Moving with a dog cross country: Just woof it

Moving from one home to another can be a complicated affair for everyone in the family –parents, children, and pets alike. Every single family member will eventually get affected, more or less, by the relocation.

If you’re a proud dog owner, then you should know that your upcoming residential move will surely not be a walk in the park for your pet either.

Some dogs tend to have a rather strong reaction to alarming signs that their calming routine is about to be disrupted and it may be quite some time before any resemblance to it is restored.

Dogs’ heightened sensitivity will cause them to become rather anxious, confused, stressed out, and plain frightened the moment they sense that something big is waiting for them around the corner.

Moving cross country with a dog is not a joke. You will have to plan well in advance for the cross-country move and take all necessary safety measures so that your animal friend stays calm and safe before, during, and after the relocation.

Understanding the challenges of moving cross country with a dog will enable you to be proactive, thus making sure the transitional period goes as stress-free as possible for your beloved dog.

What’s the best way to move a dog cross country? Read on to find out.

Pre-move preparation

The success of the entire relocation operation will depend primarily on your level of preparation. After all, you can’t just tell your dog to hop in the car on Moving day and expect things to be problem-free – it’s just not the way things work.

Here are the top 3 tasks that you should tackle to best prepare for the cross-country trip with Fido:

1. Understanding your dog’s needs

Sadly, your dog won’t understand the reason behind the fast-changing environment around them. After all, what is your dog supposed to assume when they notice piles of cardboard boxes around the place and sudden commotion of weird noises, unfamiliar smells, and strange voices in the house?

The best you can do under the circumstances is to do your best to keep your dog’s daily routine as unchanged as possible. You may find this challenging since you’ll have much less time due to the general pre-move preparation that’s currently underway, but you should still make an effort to maintain the set routine so that your animal friend doesn’t get too stressed by the changes in the house.

Also, feel free to try out this unusual tactic – sit down with your dog and do your best to explain to them what is really happening. You may not be fluent in the Canine language but there’s a high chance that your pet friend will pick up the reassuring tones of your voice and feel much better as a result.

2. Health checks and vaccinations

Your animal friend should be in perfect health to bravely face and consequently emerge unscathed from the forthcoming house move.

Make sure you find time in your tight MOVING CHECKLIST to take your dog to be thoroughly checked by the family vet. While at the vet’s office, take the opportunity to request your pet’s medical records, vaccinations, and other documentation needed for your dog to be transported safely to a new state and registered with another veterinarian in the destination area.

Ask the vet doctor for advice regarding the relocation trip, especially if you sense that your dog is too restless, anxious, and stressed as Moving day approaches. The family vet may prescribe special anti-anxiety medications for your pet to make the car trip safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

Also, ask the vet for recommendations for a good animal doctor in the new city or town you’re moving to.

3. Packing essentials for the dog

Pack a bag full of essential items for your dog. These essentials will contribute to a more comfortable and stress-free car journey to the new home.

Here are some of the dog’s essentials you should consider taking with you:

• Food and water supply. Fresh water and your pet’s favorite snacks are a must.
• Bedding and toys. If your dog has a favorite blanket, make sure you take it with you. The same is true for any toys they love to play with.
• Leash, collar, and ID tags. Don’t forget to take a leash and a collar so that you can take your dog out for short walks when you make stops along the way. Attaching an ID tag to the collar is always a good idea in case of emergencies.
• First aid kit and medications. Make sure you have with you any medications, usually anti-anxiety ones, prescribed by the family vet.

Moving day

Moving day has arrived and it’s time to actually embark on the moving journey with your best friend. Read the next tips for moving with a dog across the country.

Keeping the dog calm and comfortable

Moving day can be dangerous, so you must make sure your dog is 100% safe on the day of the move.

Before it’s time for you to leave the place, leave your pet in a room that’s far away from the packing and moving action, especially when there are professional movers in the home. Check whether the door and all windows are closed securely so that your dog cannot escape from it in a state of panic.

