Moving with Dogs

[SaddlePsych'D]

I'm hoping this is one of those classic me things of worrying unnecessarily, but maybe looking for top tips to help Ivy out during a period of change and stress for her humans!

We are selling our house and it's not working out that we can buy at the same time. I'd had a nice smooth transition planned out for her to be with my mum on moving day and start walking her in the new area before moving, my new job is wfh so being able to gradually build up to leaving her in the new place. Probably OTT but remembering how much impact change can have on dogs and how long it took her to gain confidence again when we moved last time.

We're probably going to have to move into rented accommodation (hoping finding somewhere that accepts pets will be possible!), and/or in with family if we can't meet the date for exchange/completion our buyers want. So instead of one move this year looking at two or three.

It's not ideal for any of us, but here we are. Any advice or suggestions for how we can keep Ivy as happy as possible (whilst trying to keep ourselves sane!) through this all would be really appreciated

 

[Petalpoos]

Have you ever taken Ivy with you on holiday? If so, I am not sure how what you are proposing would seem any different to her. The biggest problem may be when she sees your house being packed into boxes.

When I go away to holiday cottages etc with mine I just try and keep her routine, with all the little rituals, the same and she never seems bothered. I think dogs are more attached to their humans than places.

Good luck with your move.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Have you ever taken Ivy with you on holiday? If so, I am not sure how what you are proposing would seem any different to her. The biggest problem may be when she sees your house being packed into boxes.

When I go away to holiday cottages etc with mine I just try and keep her routine, with all the little rituals, the same and she never seems bothered. I think dogs are more attached to their humans than places.

Good luck with your move.

We take her to stay with family and once on holiday, she has stayed with family when we've been on holiday without her. For the most part she's settled okay once she's found her spot to have her bed, had a good sniff round everywhere, and been shown where to toilet).

I think you are right about the boxes thing. When we pack to go away for a weekend she gets very bouncy when we're packing up to get in the car!

I will start packing now but maybe have to be a bit sneaky about it then stick with my plan for her to be at my mum's for moving day.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Daycare Dog is moving house in a couple of weeks, if all goes well. She will spend the night before moving day with us, then the Friday and Friday night here, too so that her owner can get the house reasonably straight before DD goes to the new house, where she will find her bed, bowls and toys waiting for her. The biggest problem is that she buries things in the garden and wants to keep checking that they are still there/undisturbed. So owner is hoping that she can stop her burying anything in the last week at their current house.

 

[HopOnTrot]

My older dog has lived in 7 different houses, when he was younger he took this all in his stride. My youngest dog has only every lived in one house but settles quickly anywhere.

Now old dog has cognitive decline, he gets medication from the vets to help him settle away from home.

 

[I'm Dun]

Mine dont bat an eyelid so long as Im there and there's a comfy bed. I think the more they do it the easier it gets, but even sensitive flowers cope better than you would think. Theyve gone from boats to caravans to hotels etc etc. I don't leave them alone for the first few days till they settle in and get used to the place and routine, but they usually do fine.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Mine dont bat an eyelid so long as Im there and there's a comfy bed. I think the more they do it the easier it gets, but even sensitive flowers cope better than you would think. Theyve gone from boats to caravans to hotels etc etc. I don't leave them alone for the first few days till they settle in and get used to the place and routine, but they usually do fine.

Thank you, this is just the reassurance I need!

I think I'm probably the sensitive flower here and projecting it onto the dog

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Am now realising the bigger problem will be finding somewhere that doesn't say 'no pets'

 

[Cinnamontoast]

When we stay in holiday places, we use the gate sections to block off a bit of a room at night and closed all the doors so the dogs are contained. We’re visible so they aren’t freaked out. Maybe contain her temporarily? I’m going to keep mine in the garden of the cottage on Friday to start with and stay with them til they’ve emptied bladders then allow them into the kitchen then the rest of the downstairs.

 

[Rokele55]

I've moved many times. I don't think the dogs have really noticed inside, as long as the people and possibly furniture is familiar. Outside it is a marvellous adventure

 

[paisley]

The mostly whippet has had to move about 9 times with me (!). It’s very much the packing up that make him tense and suspicious. Can you have your Mum take Ivy for the occasional day now, to get her used to it? I would then pack what you can when she’s not in the house and keep the boxes somewhere she can’t see them if possible. Definitely have her stay with Mum on the actual moving. In general, once we’ve settled in, and he’s had a nice walk he’s fine for his bed and a sleep.

