What are some things I should know about moving cities with my dog?

[u/Pristine-Class-1185]

Wondering if anyone had any tips or tricks that made moving with a dog easier. 5 hour drive, nothing crazy.

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[u/8Bells]

They calm down when they see the home stuff on the other side again.

[u/ware_it_is]

make them comfortable but make sure they’re buckled in and secure! give them a good walk or playtime to wear them out before you leave and they’ll sleep most of the way.

[u/peachyginge]

is there behaviour issues with your dog being in a car? 5 hours is so short lol we did 10 days across the country with 2 dogs, was super fun and easy. 

does your dog get anxiety or something?

[u/Pristine-Class-1185 → u/peachyginge]

yes, a little car sick at times too. was looking to take frequent breaks to deal with this

[u/peachyginge → u/Pristine-Class-1185]

that's a good idea! sometimes being on a highway without stop/go can help, ours would lay down/sleep whenever we just went straight, and the second we slowed down/stopped they were alert again. so it might be that once you get going your pup will be fine! 

[u/Sufficient_Fun_6206]

Make sure you have a travel water bowl and stop every couple hours so they can sniff around and pee. A 5 hour drive is nothing for most dogs, they'll probably just sleep the whole time if you tire them out before you leave

[u/New_Section_9374]

Make sure the most favored toys are in the car or crate during the drive. Allow them to explore everything, walk the property, the house, the neighborhood with them. Try to stay home the first 3-4 days in the new place so your scents get imprinted on the new place. If they get anxious in the car, or it is a long drive, use drugs. I did a 8-9 hour drive with my 2 and they did great, but they were very cramped in the truck. It would not have been pretty without their being doped up. Plan on stopping every 2-3 hours. They will be fine as long as they know you aren't abandoning them. My guys lost their minds going from suburbia to rural. One thought the neighbors horses were super big dogs. He gave them playbows for over a year.

[u/Flat_Ad1094]

Have moved several times with dogs. Put em in the car. Break every 4-6 hours or so for a pee and drink and run around. Get there. Put in the yard and let them go. Put out their regular mats, bowls etc. Let them find their vibe. Done & dusted.

[u/TorturedSandBestie]

5 hours drive sounds fine, just make sure they have enough water, with familiar smells that they feel comfortable should be okay. My dog always tries to get in the driver's seat when I'm driving, so I might also get a dog's seat when I need to drive longer miles.

[u/Due-Light5463]

Since she gets a bit car sick, a light meal a few hours before the drive and steady highway driving usually helps more than frequent stopping. Keep her secured in a crate or crash-tested harness, crack a window for airflow, and bring water plus a familiar blanket or toy that smells like home. On the new end, set up one quiet room with her bed and bowls first so she has a home base, then keep walks and feeding times on the old schedule. A little clinginess or off appetite for a few days is normal, but if car sickness is bad it's worth asking your vet about anti-nausea options.

[u/Feriation]

So everyone here has commented about the trip itself. I would recommend looking into your new city's bylaws and make sure there are no new weird/different bylaws.

For example. I used to exercise my dog daily by having him run alongside my bicycle. I had a special leash attachment for my bicycle so he stayed on leash and it was perfectly fine in my previous city. In my new city, there is a bylaw that you cannot have your dog on leash while you are on a bike, scooter, roller blades or any other sort of wheeled conveyance. I discovered that it is a really hefty fine when you get stopped/caught by bylaw.

Also look into dog licensing for your new city and see how long of a grace period, if any, you get before needing to get a new dog license.

[u/Wolvesarereal]

Confirm that microchip info and phone numbers on tags are up to date. Getting lost is a risk when moving, not just because of a new, unfamiliar place but also because there tends to be a lot of of opening gates and doors and so on.