Instructions
Stay as calm as possible. As a submissive animal, your dog looks to you for guidance. If you're upset, your dog will be as well.
Take your dog to the new house before the move, if possible. Make the visit fun and upbeat. Bring toys and treats, and allow the dog to explore the house at will.
Create a safe zone on moving day. Put your dog in a room with all of her supplies. Set up the crate, bowls and bed, and close the door. Avoid exposing the dog to the stress, hustle and bustle. Ensure that people know the safe zone is off limits.
Move your dog last. Keep all of the dog's supplies, such as crate, food/water bowls, toys and bed, out in the old house in the safe zone until the last moment. Your dog takes great comfort in her schedule and her supplies. Allowing her this familiarity will keep her calmer and happier.
Instruct a family member to take the dog to the park while you move his things over to the new house. Keep the dog at the park until his crate, bowls and bed are set up at the new house.
Bring the dog to the new house, and show her immediately where her supplies are. Ensure that your family stays calm and the dog will be calm too. Keep the dog's schedule as similar as possible to the one kept at the old house.
How to Move a Dog With Anxiety
Your dog is a creature of habit and he craves security. Moving, be it across town or across the country, upsets your dog's sense of internal and external order and can cause a great deal of anxiety. When moving with a dog that is often anxious, problems can be compounded. Your dog may chew at his fur, leaving bloody welts, bark until he's hoarse, and destroy the house. To help your anxious dog to feel safe and secure, ease him into the idea of moving gradually.