Moving with pets can be a challenging experience for both you and your furry friends. At The Halyard Group, we understand the stress that comes with relocating to a new home, especially when it involves your beloved animals.
This guide will provide you with practical strategies to help your pet adjust smoothly, while preserving your sleep and furniture. We’ll cover everything from pre-move preparations to addressing common adjustment issues in your new space.
How to Prepare Your Pet for Moving Day
Create a Safe Haven
Designate a quiet room in your current home as your pet’s safe space. Fill it with their favourite toys, bed, and other familiar items. This area will serve as a retreat during the packing process and can be recreated in your new home to provide continuity.
Maintain Your Pet’s Schedule
Pets thrive on routine, so keep their regular feeding, walking, and playtime schedules as consistent as possible. A consistent routine contributes to a dog’s physical and mental wellbeing, supports their metabolism, and promotes healthy digestion. This consistency will reduce anxiety and provide a sense of normalcy when moving with pets.
Use Calming Aids
For particularly anxious pets, calming aids can prove beneficial. Pheromone diffusers (like Feliway for cats or Adaptil for dogs) help reduce stress. These products have been associated with a significant decrease in behaviours such as dogs chasing cats, cats running away, and cats hiding from dogs.
Some pet owners find success with natural supplements such as L-theanine or chamomile. However, you should always consult with your veterinarian before introducing any new supplements to help ease the process of moving with pets.
Start Preparations Early
Every pet is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Start these preparations well in advance of your move date. This approach gives your pet time to adjust and allows you to fine-tune your strategy if needed.
Pack Strategically
Pack your pet’s items last and unpack them first in your new home. This strategy ensures that your pet has familiar objects around them throughout the entire moving process. When moving with pets, Iinclude their favourite toys, bedding, and food bowls in an easily accessible box (labelled clearly for quick identification). Playing soothing music or turning on the TV for background noise can help keep your dog calm and drown out any moving-related noises.
The next step in journey of moving with pets involves setting up a pet-friendly environment in your new home. This crucial phase will further ease the adjustment process and help your furry friend feel comfortable in their new surroundings.
Creating a Pet Paradise in Your New Home
Establish a Comfort Zone
The first step in your new home is to create a dedicated space for your pet. Choose a quiet room or area where your pet can retreat when feeling overwhelmed. Set up soft, comfortable bedding in a crate or corner so your dog will have a cozy, safe place to retreat and relax. Use the same items from your previous home to provide a sense of continuity.
For dogs, a crate can serve as a safe space if they’re already crate-trained. While the crate won’t help with stress vocalizing, it can limit your dog’s range of motion and prevent them from pacing or constantly moving around. Place the crate in a low-traffic area and cover it partially with a blanket to create a den-like atmosphere.
Secure the Perimeter
Before you let your pet explore, inspect your new home thoroughly for potential hazards. Look for loose wires, small objects that could be swallowed, and any toxic plants. Cases of ingestion of indoor poisonous plants are relatively common among animals and lead to both acute cases of poisoning and long-term health issues.
Check for gaps in fencing if you have a yard, and ensure all windows have secure screens. If you’re in an apartment, be extra cautious about balconies and open windows.
Gradual Introduction
Introduce your pet to the new home slowly. Start with the room you’ve set up as their safe space and allow them to explore other areas under supervision. This method prevents overwhelming your pet and reduces the risk of accidents or destructive behaviour.
For cats, a room-by-room introduction over several days can help. This approach allows cats to build confidence and establish territory gradually, reducing stress-related behaviours.
As you work through these steps to create a pet-friendly environment in your new home, you may encounter some adjustment issues. Let’s explore how to address these common challenges in the next section.
Tackling Pet Adjustment Challenges
Calming Anxious Pets
Anxiety in pets often manifests as excessive vocalization, pacing, or destructive behaviour. To alleviate these symptoms, create a consistent daily routine. Stick to regular feeding times and exercise schedules. This predictability helps pets feel more secure in their new environment.
Use anxiety wraps or thundershirts, which provide gentle pressure that can soothe nervous pets. A study examined 18 dogs and found that these pressure wraps can help relieve stress and lessen fear in anxious dogs.
If anxiety persists, consult your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medications or natural calming supplements. They can recommend appropriate options based on your pet’s specific needs and health status.
Addressing Bathroom Accidents
Inappropriate elimination is a common issue during transitions. To prevent this, reestablish your pet’s bathroom routine immediately upon arrival at your new home. Take dogs out frequently (especially after meals, naps, and playtime). For cats, place litter boxes in quiet, easily accessible locations.
If accidents occur, clean thoroughly with enzymatic cleaners to remove all traces of odour. This prevents pets from associating that spot with elimination. Avoid punishing your pet for accidents, as this can increase anxiety and worsen the problem.
Preventing Destructive Behaviour
Destructive behaviour often stems from boredom or anxiety. Provide plenty of mental stimulation through interactive toys and puzzles.
Increase physical exercise to tire out your pet and reduce excess energy. A tired pet is less likely to engage in destructive behaviours. Try to provide at least 30 minutes of vigorous exercise daily for dogs (adjust based on your dog’s age and breed).
If you catch your pet in the act of destructive behaviour, redirect their attention to an appropriate toy or activity. Consistently reward good behaviour to encourage your pet to repeat those actions instead of destructive ones.
Establishing New Routines
Create new positive associations with your home. Set up feeding stations in comfortable areas and designate specific play zones. This helps your pet understand the layout and purpose of different spaces in their new environment.
Introduce your pet to neighbours (both human and animal) gradually. If you’re still deciding where to settle, explore some of the most pet-friendly neighbourhoods in the GTA to find the right fit for your whole family.
Positive interactions can help your pet feel more at ease in their new surroundings. Start with short, controlled meetings and increase duration as your pet becomes more comfortable.
Monitoring Health and Behaviour
Keep a close eye on your pet’s eating habits, water intake, and overall demeanour. Stress can sometimes lead to decreased appetite or changes in behaviour. If you notice any concerning changes, consult with your veterinarian promptly.
Consider keeping a journal of your pet’s adjustment progress. This can help you identify patterns and track improvements over time. It’s also valuable information to share with your vet if any issues arise.
Final Thoughts
Moving with pets requires careful planning and patience. You can reduce your pet’s stress by creating familiar spaces, maintaining routines, and using calming aids. Setting up a pet-friendly environment in your new home will further ease the adjustment process for your furry companions.
Addressing common issues like anxiety and destructive behaviour demands consistency and observation. Every pet reacts differently to change, so you must adapt your strategies for moving with pets based on the animals unique needs. If your pet struggles to adapt, seek help from a veterinarian or animal behaviourist for tailored solutions.
The Halyard Group understands that moving with pets is just one aspect of upsizing to a larger home. Our team guides families through this transition, ensuring both human and furry family members settle comfortably. Contact us to learn how we can support you throughout your moving journey -from maximising your current home’s sale price to finding a new space that meets your evolving needs.
