Don't Change Anything. Now is not the time to be washing your pet's favorite blanket, toys or bedding. Don't buy new food dishes to coordinate with your new house. Don't change anything about your pet's habitat and lifestyle unless you absolutely have to. Animals are creatures of habit and the fewer of those habits you try to change during this stressful time the better off your pet will be.

Pet Toys. Don't forget to pack all the toys, even the ones you might be considering throwing away. It might be just the thing your pet needs to calm himself when you arrive at the new house

Pet carriers. If you've never taken your pet in the car before this isn't the time to teach them how to ride safely. They'll be much too stressed and so will you. Make sure you have carriers. A carrier isn't a punishment, it helps your pets feel safer. You'll be doing them a favor.

Take him for a visit. If it's possible, take your dog with you if you visit the new home before you actually move in. If he's already been there to sniff around, then moving day will go much smoother because he'll already be familiar with the new place.

Pack for the pet. Bring your pet's food dishes and favorite blanket or bedding with you in the car. You'll need them as soon as you get to the new house. Don't forget his favorite toys, too, and a bottle of water if it's going to be a long ride. But no snacks unless your pet is already comfortable riding in a car.

Limit food before the trip. Make sure your pet has a drink of water before you leave but limit the amount of food he eats. Some pets get an upset tummy when they travel or they're stressed.

Stop for potty breaks. Animals get irritable without exercise, too. If you're feeling claustrophobic during a long car ride your pet probably is too. Everybody out for some fresh air and a walk!

Upon arrival. All that running in and out with furniture and boxes is going to make your pets nervous. Even the crinkling of all that packaging will frighten your pet. Before you even start bringing things in, set up a little out-of-the-way place for your furry friend so he can feel safe. Give him a small amount of food to start with, and plenty of fresh water and tuck him in his favorite blanket or bed. If your pet feel safer in his carrier, then so be it. The safer your pet feels, the calmer he'll be.

There's enough to worry about when it comes time to move so we've put together a pet relocation checklist to help make the move easier for you and your furry friend both to handle. Moving your family, whether it's across town or around the world, is stressful enough but if your pet is overly stressed to the results could be disastrous. Most animals are very territorial so when you move them away from their “turf” so to speak, it's going to create a lot of stress for them. But if you follow this checklist, you will be able to eliminate most problems and your four-legged friend will be much happier and easier to get along with. Make sure you carefully read our pet relocation checklist to ensure your pet makes an easy transition to his new home.

Tips

Whether your pet is a cat, a dog, a bird, a goldfish or a miniature pig, it relies on you to take care of it. Animals in the wild don't have to worry about silly little things like being uprooted from their home so you're pet isn't going to know how to cope with this new turn of events. Yes, even your little hamster will need extra care and attention during this stressful time. If you're moving just across town that's one thing. Your pets can travel with you in the car and that will help a lot toward relieving their anxiety. If you be traveling a long distance that requires traveling by airplane, you'll need to make some special arrangements for your buddy. And if you're planning a really big move to a different country entirely, then you need to start making plans as soon as possible. Good luck and congratulations on your new home!