Top Tips for Moving House with your Dog

Crufts, one of the largest dog shows in the world, has recently seen Devon (Ch Burneze Geordie Girl), a West Highland White Terrier) being named as the 2016 Crufts champion.

This year’s Cruft saw a huge increase with the number of International entries, with many of the doggie competitors having travelled from Poland, Russia, Germany and Spain. Whilst some of these show dogs are used to travelling vast distances to shows across Europe, quite often your family pet is not quite so experienced and moving house can be the furthest that your dog ever travels in it’s lifetime. It can also be an extremely stressful experience if not handled correctly.

Bishop’s Move have been aware of the anxiety that pets can develop when moving house and a long time ago we put together with the Blue Cross this useful Guide to Moving your Pets. Dogs are normally quite adaptable, but here are some top tips for helping them cope with moving to their new house:

1. Keep your Daily Routine – Your dog will probably wonder what on earth is going on with packing boxes and chaos to their habitat, so try to keep your pets to their usual routine as much as possible leading up to the move.

2. Microchipping – Make sure your dog is microchipped before moving in case they stray from their new home, and your new neighbours do not recognise the dog as yours.

3. Vets – Register with a new vet in your local area and have all your dog’s health information forward to them just before you move.

4. Walkies. – Take a look at an ordnance survey map for some new walks that you can do with your dog around your new neighbourhood, and if possible, try a few before you move so that your dog can experience anything new they may encounter.

5. Moving Day – On the actual day of your move, it can be beneficial to keep your dog in a safe place, such as a familiar room with the door closed or with nearby family/friends, so that they are not stressed by all the coming and going.

6. Travelling to their New Home – Not all dogs travel well. If you are travelling a long distance to your new house your should plan some stopping places on the journey so that your dog can relieve itself, have something to drink and stretch it’s legs. If you can, use a British Standards approved harness to safely secure your dog in the car. Never leave your dog in a car in hot weather.

7. Travelling Abroad – If you are moving to another country, then your dog will go through a whole different set of experiences. Established pet export companies, such as Pet Exports Ltd and Airpets, will be able to advise your further and ensure that your dog travels safely to their international destination.

8. The New Garden – Before letting your dog out in the garden, check that it is fenced off securely and that there are no holes that your dog could squeeze through and wander off. It can be an idea to walk around the garden on their lead first.

9. Toys – Buy a new toy or chew to entertain your dog as a great moving in present, and remember to keep showing them lots of affection so that they are not worried by their new surroundings.

10. Dog Tags – Make sure that the tag on your dog’s collar has up-to-date details on it so that you can be contacted at your new home.

Dogs generally adapt very well to new situations and homes, especially if their daily routine and standard of care is kept up. Taking your dog for a walk in the new area can also be a great way to meet the new neighbours, and fellow dog-walkers, as well as make yourself feel at home a lot quicker – so enjoy them.

For full details on moving house with your dog, read our Moving with Pets guide online, and feel free to use the comments on this Blog to add any of your own useful tips and advice.