Moving with Dogs
By Nicole Smith, Pet Specialist, Truck rental.com Staff
A dog is not only a mere pet, but a member of your family. As such, you should prepare them for your move just like you are preparing yourself. Dogs will feel the stress of a move just like anyone else in the family, so here are some tips to help you and your pet avoid problems when you relocate. Remember, never leave your pet in a truck rental, and never leave your pet alone in a hot car.
Planning and Preparations
Because your pet does not understand why you are moving, or the purpose of all the strangers in your home, it is important that you take some extra time to make sure that things are carefully introduced to your dog. Take your time packing so that things do not change quickly over a short period of time. Planning will help you avoid any panic as the moving day gets closer.
Get a Check Up
A month or so before your moving day you should take your dog to the vet. Make sure that he is up to date on all of his shots, and that you have a copy of his records. This will allow the transition to a new doctor that much easier. Make sure that you have enough medication to last through the move and to your first visit with your new vet.
Routines!
Dogs thrive on consistency, so it is vital that you do not change any of his routines while you are moving. Keep taking those walks that he looks forward to each day and make sure you feed him on the same schedule. This will make a move much easier on your dog if he knows that nothing else, aside from his surroundings, is going to change.
Safety
Since you will be going to a new place with new smells, it is vital to update your pets' tags before you leave. You need to put a phone number on his tags that you can be reached at after you move in case your dog gets out. Always keep him on a leash, even if you never have before. Remember, dogs can react under stress in ways they never have before.
Moving Day
On moving day you should keep your dog enclosed in an empty room. Provide him with toys as well as food and water so that he is comfortable, but out of the way. Make sure that you label the door with a sign so that your movers do not think that there is something in there that they need to move. Make sure that the movers do not load your take along pet bag either.
On the Way
While some dogs love the car, others hate it. You should use your discretion on whether or not to load your dog into a carrier. No matter what you do, make sure that you stop every couple of hours so that your pet can get some exercise and fresh air. Remember; never leave a pet in a hot car alone as this can be fatal.
