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Tips For Dealing With Your Puppy On Moving Day

16 October 2015 by David Diaz

If you want to stand back and let the experts take care of your move, then it is wise to hire a moving company who will take care of the packing, moving, and unpacking for you. While these professionals will likely be able to take care of safely transporting everything from your fine china to your sofa sleeper, there are still some precious items that you will want to handle on your own. Your new puppy is one of them, and you will want to make sure that you do everything in your power to make sure that your puppy is transported to your new home without any safety issues, stress, or behavioral concerns. Keep reading to learn about the safe transport of your dog in your car and what you should do to secure your dog before they can be placed in your vehicle.

Consider Car Safety

You will most likely transport your puppy in your vehicle when you are ready to make your way to your new house. While this is wise, you need to make sure your pup is secured properly. Most puppies are adopted around the 8 week mark, when they bond with their human owners. This bonding occurs as you, the puppy's new guardian, take care of the dog's needs in the same way that their mother did. This bond is extremely important to your pup, and he will look towards your for comfort and closeness in situations of distress or unease. Riding in a car during a time of turmoil, like a move, is one of these situations.

Unfortunately, young puppies tend to cry, pace, and try to cuddle close to their owners when they are unsure. If you are driving, then this can be distracting and quite dangerous. Instead of letting your puppy wander your car in distress, make sure he is secured. The best way to secure a puppy is in a small crate that can fit in the back seat. This crate should be strapped into the seatbelt of the car. Look for straps that wrap around the crate and then attach to the seatbelt strap or the buckle. This will secure the crate much like the way a child car seat is secured. 

When to Secure Your Pup in the Car

Your car may be the safest place to keep your puppy while you make sure the moving crew is on track. However, it is not safe to keep your dog in your car for an extended period of time. This is true even if it is a moderately warm day. Unfortunately, a vehicle can reach 100 or 120 degrees Fahrenheit on the inside, even if the outdoor temperatures only reach the upper 70s. At these hot temperatures, your dog can quickly come down with a case of heat stroke.

While an open window can let in some fresh air into the car, it will not significantly reduce the internal temperature. This means that you should only place your puppy in your vehicle a few minutes before you decide to leave. 

Preparing Your Pup Before Car Travel

You will need a safe and quiet area to keep your puppy while you and your moving team deal with your belongings. One of the best places for this is in a bathroom. You can and should leave your dog in his crate or kennel during this time. Small puppies will often chew on objects when they are left alone, and they can easily rip apart cabinets or other objects left in the room. This is called inappropriate or destructive chewing and happens because puppies have not learned how to deal with stress and loneliness yet.

If for some reason you cannot leave your dog in his crate, then it is a good idea to drown out the noise made by the movers in your home. The sounds of unfamiliar voices are likely to further stress out your dog. Consider playing classical music in your bathroom. This type of music has been shown to help calm dogs and increase the amount of time a dog sleeps. You also should provide your pup with a chew toy to curb destructive behaviors.

For more moving tips, work with an experienced moving company like Wheaton World Wide Moving. 

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