Finding a Home for You and Your Four-Legged Buddy

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family:Arial; mso-ansi-language:EN;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:11.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:Arial; mso-hansi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-ansi-language:EN;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; line-height:115%;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} </style></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sometimes life throws us curveballs, and we have to move </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">— whether it’s to be closer to family or for a new job in a new city - when it comes to buying a house, you need to find the best fit for you and also your pooch. If you add just a little bit of extra thought and planning, you’ll soon find yourself enjoying your new home with your four-legged friend.</span></span></div><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;">Selling Your Home</span></span></span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">First, you have to sell your house. Find a trusted real estate agent and communicate your needs with him or her. An important step in selling your house is to stage your home. Clean up clutter, brighten up dark corners, get rid of personal decor, and hide all signs that your pet lives there (as much as you can, anyway).</span> <a href="https://www.thebalance.com/selling-a-... style="color: #bf9000;">Staging</span></a> <span style="color: #444444;">your home makes it easier for buyers to envision themselves there, and it could help the home sell faster and for more money.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;">Keep Your Dog in Mind When Finding a New Home</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">While shopping for a home, keep your dog in mind. Look for a fenced yard, or if there isn’t one, find out if you can add one. Just keep the cost of adding one in mind when putting together your household budget. For example, the average price of a </span><a href="https://www.homeadvisor.com/tloc/Bowi... style="color: #bf9000;">wood fence installation</span></a><span style="color: #444444;"> in Bowie, MD, is between $1,850 and $3,766.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">A nice, big backyard is preferable, but it isn’t necessary. It all depends on you and your four-legged friend. Check out the flooring, too. Some flooring is better when it comes to pets. Carpet might seem ideal, but if you’ve ever house-trained a puppy or cleaned up after an elderly dog, you know that carpets can add complications — and hold on to smells. It’s better to look for hard floors such as hardwood, tile, or concrete. If you have an elderly dog, pay attention to the stairs. Sometimes it’s difficult for older dogs to climb them, so if there are steps, consider whether you can add ramps for your aging, arthritic pup. For example, you can pick up a portable ramp from Amazon for</span> <span style="color: #bf9000;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Life-I... style="color: #bf9000;">around $90</span></a>.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;">Pay Attention to the Neighborhood</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">Keep </span><a href="https://figopetinsurance.com/blog/tip... style="color: #bf9000;">an eye on</span></a><span style="color: #444444;"> the neighborhood, too. A dog-friendly neighborhood will have lots of people out enjoying time with their animals. You’ll see sidewalks, parks, pet supply stores, vets, and dog parks. If you can, ask the neighbors about dogs in the area. You also want to consider how far your home will be from work. If you can’t get home during the day, you may have to hire a dog walker to give your pup a potty break (a </span><span style="color: #bf9000;"><a href="https://pets.costhelper.com/dog-walke... style="color: #bf9000;">half-hour walk</span></a> </span><span style="color: #444444;">usually costs $18 - $22). </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Moving with Your Dog</span><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">If your move is </span><a href="https://rchumanesociety.org/assets/pd... style="color: #bf9000;">local</span></a><span style="color: #444444;">, take your dog to the new house along with some of his favorite toys and treats. This way, he can sniff around and get familiar with the home, and the treats and play will help him associate the house with good times. If your move is long distance and an early visit isn’t possible, take your dog for a</span> <span style="color: #bf9000;"><a href="https://dogs.thefuntimesguide.com/mov... style="color: #bf9000;">brisk walk</span></a> </span><span style="color: #444444;">before you take him inside. Then take him in on his leash and show him around the home. He’ll want to sniff everywhere, and that’s OK. He’s learning his surroundings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">When moving day arrives, you should consider sending your pup to a dog sitter to get him out of the way. This is also good for your dog because seeing all his beloved belongings and furniture taken away can be stressful. Having people coming and going from your home can result in open doors and other dangerous situations for your pup. And if your moving date is flexible, consider scheduling your move on a slow weekday. By doing so, you will be less stressed, and so will your pet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Pack his things last and unpack them first. The sooner he is in his new spot the better, so he can be near the things that are familiar to him and start to adjust. Don’t wash his toys, beds, or blankets. The familiar scents will calm him. Don’t forget to take breaks from unpacking to play with your dog. He’s under a lot of stress, so reassurance that he isn’t losing his loving family is key. Plus, spending time with him helps him get the idea that this is his new home. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">Start his </span><span style="color: #bf9000;"><a href="http://blog.gopetfriendly.com/tips-fo... style="color: #bf9000;">regular walking routine</span></a> </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">as soon as possible. While walking, allow him some extra time to sniff around so he can get the lay of the land. He’ll be experiencing all-new smells in his new home, so it’s both exciting and </span><span style="color: #bf9000;"><a href="http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/pets... style="color: #bf9000;">scary</span></a> </span><span style="color: #444444;">for him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: small;">Once you’re settled, your pooch will curl up next to you and be just as happy as he was before the move. After all, he’s still got you, and that’s what matters most.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><o:p><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">About the Author: </span></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cindy Aldridge</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> is a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">freelance writer</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">dog lover</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">She started </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/2/goog_1962... style="color: #38761d;">Ourdogfriends</span></a></span><a href="http://.org/"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">org</span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> as a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">fun side project</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> for </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">herself</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">educate pet owners</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">potential pet owners</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> about how </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">dogs can enrich our lives</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">She enjoys writing</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> about </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">dogs</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">pet ownership.</span></span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Photo courtesy of </span><a href="pixabay: 1 million+ Stunning Free Images to Use Anywhere" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Pixabay</span></a></span></span></i></div><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">RSS 2.0: http://talesfromadogcatcher.blogspot.... src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogsp..." height="1" width="1" alt=""/>