Hey everyone! Linda Lou here. I must first apologize for my lack of blogging over the last month. I have been moving and shaking, and I don’t mean in a funky chicken sort of way! I have literally been moving all of my beds, blankies and toys to a new house. This has been an all-consuming task, and I feel that I must give you some tips if you ever decide to move with your pets, to make it easier on them (and you)!
- Let’s start with packing and boxes…. So many boxes! For the most part, we don’t mind boxes because we know that is how things come from the Amazon people. Boxes aren’t really strange for us furry beings. If possible though, start bringing boxes in to your new home gradually, so your pets can get used to the new landscape. Please keep at least one part of the house box-free and “normal” looking with a pet bed or two as a retreat for your overwhelmed friend.
- Avoid changing routines. As tempting as it may be to keep packing your sock drawer, if it is time for Fluffy’s pre-dinner stroll, stop packing and start walking. Dogs and cats are very routine-oriented animals and we appreciate when our daily activities remain the same. Your socks won’t rebel, but we may.
- I know how chaotic and stressful moving can be on you humans, but please make sure you still pay attention to your fuzzy family members. Spend some time every day focusing on them. Playing with us keeps our stress levels lower by burning off some anxious energy! Studies show that playing and petting your pets lowers people’s stress levels too. So it’s a win-win situation 🙂
- Contact your veterinarian to make sure that your pets are up-to-date on vaccines, and make sure that you have enough medications on-hand for your move. Things can and will get forgotten, but Pookie’s heart medication should not be one of them. If you are moving out of your vet’s service area, get copies of your pet’s charts to bring with you for a new vet. Your veterinarian may even be willing to send their records directly to your new vet’s office, which means one less thing for you to accidentally misplace in the moving process!
- Pack your pet’s belongings in their own box and label it clearly. I know I wanted my favorite bed and toys out right away when we moved into our new place. My parents are still digging through boxes, but they took my things and my sisters’ things out right away – which made us very happy!
- On the day of the move, try to find a friend to watch your pets or take them to a trusted boarding or day care facility. My mom brought us into the House Paws office and the wonderful gals there watched us all day. When our papa picked us up and brought us to our new home, my mom already had our favorite beds out, so it felt like home.
While I would rate moving at a “10/10 – do NOT recommend,” I know that it can be an unavoidable decision for humans. I’m glad my mom and dad did their best to keep it as low-key as possible for me and my chihuahua sisters. And on the bright side, next spring I will have WAAAYYY more squirrels to chase at our new place!
Later,
Linda Lou, the newly relocated Blog Dog
