down somewhere away from the heavy foot traffic that will take place over the next hour or two. As you start unboxing the human belongings and bring in and arrange the furniture, the space will slowly start to smell more familiar for your pup.

If you take a break from the unloading and unpacking, use that time to play with your dog for a few minutes, if they're in the mood. Throw a durable dog frisbee around the backyard (if it's fenced in) or play tug of war in the living room. By mimicking the routines they're used to from their old house, you can help make their new place feel like home.