Tips For Moving House With Your Dog
Editor's note: The chances are that at some
stage you will need to move home with your dog at least once.
There are some very useful tips in this article about how to do
so with the minimum of disruption for your dog. Moving house is
a stressful time for both humans and their canine friends. But
there are things you can do to make life easier for
them.
* You should first check out the new property for any potential
problems, ahead of time. Are there any holes in the fence? Is
the fence too low, so that your dog is likely to escape into an
unfamiliar neighborhood? You don't want to arrive, with all
your furniture and belongings packed up, only to have the added
stress of finding your wandering dog.
* Find out whether the area you are moving to has problems with
heartworm or paralysis ticks. This is particularly important if
you are moving overseas or interstate.
* To be prepared for all possible contingencies, find out where
the closest after-hours animal emergency center is. That way,
if there's a serious problem, you'll be able to address it
quickly, without searching the neighborhood. You could also see
if your old vet has any recommendations for vets in the area.
And its a good idea to get a copy of your dog's veterinary
history before you go, particularly if he has ongoing
problems.
* Will you be traveling by car? Has your dog
traveled in the car before? Dogs can get carsick too. Don't
feed your dog for 4 or so hours before you need to leave. If
your dog salivates a lot in the car, be sure to take plenty of
towels along. If he salivates a lot, you may want to consider
crating him for the journey. If you have a grid that you can
put in the bottom of the crate, he will remain dry.
* If your dog has never been in the car before, try taking him
for short trips before you need to move. Some dogs can get
nervous in cars, and this way, he'll have a chance to get used
to the experience. Try avoiding trips in heavy traffic,
however. The frequent stops and starts in traffic can make dogs
feel nauseous.
* Don't let your dog put his head out the window! It can damage
his eyes, and some dogs will jump out - even when the car is
moving.
* If you're moving quite far away from your old home, you might
want to take along some water, enough to last him a few days.
Some dogs can get sick when getting used to new water, due to
the different 'bugs' that can be in water. Whilst he will get
used to the new water, it can be less stressful on him
physically and emotionally if he is feeling well.
* In case your dog does escape after the move, it helps to have
a recent photograph of him that isn't packed away.
* If you are traveling by car, make sure you stop regularly, so
that he has a chance to have a drink, and go to the toilet. You
don't want him getting dehydrated.
References: 1. Dogs Life, Jan/Feb 2006
2. B Kilcommons and S Wilson, Good Owners, Great Dogs If you're
thinking of building a dog house in your new home, check out
this article on dog house blue prints. For more dog house and kennel articles, click
here.
| 
