Moving to Los Angeles with Your Dog

As many of you already know we recently moved to a new city and state think East Coast not West Coast but the same tips will come in handy no matter where you are thinking of moving. When you have a pet to think about during your move it means being thoughtful of what you are doing and how you are doing it. While you can tell your children that you are moving and have an age appropriate conversation with them about what that means and where you are going to be living the same does not hold true for your dog. All your dog knows is that you are packing boxes and making their things disappear from their normal spaces around the house. Even if your dog doesn’t use the nice comfortable bed you have in the office for them preferring the extra chair as a place to rest be prepared to find them in that bed as soon as you go to pack it.

My advice is to wait until the last minute to pack anything they play with on a daily basis leave out their favorite blanket or blankets to use in their crate or in the car for the actual move and make sure you pay attention to them by taking time out for play and special treats. Expect unusual behavior whether it is following you into the restroom or jumping into bed with you to cuddle up against you or maybe hiding their stuff under the bed or in the yard.

No matter where you move research your new city. Los Angeles happens to be a very dog friendly city with plenty of on and off leash parks for you to have a fun day out with your dog. Many of the stores in the area are dog friendly to well SOCIALIZED dogs. After a day of shopping together head on over to one of the many cafes that have outdoor seating for you and your 4 legged friend. If you are shopping in Bloomingdale’s in Los Angeles expect the red carpet to be brought out for you and your dog. Ok maybe not the red carpet but surely a lot of friendly attention from the sales people there.

Whether you are moving across town or across the country to your new home in Los Angeles you are going to need a moving company to help transport your household items and clothes and those boxes and boxes of dog things. Choosing a moving company is a decision that you will need to live with the repercussions of for a very long time. A bad move could ruin all of your things and a really good move means all you need to do is unpack and you are ready to start the next chapter in your life.

Do your research and find out about different moving companies Los Angeles before you choose the one you think is going to be the right one for you. Tell them that you have a dog and ask them what they would like you to do with your dog on the day of your move. Some will ask you to keep them in a crate while the movers are there to ensure that the dog does not slip out the door. While others will ask you to make sure that your dog is not even in the house during the time the movers are boxing and packing and lifting. Whether your dog spends a day at a kennel (preferably one they already know) on the day the movers are there or if you have a friendly neighbor willing to dog sit for the day it is preferable to the dog running out after the bed as the movers put it in the truck or your dog is friendly so hanging out with the movers and then something falls and injures your dog. It might add some money on to the cost of your move but it will give you peace of mind to actually know your dog will be safe and secure.

Something else to think about whether you are moving to Los Angeles or to another continent is that your stuff is most likely not going to arrive the same day you do or you will not be able to unpack fast enough to get your bed and other things you will need for the night. Planning to stay at a hotel / motel for a night or two is something you need to do in advance not only for the better room rate but to ensure that your pet is welcome there. As much as a hotel may say they are pet friendly almost all of them have some sort of restrictions which means it is a good thing that there are so many pet friendly Hotels and Motels in the Los Angeles area for you to choose from.

If you live in the area or have lived in the area do you have any favorite dog friendly places someone moving to Los Angeles should check out?







This is a sponsored post through http://www.ozmoving.com. The ideas, opinions, tips, and advice about moving to Los Angeles with your dog is our own.