Moving with Pets

Moving with Pets - Guelph Real Estate Advice

This blog post made for an easy excuse to post a photo of my Boston Terrier, Dottie.

Moving to a new home is exciting, but it’s also a stressful process. And that stress affects everyone in the house – including your pets. If you’re an animal lover like me, you’ll no doubt make it a priority to identify ways to make the move as seamless as possible for your furry friends.

Here is some advice designed to help you plan properly and provide your pet with some reassurance in the midst of so much change.

Before you move:

  1. If you have a dog, consider walking him in the neighbourhood a few times before the move. Park near the home you’re buying, and just walk around and let your dog explore – and mark – the territory. 
  2. If you are buying a home with a fenced-in backyard, include a visual inspection of the fence perimeter on your list of things to check on your final walk-through. Look for any gaps or holes where your dog could escape. If you find any, plan to make fixing those a priority before you let your dog run freely in your backyard.
  3. Order new pet ID tags with updated address and phone information, so that if your pet goes missing the neighbours will know who to call.

On move-in day:

  1. Move-in day and pets really don’t mix – at least in my opinion. It’s such a hectic day with so much going on. Doors will be opening and closing and a number of unfamiliar people are likely to be on site. Instead of expecting your pet to deal with that chaos, ask a friend (or a veterinarian, or groomer, etc.) to care for your pet while you’re moving. Once the dust has settled, bring in your pet. Likely, some furniture from your previous home will be moved in – and those ‘old’ smells can be reassuring to your pet. For those with cats, you may find that your feline friend will be most comfortable starting out in a smaller room. Cats will likely prefer to explore the rest of the house on their own timeline.

After the move:

  1. With so much going on, it can be a challenge to pamper your pet in the days after a move. However, it’s important to make your pet a priority and to keep up with the routines that your pet is familiar with. Set time aside and continue with things like regularly-scheduled walks, feeding schedules, etc. The continuity will be reassuring for your pet, in the midst of so much change.
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