Most people treat their dogs as members of the family. Just as moving can be difficult for children, moving can be a challenge for dogs as well. Dogs develop an attachment to their homes, and they can have a hard time adjusting to a new place. Fortunately, there are a few steps that homeowners can take to make the moving process easier for everyone involved, including dogs. 

Let The Dog Get Familiar With The Moving Supplies 

A lot of dog owners have found that it is easier to take a dog to the vet if he or she can acclimate to the carrier. The same is true with the moving process. Dogs have a difficult time understanding what is happening when the family moves. Consider giving your dog an opportunity to become accustomed to the packing and moving supplies. That way, they will be comfortable in the car on the way to their new home. 

Allow Dogs Alone Time In The New Home

Moving is stressful for everyone, including dogs. Dogs will need a bit of time on their own in their new home. Give dogs the freedom to explore. When they find a corner they like, let them stay there and decompress. Eventually, dogs will get more comfortable in the new environment, and they will resume their normal behaviors. 

Stick To A Regular Schedule

Even though the home is changing, not everything has to change. For example, try to keep dogs on their regular schedules. If dogs tend to go out and use the bathroom at a certain time, stick to that time. If dogs go for a walk at a certain time of day, stick to that schedule as well. By keeping other environmental factors consistent, dogs will have an easier time adjusting to the home. 

Keep A Consistent Environment

Dogs have already experienced a lot of changes by moving to a new home. It is important to keep the new environment as consistent as possible. Even though some changes will be expected as boxes are unpacked, try to keep the home looking as normal as possible. The faster things get into their new places, the easier it will be for dogs to adjust. By following these tips, it is possible for homeowners to make their dogs as comfortable as possible with the moving process.

Filed under: Real Estate by Julie Woodward
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Buying a home in another location far away can be challenging in terms of logistics as well as moving, but it becomes additionally harder for pet owners who may not be able to take their bigger animals with them right away.

Oftentimes folks may have to prepare a newly-bought home for a pet, make multiple moving trips or might not be able to take the new pet to the location at all for a while. All of these situations can be frustrating and difficult for both the pet and owner. Some available solutions can make some sense depending on the situation.

Family or Friends

Ideally, if a person has a family member or friend whom the pet can stay with for a temporary duration, that can be an advantage. If doing so, make sure your pet is already good around other people as it will have anxiety being left in a new place with unknown people for a long time and missing you. Also, make sure whom you leave the pet with has had experience with animals. Folks who have never had a big dog for a pet, for example, may hit you with a surprise when they suddenly can’t care for your pet being overwhelmed a day or week into the favor.

Short-term and Long-term Kennel Services

Alternatively, kennel and animal boarding services can help. Keep in mind you get what you pay for. Low cost kennels will likely keep your animal in a basic unit, often cement, with few amenities aside from water and food and an hour of exercise time. It’s a bit like prison for an animal. Better services focus on care for animals lodged, give them exercise and socialization time, keep their cages or containers clean, and interact with the animals when feeding. These facilities cost more, but they tend to keep the pet mentally healthier during the stay.

Permanent Separation

In some cases, a home buying move may require one to give up their pet completely. The first step should always be to try to give the pet to family or a friend who will take care of the pet right and wants to take on the pet willingly. These are the best situations, and the pet likely may know the person already. It will still be depressed for a while, but the pet will transition better.

If you don’t know anyone willing and a separation is a must, don’t immediately resort to the local pound or animal control as they unfortunately end up having to euthanize animals they can’t adopt out. There are multiple rescue groups based on specific breeds who will take the pet and try to adopt it out to a willing and vetted family and new home that can handle the breed. These groups work nationwide through networks and move former pets to new homes regularly.

Separating from a pet is no fun and often painful, but there are options to provide care temporarily or long-term versus just leaving a pet with local animal control. Planning and some research will typically produce multiple choices locally, and they could very well make your move and new home transition easier.

Filed under: Real Estate Tips by Julie Woodward
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Moving is stressful—anyone who’s ever done it (and that’s nearly everyone) can tell you that.
But how do our pets feel about it?
It turns out that pets are just as prone to moving-day (and pre-moving-day) stress as we are.

Moving With Pets: What to Know Before You Go

ASPCA President Larry Hawk, D.V.M. says, “Moving is very stressful for a family. That stress is also experienced by the pets. They want to know that they’re part of the family and that they’ll be going, too.”
Before you move, know that dogs and cats react differently. (If you’re moving with fish, here’s how you can make the move easier.)
Because dogs tend to be more socialized, they seem to adapt better to change. Cats, on the other hand, are more focused on their immediate surroundings; they thrive on consistency, whereas dogs can bounce back and readjust… as long as you’re with them.

Tips for Moving With Cats

Now is the time to get your cat familiar with his or her carrier. Leave it open where your cat can examine it each day. Ideally, your cat will be able to hide in it when he or she feels stressed.
Make sure that when you do move, your cat is confined to a hard-sided carrier. (The same is true with other small animals, such as birds, rabbits, ferrets and hamsters.) If possible, cover the carrier with a light sheet for the first few hours of the trip.
“Cats get a little freaked out when they see the world moving by,” says Arnold Plotnick, D.V.M.

Tips for Moving With Dogs

Make sure your dog is restrained when you move—for your safety and for his. If your dog is disoriented, he may bolt when you stop for gas or to stretch your legs; further, he or she will be safer in case something happens.

On Moving Day

Make sure your pets are confined to one room on moving day. All the activity can be overwhelming—and you want to keep them as calm as possible before and during the trip.
Bring along a separate bag for your pet that includes water, treats, and food. You’ll also need a pet first aid kit, some extra towels (in case of accidents), and extra ID tags attached to your pet’s collar.
 

Are You Buying a Home in Port Aransas or North Padre Island?

Whether you’re looking for a home for sale in Port Aransas orNorth Padre Island, we’d love to help you find the perfect place to live.
Call us at 361-563-7788 or get in touch with us online to tell us what you want from your next home. We’ll start searching right away.
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Filed under: Blog, How-To, Moving by Julie Woodward
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