 

[honetpot]

Most dogs love the car, I have never had any problems moving with dogs, but I do put the dogs in the car with their bedding when we have people going in and out, and perhaps take them for a short run after, so they associate it with a good thing.
When we did a long distance move I had two cats, two children and a goat in the back of a Vauxall Nova hatchback, the goat got the best of the deal because she had the whole of the boot space.
Your animals home is you, so as long as you are consistent, and not too stressed they will be fine.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

The mostly whippet has had to move about 9 times with me (!). It’s very much the packing up that make him tense and suspicious. Can you have your Mum take Ivy for the occasional day now, to get her used to it? I would then pack what you can when she’s not in the house and keep the boxes somewhere she can’t see them if possible. Definitely have her stay with Mum on the actual moving. In general, once we’ve settled in, and he’s had a nice walk he’s fine for his bed and a sleep.

We've tested out a little bit of packing today. OH took Ivy for a walk this morning so I could move some furniture and then we've filled some boxes with books and bits and bobs, so not too loud or disruptive. Ivy's been her normal self. Popped in to the room to sniff things a couple of times but otherwise snoozing in her usual spot in another room. I think we can do our clothes and things pretty easily too as she doesn't go in our room much, other than to get OH up in the mornings. For the more disruptive packing I think we'll take turns taking her for a walk so the other one can crack on for a bit, and I'll get back to making up Kongs to keep her occupied.

Mum is on standby for moving day although we still don't know exactly when that will be. No worries about that part, as fairly sure Ivy likes mum's house more than she does ours!

In better news, we've found about five places to enquire about for rental so I can get on that tomorrow. Two are on a farm and I am very excited at the idea of living on a farm for a bit! Just keeping everything crossed that they will consider pets as per the ads.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Just to say, we let ours have the run of two rooms downstairs over the weekend at the Airbnb and there were no issues, Goose didn’t even pee on anything!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Little update... we have managed to get as far as booking a couple of viewings (two options on one site) for Friday. The agent was really lovely on the phone and not at all phased by us having a dog. There's hope!

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Little update... we have managed to get as far as booking a couple of viewings (two options on one site) for Friday. The agent was really lovely on the phone and not at all phased by us having a dog. There's hope!

Excellent news!

 

[Denali]

My dog always started worrying when boxes or suitcases came out. I moved three times with him.

When he realized he was coming he was okay. The only struggle he really had was being overly on guard in the new place and you could see him just struggling to stay awake.

I always made sure I had two weeks off of work to spend with him in the new house.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

My dog always started worrying when boxes or suitcases came out. I moved three times with him.

When he realized he was coming he was okay. The only struggle he really had was being overly on guard in the new place and you could see him just struggling to stay awake.

I always made sure I had two weeks off of work to spend with him in the new house.

So far so good with the few boxes we did over the weekend. She doesn't like the sound of us taping them up but otherwise seeming unfussed so far.

She's always been great with the car. Possibly too good. Once she got in the front of my car before I had a chance to tell her not to and it was awkward getting her out, once in the back of my mum's three door then all three of us realised getting her back out would be an issue, and once totally unprompted into the back of OH's dad's work van just because she fancied it

As soon as the suitcase comes out she's like "boom! yes! holiday! where are we going?!" and won't calm down until we load her into the car. She loves going to my mum's, OH's parents', and to the big secure field.

I've got three weeks between jobs so hoping we can get moved early in the first week and get settled. New job is wfh. Then I will have to work out how to get her used to being alone again, though she's never really struggled with that.

 

[Denali]

So far so good with the few boxes we did over the weekend. She doesn't like the sound of us taping them up but otherwise seeming unfussed so far.

She's always been great with the car. Possibly too good. Once she got in the front of my car before I had a chance to tell her not to and it was awkward getting her out, once in the back of my mum's three door then all three of us realised getting her back out would be an issue, and once totally unprompted into the back of OH's dad's work van just because she fancied it

As soon as the suitcase comes out she's like "boom! yes! holiday! where are we going?!" and won't calm down until we load her into the car. She loves going to my mum's, OH's parents', and to the big secure field.

I've got three weeks between jobs so hoping we can get moved early in the first week and get settled. New job is wfh. Then I will have to work out how to get her used to being alone again, though she's never really struggled with that.

It sounds like she will be okay! Fingers crossed you need to move about so much in between homes.

 

[Clodagh]

Little update... we have managed to get as far as booking a couple of viewings (two options on one site) for Friday. The agent was really lovely on the phone and not at all phased by us having a dog. There's hope!

How did you get on?

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Thanks for checking in

One is a maybe. It's on an unfinished new build estate which is not my thing at all but we probably can't be that picky! It did at least have a garden and a space I can set up for WFH. We tried to walk to nearby countryside but couldn't because they're building on it I just needed to see the world beyond the estate because it's huge!

