Moving can be an exciting and anxiety-inducing endeavor. On the one hand, there’s excitement in knowing that you’re moving into your dream home. But on the other hand, you also have quite a lot of packing, planning, and running around to do. Now imagine the latter with pets underfoot.
Pets, especially cats and dogs, are territorial creatures. So your current house is not just a home for them; it’s where they feel they belong. It’s where they feel secure. When you’re about to move, it’s critical that you also help acclimate your pets to what’s happening. You need to have a moving plan for your pet that ensures they remain well-adjusted from the time you start packing to the last day in your current house.
Preparing for the Move
You will understandably be busy with packing, but you shouldn’t neglect your duties as a fur parent. You’d still have to stick to their daily feeding and walking schedule. If possible, give them walks in the new neighborhood to let them get used to the sights and smells of their new surroundings
Now would also be an excellent time to plan for your transportation on moving day. Are you planning to haul your stuff? Or will you hire professional movers? You should be asking yourself the same questions when talking about your pets.
Will you be taking your pet in your vehicle? Or will you need help from a professional pet transporter? If it’s a cross-country move, hiring out ground transportation for your pets might be a better choice because it gives you one less thing to worry about.
The Importance of Crate Training
Regardless of which way you plan on transporting your pet, handling your pets would be easier at this time if they are crate trained. Ideally, you would’ve had them crate trained from the time they were puppies or kittens. But if they weren’t, here are some tips to help you get them used to crates now.
- Pick the right-sized crate. Your pets need to feel secure in their containers. If they’re fond of dark, tight spaces, look for ones that are more enclosed. If they prefer corners where you’ll remain visible, go for wire crates. Either way, make sure they can stand up comfortably inside the crate.
- Give them a treat when they go into the crate on their own. Don’t force your pet to enter the container. Instead, wait for them to feel comfortable going in. You can entice them by placing shirts, towels, or pillows inside the crate. You can also put some of their favorite toys in there. Make sure to give them lots of praise and treats when they do stay there.
- Make it fun by playing games. Does your dog like to play fetch? Instead of throwing the ball or toy out in the wild, play fetch where it ends up inside the crate. The more fun they associate with the crate, the faster they’ll get in getting comfortable in it.
- Remove all collars and tags when they’re inside the crate. Experts call it going “naked.” For one thing, it’s a safety issue. If they don’t like the container, and they start struggling, their tags could get caught in the wires, and they could strangle themselves.
Once you get your pet comfortably crate trained, packing up and moving will be a breeze. On days when you get busy going from room to room, you’ll feel secure knowing that your pet is just chilling in their new crate instead of worrying that you’ll trip over them.
Securing them in their crate on moving day would also be one less thing you need to be stressed about. If it’s a long trip, make sure they have enough food and water to last the journey. If you hired a professional transporter, be sure to have a secure means of communication so you can check in from time to time.