Moving can be as stressful for your pet as it is for you. As a matter of fact, while you may be excited about it, your dog may be very anxious about the whole thing. You’ll have boxes everywhere, people coming in and out of your home, and their routine will be disrupted.
Most things will look, feel, smell, and sound very different what they know and chances are, they are going to have a hard time calming down. This could escalate to health issues that include diarrhea, loss of appetite, or vomiting.
Let’s look more into how to calm your dog during a move.
Before the Move
Your dog definitely knows something’s up even before you move.
You start rearranging your home, packing things, and getting rid of what you don’t want to move with. Strange people that include realtors, buyers (or renters), and repair technicians will start coming over, your schedules will get crazy, and you’ll lock them up in a room or a kennel while you get things in order.
All these things will make them anxious even before moving day so you need to start preparing early. Watch your pet for signs of stress that may include whining, aloofness, or loss of appetite. This is the one time you need to give them your attention and reassurance.
If you want to know how to get your dog to calm down before a move, here are some things you need to keep in mind before the move.
- Keep mealtimes on the same schedule and if you work your dog during a meal, then keep doing it. You may cut short the training time if you are busy, but you should not stop it altogether.
- Do not ignore your dog. Nothing will make them more anxious than being ignored. Play with them as usual, or a lot more, and give them as much attention as you can spare.
- Take your dog out whenever you can in order to take them away from all that craziness in the house. If you have an open house, then taking them to a daycare or a Friends’ house that you trust is an incredible idea.
During the Move
During the move will be the most hectic and stressing time for your pup. Regardless of whether you are moving in the next neighborhood, across the country or a different country entirely, your dog is going to be stressed. Some or all of the following tips on how to calm your dog through the move. Which means less worry for you.
You may have heard people recommend that you take your dog to a boarding facility during the move, but this is not a very clever idea. This may actually increase their stress and the risk of getting ill. Your dog needs to be with you. They need to see you and feel reassured that you are not leaving them behind during the move.
Remember your dog already knew something was wrong even before the moving day so dropping them off somewhere and driving away will send the wrong message. The last thing they want is to get left behind so don’t give them that impressions.
If you need to know how to make a dog calm down during the move, here are some tips.
- Get them an identification card of sorts during the move. They may wander off and you may never get to see them again. None of you wants to be away from each other and this could ruin the excitement even for you, so be on the safe side and get them either a tag collar or a microchip.
- Have familiar toys and beds close by as they need something they can relate with. Most people feel tempted to buy new stuff after moving into a new home, which is a good idea, but when it comes to pet stuff, you may want to hold on to them for a while longer. Things that look and smell familiar to them will reassure them that they are still where they should be.
- Giving them some attention will also be very beneficial. Play with them for a while, even during the move. This will ease their anxiety and lessen their stress.
After the Move
Once you get to your new home, remember that your pet has needs.
Letting them loose in a new and strange house will be a bad idea that could translate to an incredibly bad bathroom accident. Like vomiting or diarrhea given the fact that they are nervous from their unfamiliar surrounding.
Here are some things to keep in mind if you need to know how to keep a hyper puppy calm after the move.
- For the first few days (or weeks) treat your dog as if it were a puppy. Keep it on a leash where you can watch them from chewing anything or causing accidents.
- Keep your routine as it was before you moved and stick to it as it was. It’ll help them get comfortable a lot faster.
- Play as you used to and give them as much attention as you did. Playing eases the stress. You should also keep the familiar smells around for a while from things like their food and water bowls, beds, and toys.
- Give them some time and be patient with them. Adjusting will be as easy or as hard as you make it, for everyone. Allow them some time to acclimate to their new home before you actually start adding stressors or new crates. You will want to upgrade and while there are different crate sizes to choose from, give them some time.
- If your dog does not appreciate being groomed, don’t do it immediately after the move. This will add more stress and they could associate it with the new environment, making it them hate it more.
That’s How to Calm Your Dog While Moving
Now that you know how to calm your dog, here is something else you might not know. In case they get stressed and start vomiting, getting nervous. and acting aloof, you can get calming tablets from a pet store.
Alternatively, you could take them to a vet and have them checked. For advice on pet care and much more, be sure to explore our blog.
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