The Dogs of NYC: A Pupper’s Perspective on Neighborhood Moves

Give or take a few terriers, there are 600,000 dogs living in Manhattan. Sometimes these dogs have to move, mostly because their people insist on doing things like getting a different job or falling in love. Given their druthers, dogs would never relocate – consider how few of them even own a suitcase! – but a puppy has to do what a puppy has to do.

Here are some tips for making your relocation easier when you’re moving with your dog:

1) Choose your new place carefully

Finding a great NYC apartment is hard. Whether you’re searching on your own or working with a broker, make it clear that your new place needs to be 100% pet friendly. There’s no sense losing your heart to a place only to discover your pupper isn’t welcome. Consider your dog’s unique needs and personality when choosing a place: they’re going to be spending way more time in the apartment than you are, and it’s important they’re comfortable.

2) Find out if there are other dogs in the building

Dogs are social animals, but they can also be territorial. If you can, find out if there are other dogs in the building, and what those dogs are like. This will help you know what to expect when your dog encounters the other dogs – it’s always nice to be prepared when starting new relationships. Also? You want to know what the policies are regarding dogs in common areas, both indoors and out.

3) Stay calm on moving day

Moving day means a bunch of strangers come into your house and take all of the stuff out. From a dog’s perspective, this is pretty much the worst thing ever. Many dogs think their job is to protect the household, which means their relationship with your Manhattan moving company can get pretty fraught, pretty fast. Help everyone stay calm when you’re moving with your dog by arranging to have your pup stay with friends, the vet, or the boarder on the day of the move; if that’s not an option, keep your dog crated for the duration. This will help keep your dog’s anxiety levels down while minimizing the odds of an escape while doors are open.