The moment that you finally find a new home and start to move in may be overwhelming, but it is the end of a stressful process. Now is the time to settle down. It is also time for your pets to settle into a new place, and it may be a little more difficult for them. Even after you’ve exposed them to moving boxes, the moving truck, and any previous back and forth between old and new, they may still be weary about your new home. So, follow a few tips to make sure that your pets find a new home as comfortable as you do.

Before you bring your pets in for a final time, make sure that you’ve set up a space for them. Set up a new space with their favorite things, familiar smells in a new home, their food bowls, toys, blankets, and anything else that will help them feel less lost. Their “scents,” i.e. your scents, will bring them comfort. Offer blankets with your scent, t-shirts, sweaters, and even socks - whatever brings them back to the concept of home. Make sure this set up is ready to go for a pet going into a new home so they can quickly find a space area in which to rest.

When introducing a pet to a new home, use positive reinforcement for pets in a new home. Take them on a tour of the home, tell them about each room, and use your happy, excited voice to show them their sleeping area. Dogs, especially, are incredibly adept at reading body language, so, even if you aren’t excited, you need to lay it on for your dog. Follow him as he explores the house, reinforcing desirable behaviors and encouraging them to continually explore the place as their own. The tour should be a happy and exciting one, or your dog may retain some of the anxiety that you have and settling in may take a while.

Regardless of how your pet tours their new home, continue to maintain a normal routine and be patient. Feed them at the same time, in the same bowls; if they have a bed or cage, serve their food and water in a similar space. If you take your dog on a walk before and after work, make sure you continue to do so after moving into a new home. Whatever your routine entails, stick to it. If your pet doesn’t feel disrupted, it may lessen their stress levels and anxiety.

Moving with a pet can make you nervous, but don’t pass those nerves onto your furry children. Whether you’ve found a nearby apartment or moved into a community of one bedroom apartments in Lakewood, take care and be patient about your pet’s move, as well. They need you to lead them somewhere comfortable, and you are responsible for helping your pets feel at home in a new place.