Tails of Travel: Tips for Making Moving Easier on your Pets {Guest Post)

For a lot of us, our pets are like our children; they can be a handful and you may become frustrated with them at times, but their constant love and companionship is always worth it in the end. One of those trying times with your pet, however, is during a big move. The process of moving from one home to the next can be nerve wracking not only for you but for your furry, four-legged kids, as well. Fortunately there are steps you can take to keep your critters calm and less anxious during the moving process.

Before you move: creating a place of peace

Even if your pet isn’t prone to anxiety issues, the fact that you’re drastically changing his or her surroundings as you box up and organize your home for a move will make them feel out of sorts. To prevent this you can do a number of things:

• Daycare: Whether your pet is used to spending time at a local pet daycare or is new to the experience, look into keeping him or her at one during the day starting at least a week or two in advance of when you plan to start packing. Once they’re accustomed to the daycare environment, begin packing while they’re away and stop when they get home. That way they might sense something is different, but you won’t be distracted by packing and instead will be able to focus on your pet with ear scratches, belly rubs and much needed attention.

To create a simple aromatherapy rub, simply mix 10 ñ 12 drops of lavender essential oil with about ½ oz. of olive oil or jojoba oil and rub just a few drops into the area around their ears, armpits and inner thighs. Also, make sure to continue with your pet’s regular exercise and activity routine to keep them feeling as “normal” as possible.

Moving day

A calm car trip with your pet doesn’t necessarily mean going straight for the medication. There are actually a few options for keeping calm in the car, though it’s best to always consult with your veterinarian for the best overall option for your particular pet:

• Calming music: Through a Dog’s Ear (http://throughadogsear.com), or TADE, has appeared in the national media recently as a unique way of calming your dog without the use of medication. The albums are comprised of classical solo piano pieces specifically designed to lower your dog’s heart rate and encourage a sense of calm. The Music to Calm Your Canine Companion, Vol. 1, which is recommended specifically for household moves, includes Shumann’s “Child Sleeping,” Mozart’s “Sonata in A Major,” and Beethoven’s “Pathetique” among others.

Once you arrive, be sure to unpack your pet’s favorite items first and place them in a temperature controlled, well-lit, well-ventilated room that won’t see a lot of activity for a while so that he or she will have time to adjust to the new environment. Continue to stick as closely as possible to your pet’s regular exercise and activity schedule and above all, be sure to take the time to reassure them that everything is going to be just fine.

What are some ways that you’ve found to keep your pet calm during a big move?

The above is a guest post from Kenneth McCall, who builds creative and innovative tools for customers seeking self storage units. Kenneth is managing partner at storage.com which provides storage units in Snellville, Georgia and in other locations across the country. In his spare time he likes to get outside, ideally with a boat and water skis.