Leave fresh water and some tasty snacks with it, as well as their favorite blanket and some toys to play with in the unlikely event that they ever get in a playful mood. Also, tape a note on the door that the room is off-limits for movers.

Check up on your animal friend frequently to make sure they are doing OK.

Read also: How to keep pets safe on Moving day

Safely transporting the dog in your car

Needless to say, the best way to move your dog across the country is to take them in your car. This way, you will be able to keep an eye on your pet all the time and they will feel much calmer and safer by having their master with them at all time.

Transporting your dog across the country in your car is a win-win situation for everybody. However, you must still pay attention to these super-important tips along the car trip:

• Plan your car journey wisely. If you have to stay at a motel or a hotel along the route, book only pet-friendly places. NEVER leave your poor pet alone in the car during the night.
• Make sure you load your pet into your car last, just minutes before you depart with your vehicle.
• Remember to take with you the travel bag you packed earlier with your pet’s essentials.
• Consider giving your pet any anti-anxiety medications prescribed by the vet, especially if you sense that the animal is too restless or even frightened before the trip begins.
• Make sure the dog is carrying a collar with your contact information during the trip simply because anything can happen.
• Use a well-ventilated crate or specialized dog carrier, if you must. In most cases, though, there won’t be a need for one, especially when you’re traveling together with your family. Under normal circumstances, your pet should feel pretty comfortable in the company of your family’s members – spouse and children.
• Play relaxing music in the car with the purpose of keeping, hopefully, your dog fairly relaxed and stress-free.
• Make frequent stops along the route – a decent chance for your confused dog to breathe some fresh air and ease a bit their stressed-out nerves. Be sure to use a leash every time you take your canine friend out of the car, either for some exercise or to use the bathroom.
• Remember that you should NEVER leave your dog unattended in the car regardless of the circumstances.

See also: Serious mistakes pet owners make when moving with pets

Post-move adjustment

Moving your dog across the country may hide a number of unpleasant surprises for badly prepared dog owners. However, if you have followed our tips for moving house with a dog, you must have had a fairly problem-free relocation to your new home.

Now, let’s say a few words about how to help your canine friend with the acclimation period in the new place.

Your immediate goal after the move is to help your animal friend adjust to the strange place in any way you can. But how exactly do you do this?

• Take your dog to a secure and quiet room as soon as you reach the new home. Leave them there with fresh water and tasty treats, as well as their bed, blankets, and favorite toys. All these familiar items will provide a sense of security for your pet and will enable them to get over the initial shock more quickly.
• Dog-proof the new place to make sure there are no dangers for your pup once you let them out of their initial sanctuary. Look for potential hazards, then eliminate those dangers one by one. Remember that chemical products must be locked away safely so that your dog can never reach them. Make sure there are no poisonous plants for your dog, and bear in mind that some foods (chocolate, raisins, avocados, garlic, onions, coffee, etc.) should always remain off-limits for your pet.
• Make an effort to establish your dog’s old routine as soon as possible – a proven big step toward speedy adjustment to the new environment. Spare some time from the pressing post-relocation tasks to spend time with your animal friend who will need your company at that time more than ever.
• Begin with short tours around the new place and introduce your pet to the apartment or house one room at a time. Let them get used to the new smells, sounds, and sights. Ideally, your new home will be a house with a spacious but securely enclosed yard where your dog will have the unique opportunity to shake off any depressing thoughts through play.
• Find sufficient time to show your pet friend how much you care for them despite your full post-relocation schedule. Be vigilant about any worrisome signs of separation anxiety that your dog may begin to experience. To ease their possible fears, anxiety, or discomfort, make a mental note not to leave your pet alone for prolonged periods of time.
• Introduce the dog to the new neighborhood and local parks when you think they are ready to take the next step. Always keep them on a leash during those walks.
• Find a new vet and register your dog at their office. Your beloved pet should be back to their former self in a few weeks’ time. However, if they continue to feel down in the dumps, don’t hesitate to seek professional help from the new qualified vet.

Must-read: How to make a dog comfortable in a new home