How to move house with a dog

There might not be a more stressful occasion than moving home. You must box up your possessions, lug them into your vehicle, unbox them, and find a new place for them in your new abode. If you have a dog, the process gets even more complicated, as your dog wants your attention, is confused, and still wants to be fed and walked. Here are some tips to make moving house with your pet dog more straightforward.

Shortening the process

Preparation makes everything better, and proper planning makes moving days less stressful. The best way to do this is to make short trips to the house with a few loads of boxes before you perform the larger ‘moving day’. Ticking off items and chores on your moving house list early puts you a step ahead.

Of course, this option is only available to homeowners with the keys to their property and those with the time and resources to make multiple home trips. However, the less time you spend repositioning your possessions, the better for your dog and you.

Moving house on the day: distract the dogs

When you move possessions from one dwelling to another, the dogs will be confused and probably get in the way. Having them looked after by a family member, friend, or dog sitter is an excellent idea, as you won’t need to worry about them while doing the heavy lifting. Of course, the free option might be more desirable, as a dog sitter will only increase the cost of moving house. 

Try to get a dog walk early into the day

On moving-in day, you likely have an early start and a long day ahead. To mitigate against an upset dog who wants a walk later, starting the day with a longer walk is a wise idea. If it means waking up a little earlier, this can help your dog as it walks ahead of time.

Box all of the dog items together

It is best to box and store similar items together for the moving process. Your dog’s paraphernalia is no different. Having their toys, food, lead, and bed in the same place will make it much easier to access them when needed. That way, when your dog is barking moving house advice, you can quash any anguish with their favourite toy.

Try to stick to the same feeding schedule

It might not be easy to mirror the same routine you have for your dog on a moving day, but you should try your best. After all, your dog is probably perplexed that the place they called home is empty and that their humans are shepherding them away. By sticking to a similar mealtime, your dog will maintain that stability in its life.

Of course, they don’t want different dog food - they want to keep eating the Innocent Hound! Our exceptional dog food is available online, so even if your new local pet store doesn’t stock it, you don’t have to prevent your dog from having our delicious grain-free single-protein handcrafted food. They want stability, which means that despite their environment changing, they want to know that their dog food brand will be a static attribute they can rely on.

Minimise the amount of time your dog is in the car

Dogs and travelling aren’t always the best match. Therefore, it’s ideal to minimise the amount of time that your dog is in transit. Or if you’re moving to a nearby location, i.e. just a few streets from your current house, you can walk them there.

If you need to take them in the car, it is always best to make them as comfortable as possible, safely, and legally. Also, do not leave your dog alone in the car, especially during the warm summer.

After you’ve moved in

Once you’ve moved in, you can start even more hard work arranging the house to your liking! Your dog will probably have fewer design concepts or Feng Shui energy to consider, but you will still have to make this new house a home for them.

It’s recommended that you stay home with your dog for the first few days so that they understand that you will be with them. Your dog might be a real character and doesn’t need much time to settle into its new surroundings.

When you’re in and spending a bit more time with them, it’s essential to re-introduce familiar items so that they are reassured you still love them and that, despite the location change, they’ll still be able to go about their life to all their doggy desires.