You have stacks of packing tape, piles of boxes, and enough bubble wrap to carpet your home with. Could you be any more ready for moving day? If you have a dog and haven’t planned how you’ll keep him out of the way on moving day, you’re not as ready as you think.
Dogs can be a hazard when your house is buzzing with packers and movers, and there’s a chance they could escape in all the chaos. While you could try to stuff your dog in an empty room for the day, you’ll still be left worrying about walks and bathroom breaks. And as much as you like to save money, the last thing you need is one more task on your plate when you’re trying to move.
So what’s the solution? Keeping your dog out of the house when movers are around is the best solution for you, your dog, and the moving crew. The busy, hectic environment will only be stressful for your pooch. Even if he doesn’t have an aggressive bone in his body, your dog could hurt a mover if they trip over him while carrying boxes or furniture. Arrange to board your dog on moving day. He’ll have the pet sitter’s company, and you won’t have to worry about him until things have settled down. If your dog has separation anxiety, try The Honest Kitchen’s suggestions for boarding an anxious pet, like opting for in-home boarding over a commercial kennel.
Moving day is easily the most stressful moment of your move, but it’s not the only part that could leave your pup feeling anxious. As soon as your dog notices that things are changing at home, he’s going to start wondering if you’re getting ready to leave him behind. You can prevent undue separation anxiety by keeping the packing hidden as much as possible. That means starting in rooms your dog doesn’t enter and keeping the door shut to hide the action. Pack up small items like books, movies, and trinkets early in the process, but delay packing prominent household items until right before moving day.
If you’re packing up areas you can’t hide from your dog, consider sending him to doggy day care for the day so he doesn’t see you packing. Then, make the room look as normal as possible before bringing him home. When you just need your dog out of the way for an hour or so, like when the moving company visits to make an estimate, a dog walker is an easy and affordable solution.
If all goes well, the last moving-related hurdle will be helping your dog adjust to the new home. Before you pick him up from boarding, set up your dog’s bed, food, and toys in a comfortable but quiet area of the new house. You want to keep him restricted to one room for a couple of days while you get the house set up and he adjusts to the change. Filling the space with familiar items sends your dog the message that this new place is home. After a couple of days, your dog will be ready for supervised exploration of his new house. The Bark offers a few more tips for helping your dog adjust to a new house.
It’s easy to overlook your dog when planning your move, but such a big change can be just as stressful for your pet as it is for you. It’s important to consider your dog’s needs throughout the moving process so you can limit his anxiety while also managing your own workload. Be sure to make arrangements in advance so you have one less thing to worry about as moving day approaches.
