Moving is a stressful experience for most humans, and it is not any different for your dog. Bathroom accidents in the house, excessive barking, and symptoms of illness are issues that your dog may develop due to the stress of moving. Eliminating strict deadlines as you pack and move will help keep stress levels down for the entire family, humans and furry animals alike. In fact, it's a good idea to tack on a couple of extra weeks to your estimated moving timeline if possible. Here are a few other techniques you can use to make your move less stressful on your family dog, and therefore for your human family members too:

Make Use of a Collapsible Kennel

Investing in a collapsible kennel is an excellent way to ensure that your furry family member isn't underfoot while you are busy packing and to keep them feeling safe throughout all the commotion. You can fold the kennel up and store it under a couch, in a closet, or on the porch when it isn't in use, then quickly set it up and get your dog ready for a safe and comfortable day when needed.

Collapsible kennels will make it easy to set your dog up in a quiet corner or a bathroom while movers are loading your boxes and furniture into your moving truck, which will eliminate the chance that your furry family member runs away and gets lost in all the commotion. It's also a good idea to keep your pooch inside the kennel anytime a door will be opened for extended lengths of time. The kennel is sure to come in handy at your new home while your dog gets used to the new sights, smells, and feelings of the new house.

Work with Professional Movers

Hiring professional movers like Wheaton World Wide Moving to work with should help lower stress levels for your dog and your human family. They'll do all of the legwork that is required to move your boxes, furniture, and personal items from your old home to your new one so you can focus on taking the dog for a walk and spending time with your family to maintain some normalcy throughout the moving process.

Getting out of the house while your stuff is being moved should help keep everyone in a good mood, and it will ensure that your dog doesn't have a chance to run away or act aggressively toward the movers. Spend some time at the park or checking out areas of your community that you haven't had a chance to experience before your move. Overall, hiring movers to do all the heavy lifting will minimize your distractions during the days leading up to your actual move so you can focus on taking care of the needs of your family and dog.

Engage with the New Neighborhood Beforehand

Dogs rely on routine, so giving your pooch an opportunity to learn about their new neighborhood before actually moving there can greatly reduce the stress they feel when you're getting settled into the new house. If possible, head to your new neighborhood before the move and take your dog to the local parks, walk them around the block of your new home, and check out local dog groups and agility programs. Make a point to get to know other dog owners in the neighborhood and schedule a few doggy play dates before your big move so your pooch has some friends to look forward to. If you have children, they'll likely benefit from visiting their new schools and meeting new friends at the park before your move too.

These techniques should help ensure that your dog and your family members feel less stress while you plan and execute your move to a new home.