Top Tips for Moving House with your Dog
Save your time and energy by reading this simple guide on moving house with your pet!
Moving house can be a stressful time. There are so many things to think about, from packing all your belongings and organising a moving van company, to organising your utilities in your new home to make sure your first night is comfortable. If you have a pet - or pets - there are yet more things to consider. Check out the top tips for moving house with a pet from Papernest.
Whether you are moving into a rented property, or a newbuild, you have to consider that moving house is just as much of an upheaval for your pet as it is for you. Taking time to ensure that your furry friend is as comfortable as possible, and kept away from all the stress of moving day, is super important.
Check the house for danger or escape routes
Before you let your pet in your new home or garden, give it a thorough check over. Here is a checklist of things to look out for:
- Open wires or other electricals that might pose a risk to your pet’s safety.
- Sharp objects within your pet’s reach.
- Holes in your garden fence where your pet could escape.
- Poisonous plants in your garden which pose a risk to your pet’s health.
Make sure that all of these risks are taken care of before moving day. If a risk takes longer to be dealt with, consider leaving your pet with a friend or a family member for a few days while you fix it. No risk is worth taking!
Deal with all the boring stuff ahead of time
Making sure that all your administrative tasks are dealt with ahead of moving day will help to ease your stress on the day, and consequently keep your pet’s stress levels down. These tasks might include:
- Signing up to a vet in your new local area.
- Switching to a new energy supplier so you and your pet move into a warm home.
- Redirecting your post and subscriptions to your new address.
- Changing the address on your pet insurance.
Having all of these things organised will make you feel so much more relaxed as you make this big move.
On moving day
Routine is everything
Keeping your pet’s routine as normal as possible on moving day will help to stabilise its mood. Make sure they eat at the same time, go for the same number of walks as usual, and receive all the love and attention they usually do on a regular day. Giving your dog this security will help to make their moving experience so much easier and less of a big deal. Again, if you can’t guarantee that your pet’s routine can be followed as normal, then consider asking a friend or family member to pet sit on the day. This will relieve a lot of stress!
Unpack your pet’s belongings first
This might seem like an odd idea, but unpacking all your dog’s toys, pillows, blankets and beds will firstly reassure them in this new environment, but it could also keep them busy as you unpack all of your things and deal with important moving day issues. Start to make them feel comfortable as soon as possible in your new place by associating it with love, meal times and play. This will put them at ease from the very beginning of your new life!