How to Move House with a Dog
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Packing boxes, strangers carrying furniture, doors left open and a car full of your things: moving day is a lot for a dog to take in. A dog cannot know why its home is being taken apart, and an open front door on a busy day is how many dogs go missing. This guide walks through the weeks before the move, moving day itself, the journey and the first weeks in the new home, and ends with the signs that mean it is time to talk to your vet.
How we wrote this: the steps follow Dogs Trust’s advice on moving home with your dog, PDSA’s guide to moving house with pets, and Battersea’s page on settling a dog into a new home. We put their advice in our own words and mark our own tips with “in our view”. All were checked on 2 November 2026. We did not test any of the products named here ourselves, and we do not show prices or ratings. This is not veterinary advice: if your dog seems unwell or very distressed, see your vet.
1. Decide where your dog will be on moving day
The simplest option is often for your dog not to be there at all. Dogs Trust suggests leaving your dog with a friend, relative or pet sitter for the day, because the noise and unusual activity can be confusing. PDSA makes the same point for dogs that are scared of loud noises, strangers or change, and adds a boarding kennel as another choice if nobody you know can help.
If you book a kennel or sitter, PDSA advises leaving enough time to find one you trust, and checking with your vet well ahead that your dog’s vaccinations are up to date, since most kennels ask for proof. In our view, a short trial stay a few weeks before the move means the place is not new to your dog on the day itself.
2. If your dog stays with you, prepare a quiet room
PDSA suggests choosing one room in the old home that can be emptied before moving day and given over to your pet. For a dog, pick a room close to a fenced outside area, so toilet breaks do not mean walking through the busy parts of the house. Move all the boxes out, then put in your dog’s bed, water, toys and anything else it uses, and let your dog spend time there in the days before, so the room is familiar by moving day. Because the room is already empty, the removal team has no reason to go in.
An open crate can be part of this space. Battersea describes a safe retreat as an open crate with a blanket over it or a comfortable bed in a quiet spot, with water nearby, never used as a punishment. If your dog is not crate trained yet, the weeks before a move are a good time to start; our guide on how to crate train a puppy works for adult dogs too. The MidWest LifeStages Double Door Folding Dog Crate is a folding wire crate with two doors, a divider panel and a leak-proof pan, according to its listing, and folds flat for the van.
3. Update the microchip and ID tag before you go
Dogs Trust’s advice is to get both the microchip record and the ID tag changed ahead of the move, so anyone who finds your dog can reach you on the right number. PDSA adds that you should also tell your pet insurer your new address. In our view, put your mobile number on the tag rather than a landline that is about to be disconnected, and check that the tag is still readable. Our guide on what to put on a dog ID tag explains what to include.
Dogs Trust also suggests finding a vet near the new home and registering your dog before you move, so you are not searching for one in an emergency.
4. Walk the new area before the move
If the new home is close enough, PDSA suggests taking your dog for a few walks around the new neighbourhood in the run-up to the move. The smells and sounds of the streets will then be a little familiar when your dog arrives for good. In our view, keep these walks on lead and calm, and note quiet routes and green spaces you can use in the first busy week.
5. On moving day: routine, water and closed doors
Dogs Trust advises keeping to your dog’s usual routine as much as possible on the day, making sure it always has fresh water, and packing its bed, water bowl and favourite toys last, because these familiar things are comforting.
If your dog is in a separate room while the removal team works, PDSA suggests checking on it regularly so it knows you are close, and making sure doors and windows are shut behind you, because a worried pet may try to bolt. In our view, put a sign on the door of the dog’s room, tell every helper that the dog is in there, and keep your dog’s lead and collar on during any trip outside. A stair gate in a doorway gives you a second barrier: our best dog gate guide compares types.
6. The journey to the new home
PDSA suggests moving your dog last, once the furniture and the removal team have gone, and taking it for a good walk first so it arrives calmer rather than over-excited. On the road, Dogs Trust says to use a dog guard, a crate or a seat belt harness, and never to leave a dog by itself in a parked car, above all in warm weather. For long trips it suggests regular stops so your dog can stretch, sniff and go to the toilet. PDSA reminds owners to bring plenty of cool water and a travel bowl.
If car journeys make your dog sick or nervous, Dogs Trust advises asking your vet about options before the move rather than on the day. Do not give your dog any human medicine for this.
The Sleepypod Clickit Sport Plus is a car harness that connects to the seat belt with a three-point design, and the Center for Pet Safety lists the Clickit Sport as certified, according to its listing. Our guides to the best crash-tested dog crate and how to travel with a dog in the car go into more detail.
7. Set up your dog’s space first in the new home
Dogs Trust suggests setting up a quiet space with your dog’s bed, toys and water as soon as you arrive, so it has somewhere to rest while boxes and furniture are still being moved in, and telling everyone helping where the dog is. PDSA says to unpack the bedding, bowls and toys before your dog comes in, because seeing its own things helps it settle, and suggests a piece of your worn clothing for a nervous dog.
In our view, try to put the bed in a similar kind of spot to the old one: if your dog slept in a corner of the kitchen before, choose a quiet corner again rather than a hallway everyone walks through.
8. Check the house and garden before your dog explores
PDSA advises checking each room before letting your dog in, and keeping doors shut on any room being decorated or renovated, where tools and supplies could hurt a curious dog. Dogs Trust and PDSA both say to make sure the garden is secure, so your dog cannot get out, and free of plants that are toxic to dogs. PDSA suggests keeping your dog on its lead in the garden the first few times, letting it explore at its own pace.
In our view, walk the whole fence line yourself first. Look for gaps under fences, loose panels, gates that do not latch on their own and anything your dog could climb on to jump over. Fix these before your dog goes out alone. If you are not sure whether a plant is safe, ask your vet.
9. The first weeks: patience and the old routine
Dogs Trust notes that every dog settles at its own pace: some explore straight away, others need more time. It suggests keeping walks and bedtimes on the same schedule for the first few weeks and being consistent about where your dog rests and when it goes out. Battersea makes a similar point for any dog in a new home: let it settle at its own speed, keep the pressure off, and avoid lots of visitors for the first few days.
PDSA warns against forcing your dog into anything it finds uncomfortable. A dog that has never lived with stairs, for example, may hesitate at first; reward small steps instead of pushing. PDSA also asks owners not to leave a dog alone in the new home in the first days if they can avoid it. In our view, when you do start leaving your dog, begin with a few minutes and build up slowly. For questions about meals during the move, ask your vet; our sister site InTheKibble covers dog food.
When to call the vet
Some unsettled behaviour in the first days is normal. See your vet if your dog stops eating or drinking for more than a day, has vomiting or diarrhoea, hides or trembles for days, or cannot settle at all after the first week or two. Ask your vet before giving any calming product, supplement or medicine, and ask about a referral to a qualified behaviourist if the stress does not ease.
FAQ
Should I take my dog with me on moving day?
If you can, Dogs Trust and PDSA both suggest letting a friend, relative, pet sitter or kennel look after your dog during the move. If it stays with you, keep it in a quiet, emptied room with its own things.
How long does it take a dog to settle into a new home?
It varies. Dogs Trust says every dog settles at its own pace and suggests keeping the usual routine for the first few weeks to help.
When should I update my dog’s microchip after moving?
Dogs Trust suggests changing the chip record and the tag ahead of the move, so your contact details are already correct if your dog gets lost.
Moving with a cat too? See how to move house with a cat.