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Attention, pet parents! We understand the significance of your furry friends in your lives. They are not just pets; they are part of your family. That’s why it is crucial to plan and ensure a smooth transition for your pets’ well-being when it comes to moving.

Fortunately, Bethesda Movers have assisted numerous families in moving with their pets and have gathered expert advice to help guarantee a stress-free transition for your furry friend.

Begin with a Visit to the Vet

Before commencing any moving preparations, visit your vet for a checkup and obtain copies of your pets’ medical records, including vaccination records. This step is especially important if you are crossing state lines or international borders, as each country has different requirements for pet travel. Also, discuss potential health conditions that may complicate the move or require special considerations during transportation.

Familiarize Your Pet with Their Carrier/Crate

For most types of pet transportation, carriers must ensure their safety during the move. You can make the carrier more appealing by placing snacks or their favorite toy inside. Introduce the carrier gradually and positively, allowing your pet to spend time inside to become comfortable with its size limitations.

Research Pet-Friendly Accommodations and Surroundings in Your New Area

If you are moving nearby, contact friends who might have helpful information about specific areas surrounding your new location. Consider nearby dog parks or other destinations your pet is familiar with when exploring housing options.

Helping Your Pet Adjust to the New Home

Your pet needs something familiar in their new surroundings. Prepare a spot for them with their bed, bring their old blanket, or recreate a corner from their previous living space. Ensure they have access to familiar food and water, and provide an area for them to play and feel at ease in your new house.

Update Your Pet’s Personal Information

Ensure that your pet’s identification tags have current contact information. Microchipping is also a reliable option for permanent identification, especially if your pet becomes lost during the move.

Pack a Bag for Your Pet During the Move

Similar to packing for yourself, it is important to pack a bag for your pet with all the essentials for the journey. Include enough food, medication, portable dishes, toys, comfort blankets, and other necessary items like leashes. It’s better to have more than not enough!

Prioritize Safe Travel

When choosing the mode of travel, prioritize safety and comfort over convenience. Opt for air-conditioned cabins for flights or train rides, separate from luggage. If you prefer driving, make regular stops to provide rest and walk-around time for all passengers, including your furry companions.

Settling into the New Home

Once you arrive safely at your new home with your pets, give them time to adjust without constant supervision. Let them explore each room at their own pace. Offering familiar food during this period will help ease their adjustment process.

There you have it! These quick tips, based on the expertise of experienced movers, can assist you in relocating your furry family members. Remember, on a moving day, prioritize the well-being of your pets above all else.

Bernadette shows her love for the stars of the day_

This beautiful blue eyed husky says it all_

New York may be in the midst of the dog days of summer, but on Saturday, the atmosphere in Times Square was hazy, hot and adorable, especially on Shubert Alley where Broadway Barks celebrated its 25th Anniversary. It was twenty five years ago when Bernadette Peters was starring in Annie Get Your Gun on Broadway that she and fellow animal lover Mary Tyler Moore decided to start an event to help animal adoption agencies. Over the years the event has flourished and raised money for over two dozen rescue houses and shelters.  

The event began at 3 pm when vans of dogs and cats arrived to be held, petted and loved in the hopes of finding a home. Ms Peters walked through Shubert Alley and down 46th Street, greeting the two legged volunteers and playing and petting their four legged friends. For the next two hours animal lovers from around the tri-state area enjoyed the company of these beautiful creatures  

Bebe Neuwirth represents the cats that need adopting

Beginning 5 o’clock and lasting until 7 the stage was filled with a steady stream of celebrities from film, TV and of course Broadway; but, the stars of the evening were the dogs that they introduced to the crowd. From a young tiny chihuahua to a grown Great Dane the crowds oohed and aahed as the presenters narrated the histories of these animals, speaking for those who could not.   

The hosts of the show Bernadette Peters and Randy Rainbow

The two hours flew by thanks to Ms Peters and her cohost, Randy Rainbow, the Emmy nominated singer who has created numerous musical parodies that became internet sensations, especially during the Covid years. In fact, Mr Rainbow wrote a parody especially for this event which was performed by Josh Groban and the cast of Sweeney Todd; Sweeney Dog, The Pooch of West 45th Street. 

Victoria Clark is this year’s Broadway golden girl for winning the Tony for Best Actress and she brought her own Golden Retriever to celebrate Broadway Barks

Recent Tony winners Alex Newell, Bonnie Milligan, Victoria Clark, and J Harrison Ghee were joined by their castmates to present some popular pooches. Emmy and Oscar nominees and winners such as Laurie Metcalf, Marsha Mason, Carol Kane, Eric McCormick and Jason Alexander all took second billing to their respective canine costars. 

