10 Tips for Keeping Your Pet Calm During a Move

Moving, whether it's across town or across the country, can be a stressful situation. While the human members of the family can understand the process enough to know the outcome is worth the struggle, the same can't be said for your pets. Disrupting a familiar routine and removing your pet from everything he knows in exchange for the pressure and chaos of moving can wreak havoc with his emotions. There are some ways to reduce the majority of that stress on your beloved, four-legged member of the family, though. These 10 tips can make the experience of moving less stressful for your pets, and for the rest of the family by extension.

• Put Safety First– When your vehicle is full of boxes and packages, making room for the appropriate crate or harness can be a challenge. That being said, a stressed and uncomfortable animal can pose a very real distraction hazard if he's left to wander freely through the vehicle. Make sure that you're taking the proper safety precautions when you're ready to transport your beloved fur baby from one home to the next.
• Avoid Overstimulation– As the proud owner of a beloved pet, you want to make sure that he's included in the process of turning your new house into a home. That being said, the confusion of shuffling furniture and boxes around will probably only make him more uncomfortable and increase his anxiety. On the big moving day, try to tuck your pet into an undisturbed room while you're going about the business of unloading vehicles. A stressed animal wants to be near his owner, and that can create more trouble when you're juggling heavy furniture and boxes. Once you have all of your belongings in the house and the moving truck has departed you can then let your pet come investigate his new digs.
• Bring Familiar Items– When you're in the process of getting your belongings packed or unloaded from a truck at the new house, your house will be in a state of upheaval. Make sure that your pet has his favorite toys and bedding, and easy access to the food and water bowls that are familiar to him. Maintaining some semblance of normalcy during this trying time will reduce the level of stress that moving brings to your pets.
• Don't Procrastinate– Moving is a long, hard job. It's tempting to put everything off until the last minute out of sheer dread, but this can actually create a more anxiety-filled environment for your pets. Stretching out the process of packing over a few weeks lets you avoid panic, which your pet will perceive and reflect.
• Stick to a Routine– If Fido goes out for a walk every afternoon at four, try to make sure that you uphold that routine, even on moving day. Maintaining the closest approximation to a normal feeding and walking routine will reduce the confusion and anxiety your pet feels, especially if there are a lot of new movers and service providers wandering around.
• Don't Skip the Leash– Even if your new place is fenced, you'll want to keep your dog on a leash for the first few times he ventures outside of the house. It's not uncommon for dogs that are removed from their home to make an effort to return, and yours may not yet understand that the new house is their new home. Until you're sure that there are no gaps in the fencing and that it's too high for your dog to jump over, it's best not to take any chances.
• Consider Boarding– Being separated from his family will be a difficult pill for your pet to swallow, but a few days in a high-quality boarding facility will give you the chance to execute a move. You'll be able to introduce your pet to his new home after all of your belongings are in place, which means that he can become acclimated to the space more easily. Unless you're planning a long-distance move that would make boarding an infeasible option, it might be wise to consider the pros and cons of a little pet vacation.
• Be Prepared for Behavioral Changes– Dogs may respond to a move with a bit of fear and regression in training, but cats are especially prone to behavioral changes after a move. Cats tend to be more in tune with their surroundings, and often don't adapt as easily to a new home as their puppy brethren. Punishing a cat for acting out will only make him distrustful, which will create a cycle of reactionary behavior. Be patient with your pets, and realize that these changes are almost certainly temporary.
• Inspect Your New Digs– If the former residents of your new home stowed activated mouse traps under the cabinets or there are large gaps between large appliances and walls, you can bet that becoming stuck or injured by such hazards will make your pet's stress level skyrocket. Make sure you give the property a thorough once-over before releasing the hounds, or you may find that the moving experience is even more fraught with tension than you imagined.
• Check Your Own Behavior– You've probably noticed that your pets seem to be quite perceptive of your moods and tend to react accordingly. When you're upset, they want to comfort you. When you're happy, they want to share in the fun. When you're stressed and anxious, they pick up on your feelings and feel uncertain, too. One of the most effective ways to help minimize your pet's moving stress is to make an effort to keep your own emotions under control. By retaining your composure and following a few simple steps, you'll be able to make sure that your move is as quick and painless as possible for every member of the family.

Resources:
http://petspot.aaa.com/pet-news/10-tips-to-reduce-moving-day-stress-for-...
http://www.petfinder.com/journal/index.cgi?article=861