Moving from familiar surroundings into a new home can be very stressful for household pets. In most cases, domestic animals will adapt to their new surroundings quickly as long as the family is present and the pet's basic needs are being met. We all need a little extra attention in times of stress, and the same goes for the pets in our lives.

Prior to the move, the pet owner should visit the vet and ensure that the pet is in good health and that all shots are up to date. The pet owner should also obtain a copy of the pet's shot records and stock up on any medications that the pet may need for the next several weeks.

Before Introduction to the New Home

Ideally, your pet's introduction to the new residence should be after familiar items are already in place, such as the pet's food and water dishes, toys and bed/kennel. The house should be thoroughly cleaned prior to bringing your pet into the new home to remove any traces of previous pets that may have lived there. This will avoid the need for pets to mark their new territory and avoid save you some cleanup effort. For the first several days, it may be best to confine your pet to a designated area while restoring order to the rest of the home and putting things away.

If you have a terribly territorial pet, you may want to purchase a black light before deciding to move into your home. By using a black light in the dark, you can detect any spots on the carpet, or on walls where prior pets have marked their territory. Taking this step will help you decide if this home is one where your pet will be tempted to re-mark - which may change your mind about whether the place is right for you.

Exploring Their New Environment

Pets will be naturally curious about their new home and will want to explore it. They may not recognize dangers in this new environment, so the new home needs to be made safe for your pets before introducing them to it.

Pet owners should ensure that all poisons, that can make the pet sick, are out of their reach. This includes chemicals, chocolates, medications, and certain plants. Make sure that the pet will not have access to anything that may burn or injure them and remove any items that may pose a choking hazard. The home and yard must also be inspected for potential escape routes, such as gaps in a fence or a loose window screen.

Training Needs

Prior training should be reinforced as soon as the pet is introduced into the new home. This will help the pet understand that the rules that applied to the old residence will apply to the new residence as well. If additional training is needed, the training should be conducted at the earliest convenient time to help your pet understand what is expected of them.

They should be shown the area where they are expected to eliminate at once to avoid any unnecessary accidents. Try to maintain your pet's regular schedule as much as possible during the move. Animals are creatures of habit and maintaining a regular routine will help keep the animal calm and will ease the transition into the new home.