Moving house is stressful for the whole family, including your pets. Moving from a safe and familiar environment can be disorientating and can lead to behavioural problems or even your pet going missing.

Preparation

• Try to keep your dog’s usual routine as normal as possible leading up to the move. The Control of Dogs Order 1992 advises that any dog in a public place must wear a collar with the name and address (including postcode) of the owner engraved or written on it, or an indentification tag. Your telephone number is optional but recommended to ensure fast reunification if your pet strays.

The Kennel Club can provide these tags, for further information please visit www.thekennelclubshop.org.uk or call 0844 4633 980

• It is highly recommended that your dog is microchipped and registered with Petlog, the largest pet reunification scheme in the UK, as this can prove extremely effective in locating a lost pet. The Petlog Premium service can even alert local vets and dog wardens when an owner reports where their pet was lost. This can be done by telephone, SMS text message or via the Petlog website. It is advisable to update your records on the day of the move. It is vital to the effectiveness of this service that people keep their records up to date, informing Petlog of any change in circumstances.
• Take a photograph of your dog so that you can accurately describe it should it go missing, as well as giving you an up to date image you could use on lost pet posters.
• Find a new vet in the area you are moving to.

Contact Petlog on 0844 4633 999 or visit www.petlog.org.uk to find out more.

Try to find out about good walking places in advance so that you can get your dog into a new routine as quickly as possible.

If your dog does not travel well try and get it used to travelling in the
car in advance.

Ensure your dog is safely kept behind a dog guard or in a crate whilst travelling, or use a canine harness but check that it still has plenty of room to move.

Moving

• Keep your dog in one room while all the furniture and belongings are taken out of the house.
• If your dog suffers from travel sickness do not feed it for 12 hours before travelling.
• Make sure the car is well ventilated and never leave your dog in a car while you stop for a break on warm/hot days or on very cold days.
• If you are travelling a long distance, your dog will need frequent stops for easily digestible food and water during the journey.
• Buy a new toy or chew to give to your dog once you arrive in the new house.
• Keep your dog in one room with its toys and familiar items, i.e. its bed, while all the furniture and belongings arrive in your new home.
• Identify any possible escape routes in your garden that your dog might find and ensure they are fenced securely.
• Make sure you contact the Kennel Club to update your dog’s Petlog and registration details.

Contact Petlog on 0844 4633 999 or visit www.petlog.org.uk to find out more.

• Make sure you get a new collar tag for your dog with your new details written on it.
• Introduce your dog to your neighbours, postman and any other regular callers as soon as you can.
• Do not forget to contact the Kennel Club to find out more about local dog training clubs in your area so you can meet lots more like-minded dog friendly people! The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme is a fun and enjoyable way of training your dog to be sociable and provides essential advice on responsible dog ownership.

To find a local dog training club in your area call 0844 4633 980 or visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/dogtraining to find out more.

Correct at time of print March 2010

A PDF version of 'Moving house with your dog' is available to download here

More Information Guides are available on lots of dog related subjects.

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