Moving to a New House

[Jenn&Bruce]

I am moving to a new city in two weeks time, and I'm wanting to make the transition easy for Bruce...any advice for things I can do to make it easier on him?

[years-of-tears]

Any way ya can take Bruce there for a lil mini-weekend vacation? This will give him the feel of the new place. Have ya bought a home there? If so, maybe stop by and play with him in the new yard....let him get his scent around the yard and home, hopefully....this will help with transitioning.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have no suggestions for making the transition easier, Jenn, but I am sooooo glad to hear that you're moving! Hopefully, you will have more access to some good vets who can help Bruce with his allergy issues. That in itself will make life easier for him!
Bruce will be happy anywhere as long as you're there! Hug him for Jackdoodle & me!

[Jenn&Bruce]

well Karen, thats actually what sold me on the move....I wasn't looking forward to it at first, however Bruce will have a bigger yard, all brand new Laminate flooring, the new house even comes with a dog house lol.
All of this is great advice, and if Bruce wasn't such a bad traveler (he gets sick on even the shortest of trips) I would take him out and let him hang out there a bit to get used to the new place. but it's a 5 hour drive each way, and I really only want to put him through that once.
the good thing is, Bruce's dad will be on Easter break from school, so he won't be left alone while to work. at least for the first 10 days or so, and I plan on working around DH's schedule so that I work evenings and he's home with Bruce.
thanks for all the advice!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

We drove from NJ to Florida with Samantha. I made sure I had her bed and her favorite 'Moo' with her in the car and her toy bag was the first the I unpacked each night on the drive and when we arrived at our apt in FL. We took her for walks and when we had to leave her we made sure it was just a short time.
Samantha adjusted very quickly to have to wait to go down in an elevator and a short walk to potty instead of just outside the door into her 'pen'. She eventually started to 'wwwooooofffff' to let us know it was time for us to get dressed to take her out.
We found the dog park and we went there everyday to let her run.
Just try and keep Bruce's schedule the best you can. Be prepared for him to get a little clingy in new surroundings but try not to fall into that trap - it will be harder (and you) on him in the long run to get back to your routine.

[Ellen aka BeauBeau's Mom]

I have moved twice already with Beau, albeit in the same neighborhood, so his dog park remained constant. The first move was a little traumatic....the landlord lost the property to foreclosure, and I fought for my lease against the bank, and lost (can you believe it? Not only did I pay everything, I lost my security deposit!) Anyway, he started sleeping with me at the foot of the bed when we went through that....and I have been very happy with that arrangement, even tho all the dog "experts" all warned me against it LOL. He sleeps through the night quietly, and doesn't even make a move until I do in the morning. Best advice I can give you is to make sure to keep his toys with him during the move, and a blankie or something that he is familiar with. And of course don't leave him alone too much, if you can......I'll never forget that when my parents sold their big house in Philadelphia, and moved to an apartment building that did not accept dogs, they actually left our Newfie IN THE HOUSE, and went back to visit him every day, to feed him and take him to the park, etc. The poor thing must have been terrified! No furniture, just poor Lance. Oh well, soon after I took him to NYC with me to my studio apartment, when they were unable to arrange another good home for him in Philly. You've been given good advice here: especially about letting Bruce get the smell of the new place before you even move in.....just to let him know that there IS a new place.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Just take yourselves, a bed, towel or blanket that has not been washed and smells like Bruce. Spend the first week potty training him all over again - meaning take him outside at regular intervals and make a very big deal out of it when he pees or poops where you want him to. Watch him carefully for at least a week while he is in the house. Some dogs feel the need to mark their territory when the change houses, others don't. Better safe than sorry.