Moving with dogs – do’s and don’ts

The moving process is pretty complicated, all things told. There are simply too many things to take care of, too many things to look out for. That is why most of the people acquire services from movers Grafton MA, for their Grafton moves, for example. However, even with their help, if we have dogs things complicate further. There are many dos and don’ts of moving with dogs. Some of them are pretty simple and straightforward, such as preparation. Some of them are not as readily apparent, however, such as your dog’s emotional needs. You will also need to exercise your dog quite a bit before the move. Finally, make sure that the kennel your dog is in during the move is properly ventilated.

We will go into these in more detail but let’s start with:

Do’s when moving with dogs

We will start with what you do need to do when traveling with your furry companions. The shortlist looks like this:

• Prepare in advance!
• Consider your dog’s emotional needs
• Moving with dogs – Exercise your pet before the move
• Make sure that their kennel is ventilated

As we already said, a relocation takes a lot of time and nerves. Therefore, you should know how to mentally prepare for the moving day!

Prepare in advance!

As with everything else in life, good moving preparation is key. For this, you need to know what your companion requires and what you can do to make the process easier for him or her. Make sure to have all the necessary equipment, that varies with the age of the dog, beforehand. Make sure that your pet is vetted and that all the travel requirements are met. After that, you may want to create a checklist of things that you need to do prior to the move.

Consider your dog’s emotional needs

Your dog is an emotional animal. That is to say, it can experience fear and anxiety, like a human being. Make sure to account for this, as much as your dog requires it. Some dogs are just fine with some extra attention prior to the move while others may even need sedatives. Similar to human beings when they get moving quotes Massachusetts. Some will simply shrug while others will have a bit more of a reaction.

In any case, the best course of action is to simply pretend nothing special is happening. Try to keep their routine consistent during the move. This means that you want to feed them, play with them, etc. at the same time you normally would.

Consistency is the key here, it will make your dog’s move a lot less stressful.

Moving with dogs – Exercise your pet before the move

If you want your dog to be in the perfect shape for your local move, as in quiet and calm, then you want to exercise it as much as possible before the move. If your dog is tired, it will not have the energy to be annoying or complicated during the move.

That’s why you need to give it proper attention beforehand and tire it out as much as possible. If you can’t do it on your own, due to other work you need to do, try to ask a friend or a family member to do it. The important thing is that you tire the dog thoroughly.

Make sure that their kennel is ventilated

If you are using a kennel to move your dog and in most cases, you should, then make sure that the air can flow freely in and out. Your dog needs to breathe properly and you will prevent many nasty side-effects of moving if your kennel is properly ventilated.

Also, make sure that the kennel has all the necessary information on it, such as your dog’s name and information that pertains to ID.

What not to do when moving with dogs?

Here is a list of most common things of what not to do with your pet when moving:

• Do not forget to bring your dogs health record from your vet
• Don’t forget to check the airplane rules and restrictions
• Moving with dogs – Do not feed your dog right before moving
• Don’t mix your belongings with your dogs moving day necessities

Do not forget to bring your dogs health record from your vet

This is really important. You simply can’t forget this one. Make a note, on several places even, to do this prior to the move. Some states will not allow your dog entry if you don’t have this document. Needless to say, that is a true horror situation for both you and your dog. Simply put, don’t be in that situation.

Don’t forget to check the airplane rules and restrictions

If you are traveling via airplane you need to know that different airlines have different restrictions and rules that concern dogs. Do your research before you get on the flight if you want to avoid any nasty surprises.

The best thing to do is to call the company’s support center and have them explain exactly what you need to do concerning your dog. That way you will have the most current information to date.

Moving with dogs – Do not feed your dog right before moving

Another thing that you absolutely can’t do is to feed your dog prior to the move. While this might seem cruel to you, it actually is not. Your dog will be perfectly fine with not eating for some time, provided it does not have a condition that says otherwise. Be sure to consult with your vet if your dog has an eating condition of any kind.

Don’t mix your belongings with your dogs moving day necessities

And, finally, make sure that everything that your dog needs is in a special place, easily accessible. Never mix anything that your dog might need with anything that you might need. Simply fill up a “dog necessity bag” and clearly label it. That way whenever you need something for your dog, you know where it is. Don’t try to save space on this one.