Aren’t pets awesome? Our little friends are just a wonderful company to have around. They require little attention and occasional cuddles but give so much in return. Owning a pet means having someone to greet you with genuine exhilaration and awe at any time. So, it’s no wonder you’d want to bring your little friend along to your new home. However, pet relocation has its intricacies. If you want to do it just right and make this experience a joyous one, continue with the read.
Mind you temper
Animals are extremely intuitive and your pet is no exception. In addition, your little bundle of joy is greatly dependant on and looks up to you. This means that he or she can easily pick up on any emotion that you carry. Even though your little pal doesn’t know what all the boxes are for, the tension in the air will be easily palpable. So, try to keep your cool in order to spare the little one all the anxiety that you can. It is unavoidable that they will be distressed, but try to keep it to a minimum by staying calm yourself.
Stay calm and serene in order to keep your dog stress free
Hire help
Moving is a rather hectic period and people often find it challenging to keep their daily routines. This can be especially hard on your pets. So, to grant yourself and thus your pet some more time for activities that you are used to, try hiring a moving company. Experienced professionals come with different moving assistance options at your disposal. Find a deal that best suits your needs, possibilities, and desires, and make this relocation easy on you and your pet. While movers take care of packing and transporting your goods, you can play fetch in the backyard.
Moving further away?
The first thing you ought to do when preparing for pet relocation is checking the state rules. Own laws and regulations for pet owners differ and it’s best that you are familiarized with them. Additionally, see if the community that you plan on moving to allows pets indoors. Know that many states require health certificates dogs, while others will ask that you provide the same for your cats and other exotic animals that you might own.
This is the wrong way of conducting pet relocation. Get a kennel.
During the ride
If your pup is not used to being in the crate, you will have to do some training before the move. This is best done by making the crate feel desirable. Leave the door open, leave some toys and treats in there. Encourage sleeping, eating and drinking in there, but do not allow peeing. Familiarizing with the crate and getting used to it will help the dog feel more relaxed whilst on the road. Make sure to have bottled water with you. Different states have different qualities of water which can wreak havoc in your pet’s organism. Dry food is also a smart thing to have on you. Tags with your new address and a cell phone are greatly encouraged. If you are driving to your new home, make sure to have a few extra stops along the way for bathroom breaks.
New home just a few blocks away?
Long distance move has a lot of difficulties to it. However, if your relocation is a local one, you will have it easier. Come moving day, it might be best that you ask a friend or a family member to take care of your precious pal until you relocate your belongings. After everything is done, take your pet to your new home and make sure not to open the kennel until it’s in the house. This will ensure that your pet does not get lost or wanders off along the way. Be patient with their adjustment to the new surroundings and give them time to adapt to your new home.
Adjusting can take some time. Be patient and your loyal buddy will thank you for it.
A few last pet relocation pieces of advice
- move your house before you move your pet. Leave their most beloved items at your old home until you are ready to move. Seclude a corner just for your pet and make sure that it’s filled with all their favorite toys.
- keep them away from all the action. Especially if you own a dog or a cat. Fish can stay in the tank and not bother anyone. But the dog can tend to jump and run around, making the job for the movers much more difficult than needs be. So, it would be best to keep your pup in a separate room or a fenced in area for those few hours. Don’t forget to leave some toys, food, and water there.
- try to make time for your companion whilst all the moving frenzy is happening. Take your dog for a daily walk, and cuddle with your kitten. The time you spend together, devoted to each other will do wonders for your nerves as well as your pet’s. Quality time will make pet relocation much easier for your four-legged friend.
- fish are highly responsive to stress and the move can be quite a traumatizing experience for them. A local move will be much easier than a long distance one. You can relocate them in a plastic bag filled with aquarium water. If you plan on moving further away, consider gifting the fish to a friend. You can move your fish tank with you and get some new friends when you get there.
- guinea pigs also respond strongly to stress. When moving, try to keep them in a warm, comfortable and small carrier.
- moving with birds is not any easier. Although you may feel tempted to trust your mighty eagle not to soar through the skies, know that many have regretted that idea. However difficult it may be, try to keep your bird in the cage come moving day.