The two on one site were on a farm in barn conversions, but I didn't realise they were right in amongst multiple large air BnB properties. There was lack of privacy, and one of them I think the floor had been done wrong - it was so cold and/or poorly ventilated that our socks got soaked through from condensation. These were not cheap options either. I wanted to love them as the location was beautiful but it feels like a risky choice for WFH, especially in summer. Lovely for a week or two away, but less so if we are there longer term which we probably will be.

Trawling the ads again this eve and have another viewing set up for next weekend already so we're not out of options.

 

[I'm Dun]

Thanks for checking in

One is a maybe. It's on an unfinished new build estate which is not my thing at all but we probably can't be that picky! It did at least have a garden and a space I can set up for WFH. We tried to walk to nearby countryside but couldn't because they're building on it I just needed to see the world beyond the estate because it's huge!

The two on one site were on a farm in barn conversions, but I didn't realise they were right in amongst multiple large air BnB properties. There was lack of privacy, and one of them I think the floor had been done wrong - it was so cold and/or poorly ventilated that our socks got soaked through from condensation. These were not cheap options either. I wanted to love them as the location was beautiful but it feels like a risky choice for WFH, especially in summer. Lovely for a week or two away, but less so if we are there longer term which we probably will be.

Trawling the ads again this eve and have another viewing set up for next weekend already so we're not out of options.

when you start viewing rental options its eye opening how bad it is!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

when you start viewing rental options its eye opening how bad it is!

Yup, it's been a while since we were last looking and I don't remember it being this bad.

OH has added another two viewings for next weekend, and I think I'm going to do a FB wanted ad tomorrow to try and find some more landlords directly/properties not listed elsewhere. I was looking on various estate websites yesterday but nothing in budget available.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Further update - we went on a mission last weekend for viewings, applied for one of them and today been told we passed the reference check so we are moving in just over a week!

Ivy is managing okay with the bits of packing we've done so far and not seeming too phased by boxes being around. I've kept them out of 'her' room to keep that one her chill out space. She doesn't like when we make the boxes up so I'll make up a load when OH takes her for a walk.

Mum is on standby to have Ivy stay for a couple of nights so we can move and get some unpacking done. We probably have to go this weekend to do some document checks at the agents so thinking to do another dog walk in the area (maybe visit the pub again, get the pub dog training going!) so its not totally brand new when we move.

Also there are three (three!) secure fields under 10 mins drive away which is so exciting as the garden is a bit smaller than we'd like. Our current nearest is 25 mins and always booked up a good week or two in advance so I'll be really pleased to get back in a proper regular routine of Ivy having off-lead time in a big space, on top of all the excellent long-line walking we'll be able to do.

We also have a choice of three vet practices in the nearest town (seems a lot for a small town!) so doing my research to see which one looks the best.

 

[Amymay Again]

Such a great update xx

 

[Clodagh]

That’s great news. What a weight off your mind. Is this where you hope to buy eventually?

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

That’s great news. What a weight off your mind. Is this where you hope to buy eventually?

We're not sure. We'd never heard of the village before and the local town was a bit lower down on our list. The next town along was higher on the list and we'd actually put an offer in on a house there (not accepted, it's still on the market a month later ). It will depend a bit on what happens with OH's job too.

It gets us out of the city and into the countryside which I've wanted to do for a long time now. Maybe long term might want to move into a town with a bit more going on but we'll see.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Checking in again. I think this thread is helping to worry less!

I've noticed Ivy a little unsettled now that we've intensified the packing and when OH was dismantling wardrobes yesterday. Mainly just her panting occasionally but she's back in her bed snoozing away just now, so perhaps only miffed about her naps being interrupted. We're doing our best to leave the room she's in alone. I've made up Lickmats and found a marrow bone in the freezer so I might set her up outside in the garden this afternoon with that while we get stuck in packing up the kitchen.

Yesterday had to go over to letting agent with ID docs and stopped at 'our' village on the way back for a walk. At least then Ivy has already walked the local area a bit (and been in both pubs!) She had her happy bouncy ears and tail on, so I have a good feeling she'll find it much easier to settle in than when we moved to our current house.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Daycare Dog stayed with us for 4 days in the end, until most of the boxes had been emptied. She was a bit unsettled for a few days, came back to us while owner sorted stuff out, and fell asleep. She had obviously been alert overnight. But we called for a cuppa with our dogs yesterday and DD was very pleased to show them all round her new house and garden. She has designated a new chair as hers.

 

[I'm Dun]

Packing or when I get my mad, let's rearrange the furniture and make a massive mess days, always unsettles mine. The younger one less, but my older boy lived for 5yrs in the same place and he's just a bit of a worrier. The actual moving is all one fun adventure though