Moving home with your dog

Here at Richardson Moving & Storage, we are a business of dog lovers and we more than understand that it’s not just humans which can find moving home stressful, it can certainly bring out a few weird behaviours in our pets too. Over the years, and within the thousands of successful moves we have carried out we have seen dogs do most things – from chewing up our boxes, attacking our staff, begging our staff for attention, as well as quite a lot of urinating in their new domain.

That’s why in this post, we draw from some of our experiences to give you an insight into how best to move home with your dogs, before during and after the move day.

Before the Move Day

Prior to the move day, it’s likely that your house will feel completely upside down. All is not lost however, stick to your dog’s feeding and walking routine – and they will notice very little else. Dogs can certainly sense tensions, so remember no matter how stressed you feel to remain, calm and also patient with your dog.

During this time, it may be worth getting your dog used to spending time at a relatives or a dog sitter for a couple of hours at a time, allowing you to get on top of everything in the house without any distractions.

On Move Day

If you can find a relative to look after your dog on move day, fantastic! This will certainly make things a lot easier. If you can’t however, you should transport your dog as if it was your child (ie, not in the removal wagon!!) This is the best possible way of keeping them calm and minimising the stress of a move.

If you can’t find a dog sitter for the day, make sure to bring your dog’s bed and some toys to keep them familiar with their old home. Although shutting them away is often essential, make sure to take regular trips to see them and make sure that they have the opportunity to get outside and stretch their legs.

After Move Day

It can certainly take your dog a little while to get used to their new home. Whether its separation anxiety – territory marking in the usual way, forgetting that the toilet is actually outside or incessant barking. All of these behaviours can certainly add to the stress of moving into your new home.

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help smoothen the transition to the new house. Regular walks, plenty of playing as well as set meal times. It’s also a good idea to bring old toys and dog beds into the house, even though you may want to buy new ones!

If you are moving only a short distance away from your old home, make sure that your dog is kept under complete control – as if they discover old scents they can very quickly return to their old home. It may also be worth notifying that the people moving into your old home that they may receive an unexpected visit!

Moving with Richardson Moving & Storage

Whilst we aren’t the experts in pet therapy and behaviour but we are the experts in all aspects of home removals. Everything from packing, unpacking, the move itself, as well as any storage requirements are all met with complete ease and flexibility. When you combine these service elements with excellent value for money, then you have an unbeatable moving company in us.