Dogs handle a move through their people, so a calm owner makes for a calmer dog. The risks are practical: a dog that slips out through a door left open for the crew, a dog left in a hot car, and a dog that arrives in a new place with an old tag. This guide deals with those risks in the order they come up.
Identification comes first
Before the move, confirm that the microchip company has your current phone number and that the collar tag has a cell number that will not change. Add your new address to the microchip record the day you arrive. A dog that gets loose in an unfamiliar neighborhood cannot find its way home, and a current chip is how a shelter reaches you.
On moving day
- Put the dog in a room with the door shut, or with a friend or at a kennel for the day.
- Keep a leash and the dog's food and water bowls out of the boxes.
- If the dog is anxious, a crate with a blanket from home helps.
- Tell the crew where the dog is, and ask them to keep the front door closed whenever they can.
- Walk the dog before the car ride begins.
On the road
Plan a stop every few hours for water and a walk, and keep the dog on a leash at every stop. A harness or crate belted into the seat keeps the dog from moving around. Never leave a dog in a parked car, since the inside of a car heats up quickly in summer sun, and cold nights in the Sierra are hard on dogs too.
For a long-distance move, choose lodging that accepts dogs and keep a copy of the vaccination record in the glove box.
Arriving in Washoe County
Washoe County Regional Animal Services sets the rules on dog licenses, vaccinations and leashes for the county. Look at its page after you arrive and license the dog on its schedule. Other towns, like Carson City or Truckee, have their own animal control offices with their own rules. The Nevada Department of Agriculture handles animal entry rules for the state.
Altitude and weather
Reno is near 4,500 feet. Most dogs adapt without trouble, though a dog from sea level may tire faster on its first hikes. Hot pavement in summer can burn paws, and winter nights are cold, so check the weather at the places you take your dog. Dry air can also make water bowls empty faster, so refill them.
A routine in the new house
Keep feeding and walking times the same as before. Put the bed and bowls in a similar place, walk the new neighborhood with the dog on a leash, and keep the yard gate latched until you have checked the fence. See moving pets to Washoe County for more local detail, and moving with cats if you have both.