The Two Neil Diamonds, Mark Jacoby and Will Swenson Think This Pooch Makes A Beautiful Noise

The entire event was a success as funds were raised to support the shelters in attendance and especially for a few of these special animals because I saw some new pet owners taking home their new best friends.  

Bernadette Reunites with Her Cast from Gypsy

The event was produced by Broadway Cares and the New York City area animal shelters and adoption agencies that were represented on July 8th were: 1 Love 4 Animals, Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniels Rescue, Adopt A Boxer Rescue, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Animal Care & Control (ACC), Anjellicle Cats Rescue, Best Friends Animal Society, Bide-a-wee, Bobbi and the Strays, City Critters, Francis’s Friends, Hearts and Bones Rescue, Husky House, Linda’s Cat Assistance,  Little Shelter, Long Island Bulldog Rescue, Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League, Muddy Paws Rescue, Pet ResQ Inc., SaveKitty Foundation, Second Chance Rescue, SPCA of Westchester, Urban Cat League, and Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue. 

The Cast of Some Like It Hot Really Love the Dogs

The Cast of Shucked Sho Love These Here Dogs

Bernadette Peters is joined by Jason Alexander, Bernadette Peters, Eric McCormick and Alex Moffat, the director and cast of The Cottage

Different training methods can be used to train puppies depending on their age. Most often, puppies can begin training at 8 weeks old.

How Soon Can I Start Training a Puppy?

 Becoming a new pet parent can be exciting. When you first bring your puppy home, you are likely eager to start training, so that you and your puppy can live a happier life together. Puppies can begin learning skills when they are very young. Many breeders or rescues will begin some training as soon as puppies start to eat solid food. By the time your puppy comes home, your puppy is old enough to start learning life skills and what to expect each day.

Begin Training at Home

Puppies usually have their first vaccinations around 8 weeks old then continue to receive vaccinations until around 16-18 weeks. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends that puppies start group classes as soon as 7 days after their first set of vaccinations, provided only health puppies are coming to class and appropriate sanitation procedures are in place. Unfortunately this type of class is not available in all areas. In some places, there is a higher risk for infectious disease. For puppies who have not finished their vaccinated series, especially in some areas, it may be safer to begin training in your home rather than at a facility.  Virtual dog training programs provide a safe way for you to start training your puppy without bringing them to a facility around other dogs and puppies. These programs typically involve one-on-one training through live sessions with a trainer,  decreasing the risk of your puppy being exposed to disease.

Puppy Development Stages

Puppy training may need to be adjusted depending on how old your puppy is. Having one-on-one sessions with a trainer is the best way to ensure that you are tailoring the training to your pup’s specific behavior.

Here are some different categories for training your puppy:

• Socialization: Puppy socialization typically occurs around 3 weeks old and can continue until around 12 weeks when puppies finish this developmental milestone. Specific behavioral markers indicate the start and end of this stage when positive exposure can have lifelong impacts for a puppy.
• Leash Training: While we may not want to walk in your neighborhood or at parks until vaccinations are complete, your puppy can begin learning how to walk next to you and on a leash in your home or in your backyard. This can start when your puppy comes home.
• Crate Training: Confinement can make pet parenting easier. It can be very helpful to give your puppy a safe space while you are away or occupied. Many breeders and rescues will begin crate training before puppies go home to make travel and the transition easier. Your puppy can start learning about this when he comes home.
• House Training: This is another area where puppies can begin training before coming home. Many breeders and rescues raising litters of puppies will start the process when the puppies are only a few weeks old and are learning to stay clean. House training should start or continue when your puppy comes home, though it may take a few weeks or longer until he is reliable when not supervised.

The timeline of when training should happen can be adjusted depending on your puppy’s behavior.

When to Start House Training

As a new pet parent, you may be eager to start house training your puppy. When puppies are young, their bladder is much smaller, making them incapable of holding their bathroom breaks for long periods of time. As they grow, these bathroom breaks can be spread much farther apart.

Consistency and patience is key to successfully house training your puppy. Maintaining consistent training and a continuous bathroom schedule can help your dog learn what type of potty behavior is encouraged, and what isn’t.

Is It Always Best to Train a Puppy at Home?

Training a puppy from home comes with a multitude of benefits. For one, home is likely where you want your puppy to exhibit the most desired behavior. It is also likely where they will spend most of their time. When you train at a facility, you lose the benefit of encouraging your dog’s desired behavior in an area that they are familiar with. After continuous training, your dog may begin to associate your home with being a place in which certain desired behavior is most expected.

Another reason to train your dog at home is to eliminate the distractions that could come with group puppy training sessions. Not all dogs are ready to focus when surrounded by other furry friends. One-on-one training at home removes those distractions, allowing your puppy to focus on the goals at hand.