Tips For Moving House With a Dog
14th February 2025
Give your pampered pooch the best possible start at your new address by following these tips for before, during and after the move.
Moving house is an exciting time, full of adventure and new starts. However, it can also be overwhelming, especially for our four-legged friends. Dogs are very territorial. Your pooch probably knows every inch of your current home and its backyard inside-out, and it is likely on a first-bark basis with all the other dogs in your street, too.
So, when your dog senses change in the air, it's understandable they might feel stressed. Here are some tips to help reduce anxiety when moving house with a dog.
Looking after your dog before the move
Dogs are perceptive creatures and can sense changes in their environment, which can make them feel anxious about upcoming moves. To help minimise your dog’s stress in the weeks leading up to the move, consider these tips:
- Maintain their routine: Stick to their regular schedule as much as possible. This includes regular walks and playtime, even amid the chaos of packing.
- Introduce them to the new home: If feasible, bring your dog to the new house before moving day. This can help them acclimate and reduce confusion when the actual move happens.
- Keep familiar items until last: Leave your dog’s bedding and toys unpacked until moving day. Having familiar items around as the house empties can provide comfort during the transition.
Before you move, especially if you’ll be relocating a long distance and need to find a new vet, it’s important to take these steps:
- Visit your current vet: Request your pet’s medical history, vaccination records, and desexing certificate.
- Organise your dog’s paperwork: Ensure their registration is current, update their ID tags, and verify the microchip details.
These precautions are important because the chances of your dog escaping during or right after the move are a little higher than usual.
Not a customer? Join Red Energy today.
Looking after your dog on the day of the move
Many people choose to enlist the help of a dog sitter or friend on the day of the move. This way, your dog doesn’t have to experience all those last-minute stresses and you can concentrate on getting the most important things unpacked in your new home before nightfall.
If finding help isn’t possible, then remember to prioritise your dog’s needs. Ensure they have food, water and a safe, secure space as doors are often left wide open on moving day. If you need to, put your dog in a closed room with some toys to prevent them from wandering off.
Upon arrival at your new place, conduct a thorough check of the backyard to ensure it’s fully enclosed. If there are concerns about escape routes under gates or over fences, supervise your dog closely until these areas are secure. Preventing a runaway scenario in a new neighbourhood is key on moving day.
How to settle your dog when you have moved
Once the heavy lifting is done, furniture arranged and boxes stacked for unpacking, it’s time to help your dog feel at home. Here are some tips for helping them settle into their new surroundings:
- Set up familiar spaces: Position your dog’s bed, feeding bowl, and any other familiar items similarly to their setup in the previous home.
- Maintain comforting scents: Don’t wash your dog’s bed or blanket for a week or so, as they’ll love that familiar scent.
- Explore the neighbourhood: Take your dog for plenty of walks around the new neighbourhood to familiarise them with the local streets.
- Maintain a balanced approach: While it’s natural to want to shower your pooch with love, try to maintain a balanced approach to prevent overwhelming them.
- Gradual time alone: In the first few days, try not to leave your dog at home alone – and then gradually increase the time you're away, and check in with neighbours to monitor any signs of distress such as excessive barking or whining.
Dogs generally take about a week to settle into their new surroundings. If, despite doing all of the above, your pooch is showing signs of stress – like more barking than usual, chewing on furniture or other household items, scratching at doors or attempts to escape – then you might want to pay a visit to your new vet for advice on reducing their anxiety.
The final word
Moving house is a big deal for dogs. And moving house with a dog can be a challenge. By taking steps before, during, and after the move to ease their anxiety, you can ensure a smoother transition for both you and your furry friend. With these tips, your dog will be wagging their tail at the door of your new home in no time.
Join Red today
We’ve been powering what matters to Australians since 2004. Switch or move with Red today.
References
-
About Red Energy
Red Energy is 100% owned by Snowy Hydro Limited, who own, manage, and maintain the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme in New South Wales. Our Customer Solutions team is 100% based in Australia.