Introducing Your Pet to Your New Apartment

Owning a pet is a rewarding experience that holds many benefits for you and your four-legged companion. If you’re planning to move to a new apartment with your pet, it’s important to take a few minutes to incorporate your pet’s needs into your plans. Following a few simple tips can ensure this exciting transition is easier, less stressful, and more enjoyable for you and your pet.

Avoid Moving Day Chaos

The best time to introduce your pet to his new home is after the chaos of moving day is through. You may want to consider leaving your pet with family or friends on moving day; alternatively, you can house your pet in a kennel or at his vet for a few hours while you and your movers work. Once the activity of moving is through, bring your pet into his new home and provide him with a small space of his own. You may find it beneficial to place your pet in a single room or close off extra rooms to limit the amount of space he sees at first. Letting your pet explore his new apartment home when it is quiet and peaceful will give him a good first impression and reduce anxiety for you and your pet.

Bring Familiar Items

Moving to a new home can be a confusing experience for your pet, filled with new sights, sounds, and smells. Making sure to bring at least a few familiar items along can you’re your pet acclimate faster and feel safer and more comfortable in his new environment. Even if you’d like to buy a new pet bed or cat tree for your new apartment space, bring the old items along and allow your pet to use them while he transitions into the new space, then replace his belongings later on when your pet feels more at home. Although your pet may not usually like his carrier or crate, it’s also important to leave this item out and accessible for a few days following your move. Pets often seek refuge in any space that smells like “home,” and a carrier or crate allows your pet to feel safe and enclosed in a space he’ll find familiar.

Stick to Your Old Routine

Pets, like people, can find a familiar schedule comforting. One of the easiest ways to help your pet acclimate to his new surroundings is to stick to your old routine and perform activities at the same time in your new home as you once did in your old one. Continuing to go for walks, play, or feed your pet at the same time each day will solidify your new apartment as “home” in your pet’s mind. If you’re unable to stick to your old routine, try to develop a new routine as soon as possible and make an effort to maintain it to provide your pet with a new type of structure he can understand.

Are you looking for a pet-friendly apartment home in Dallas? Alta Farmers Market features new apartments with spacious floor plans and amazing amenities that include a pet walk area and wash station just steps from your apartment door. We invite you to check us out on the web to learn more about the full range of features you’ll find in our new apartment community, or contact us to ask about leasing opportunities today.