Top stress-free tips for moving house with a dog

1. Dogs pick up on emotions so rope in a friend or relative to look after yours on moving day. You will get the space and time you need to be the human dynamo the situation requires and your pet will be away from any loud noises and stressful situations.
2. If you decide to keep your dog at home during the removals, or have no other choice but to do so, give one member of the family sole responsibility for them and keep them contained in one room of the house (the dog, not the dog-sitter!) with all their usual bedding, toys, food and water.
3. Your dog’s bedding and bowls should be the last items packed away in boxes. Having their familiar toys and blankets around will be comforting and once you have moved, wait a week or two before washing their bedding so they have familiar smells in the new house.
4. Make sure your dog’s ID tag or microchip details are up to date, including details of your new home address in case they get disorientated and wander off.
5. Give your dog plenty of reassurance and attention, both during and immediately after the move.
6. Check that the entire boundary of your new home is secure before letting your dog out into the garden and go outside with them until they’re more confident in their new surroundings.
7. Be patient. Dogs are creatures of habit and will need time to settle in to their new home. To minimise their anxiety levels, try not to leave your dog on their own for too long during the first few weeks.
8. Keep calm if they start chewing things or have the odd accident in the house within the first few days. Disruption to routines can lead to a temporary change in your dog’s behaviour so pre-empt disaster and keep your favourite pair of shoes out of their reach.
9. Stick to normal routines as much as possible. By putting down their food and going for walks at the usual times your dog will quickly realise that their home may have changed, but their home-life hasn’t. Religiously sticking to your pet’s daily routine in the hectic days before moving and then continuing it once you are living in your new home will make the transition a lot easier.
10. Just like humans, no two dogs have the same personality. Less confident dogs may feel overwhelmed and take longer to adapt to their new home, others may take the move in their stride and thrive on the new walks and exciting smells. If you have a rescue dog and are worried about stirring up stressful memories of moving from home to home, ask your vet for specific advice for keeping them settled despite the change of scene. Professional dog trainer Graeme Hall is also a mine of information, read our chat with him in our previous blog post. You can catch Graeme in his current series of Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly on Channel 5 on Tuesdays.

Are you planning a house move this year? Let us help you make a stress-free move. Here at Michael Graham we have barn conversions, cosy cottages and contemporary townhouses with gorgeous gardens perfect for you and your dog. Whet your appetite with the three homes below, and click the property search button to find all Michael Graham homes for sale right now.