Animal-shelter workers' hearts are broken regularly when people give up dogs for the reason "Moving, can't take dog." Usually this sad story begins long before the surrender of the dog.

Happy Beginnings

The first step in successfully moving with your dog happens before you even get a dog, in doing your homework and carefully deciding what kind of dog you are prepared to handle. Research what training and regular care this kind of dog will require, and the best source from which to acquire such a dog.

Before your dog comes home, make sure you have the correct equipment and the time set aside to introduce the dog properly to the new environment. Include a veterinary visit during the first 24 to 48 hours in the plan, and scout out the training class you'll attend with the dog that start within several weeks after the adoption.

The Adventure Begins

Help your new dog learn to rest calmly in a crate. This is an essential skill for dogs during travel, boarding, medical care, grooming shop sessions, and other situations.

Housetrain your new dog. Don't put off the diligent supervision and schedule that this training requires from the people in the household. The longer a dog goes without the proper household structure to develop good housetraining habits, the greater the risk that dog might never master the skill.

Teach your dog, using positive methods, how to behave safely and courteously around family members and visitors. Use a training class to help master the needed skills. These skills will include greeting people calmly without jumping on them, walking calmly on a leash, and all the other behaviors necessary for a dog's long-term survival in human society.

Accustom your dog early in life to things you'll likely need to do together later. This would include riding in a car, boarding for a night or so at a good kennel, and relieving bowels and bladder on leash.

Along the way, your dog will become a true family member. A dog in the family can improve the quality of life for every family member. Research has demonstrated that people who have good relationships with companion animals tend to live longer and cope better with life's challenges. This holds true for people from young children to senior citizens. A dog can be a real asset.

Planning Your Move

Since your dog has become a true family member, the dog will of course be moving with the family! Start preparing by choosing new housing that is suitable to include a dog.

Situations do arise where there is absolutely no way to take the dog, such as a single person being called up for overseas military duty. In such a case, you will want to have already created a contingency plan for your dog that you can put into effect at this time. Whatever a person's situation, anyone with a dog needs to give thought to where the dog could go if something happened and there was absolutely no way to include the dog in a move-or if you died, etc.

It can take extra time to find the right place to live with a dog, so you'll want to allow that time. If the first several places you contact won't take a dog, it may seem hopeless, but remember you only need one place to live. Persistence pays.

As soon as you know you'll be moving, get a crate for your dog (if you don't have one already), and start making this an enjoyable hangout for the dog. Give special treats in the crate, provide comfy bedding if the dog is old enough to refrain from chewing it, and keep the crate in a place the dog likes to be (such as beside your bed at night).

Contact your veterinarian and any authorities involved so that you can get the required health checks and certificates, make the necessary reservations, and arrange for every step of the dog's safe journey. It's safest for the dog to travel with you rather than being separately shipped.

Assemble the dog's necessities in an accessible container. These would include leash, collar, any harnesses or halters that might be needed, food, treats, toys, dishes, medications, paper and cloth towels for clean-up, plastic trash bags to contain any messes, medical records and other items.

The Journey

Training, conditioning and preparation all come together when you and the dog leave for your new home. Use the crate and the leash to keep your dog safe from becoming lost along the way.

At moving times, give the dog a chance to relieve bowels and bladder in a safe area on leash. Then put the dog in the crate in a quiet place with a nice treat while people are bustling around moving the household goods. Give the dog needed breaks on leash for food, drink and potty needs. Use the crate or leash at all times until the people are done with tasks that involve open doors and people running in and out of the home.

Settling In

Housetraining is somewhat specific to a location. Therefore be sure to include a refresher course in the new home. A dog exploring unsupervised among your things in a new place is highly likely to have a housetraining accident. Your best chance of limiting this to no more than one accident is the same supervision you used to housetrain the dog in the first place.

The dog will need to sniff around the new house and yard in much the same way the humans will explore it with their eyes and hands. Give the dog plenty of opportunity to do this, but supervise so the dog won't get into trouble in the process. For times you are not able to supervise the dog, it's usually best to give the dog the freedom of the new place in stages, starting with just one or a few rooms, and adding more as the dog becomes settled.

Avoid leaving the dog alone in a new yard until you've had a chance to observe the dog's behavior there, and thoroughly inspect the fences and possible hazards. Toxic plants, rat poison left behind by a previous resident, neighboring dogs and rowdy children will all need to be considered. You might decide to walk the dog on leash for bathroom needs until you can make changes in the fencing or other outdoor arrangements. If your new home doesn't have a yard, then of course you'll continue the leashed outings.

Happily Every After

Dogs are highly adaptable. It's quite possible to meet a dog's needs and live happily together in a home very different from the home you shared before. Use the crate to help the dog through any adjustment period, such as the separation anxiety that can occur temporarily in a new place.

Moving with your dog can greatly enrich your life and make transitions less stressful for you. Here's wishing you and your dog a long and happy life-together.