What may be stressful to us, may be terrifying to our pets who don’t really understand what’s going on. So here are some tips to make the transition into your new home as easy and seamless as possible: #1. Did you notice how your dog(s) react when you pull out your suitcase? They can sense that change is about to happen and they get more animated than usual. So plan the move ahead of time and start packing things slowly. Packing everything all at once and leaving things last minute, will cause a drastic change in the environment and many pets don’t react very well to sudden and drastic changes. Bring some boxes into your home ahead of time so your dog can adjust to them, and then start packing slowly. #2. Think about the space in your new home and how it will affect your dog. For example, if your new home no longer has a back yard, you’ll need to think of the necessary adjustments ahead of time. Same thing if you have an older dog or one with medical issues. A dog in that condition will not be able to go up and down any stairs, so you might need to make those adjustments. #3. Start getting your pet adjusted to their travel carrier ahead of time so it won’t be a shock, day of. Leave some food or treats in the carrier; let them enter at their own pace, and get adjusted to being inside. If you want to do this by the book, you can also take a short drive with them inside the carrier, to get used to traveling. When you arrive back home, give them a treat or some play time, to create a positive connection between the two. #4. If you'll be traveling for a long period of time, pack enough snacks and water, and keep your pet’s medical records close at hand, for easy access. Ask your vet if there’s a safe sedative he/she would prescribe that could help take some of the pet’s edge off, just in case. #5. If you’re moving too far away to continue seeing your current veterinarian, find a new vet in advance. Maybe your vet now can recommend somebody who could be a good match for your dog. Get copies of all the vet records and vaccination certificates. #6. Set a reminder to update your pet’s tags and microchip with the new address and phone number. Anything can happen and it’s best to have your dog’s information updated. #7. Once you’re in the new home, introduce your dog to it slowly. Start by placing the pet in one room, where you also place the dog’s water and toys. Give the dog some time to adjust, then slowly introduce the rest of the house, one room at a time. Doing it this way, will help your dog feel less overwhelmed by the unfamiliar environment. #8. Try to make the set up as familiar as possible. For example, if the dog’s bed was in the living-room by the couch in the old house, you should place it in the same spot again, and put some familiar objects by the bed, to make it as normal as possible. #9. Get back into your old routine as quickly as you can, and take your dog for long walks around the new neighborhood, to let him acclimate to the new surroundings. For more tips and tricks, join the Facebook community and share a picture of your pet. Your storage friends, US Storage Centers
