Buying or selling a home is a huge undertaking that can be stressful, time consuming and sometimes frustrating for the whole family. including our favorite four-legged friends. This is the thought for many sellers as soon as they decide to list their home and it is important to think about what you can do to eliminate the stress for man’s best friend. If you are purchasing a home, you tour home after home and it is important to consider how comfortable your dog may be, if there is a fenced in yard, will you need an electric fence and which space will be their favorite. When it comes to the move, both buyers and sellers must consider the details of moving their pup depending on how far the move is. It is helpful to have an agent who understands this stress and can get along with your dog or can provide solutions to make the adjustment for your dog easy and comfortable.

 

When it comes to listing your home, you must consider the showings, open houses, and inspections. Ideally, your friendly companion can travel with you, some owners go out for walks during short showings or will take their pets with them for open houses but for many this is not always possible. Some Realtors on our team will take your dog on a walk during the single showings for you or play with them out back while prospective buyers tour your home. Another great option is to drop poochie off at a local doggie day care, some great options are Pooch Hotel Norwalk, Town House for Dog & Cats in Westport, or Pet Degree in Trumbull (they also offer training!). They can take your dog for the day, a couple hours or in this market it may even be smart to drop them off for the weekend full of showings! For shorter time periods there are also some great local dog walkers who will take the dog on a long walk during a showing or two. Jennifer Gibson, who owns Lending a Paw Dog walking and sitting, is my personal favorite. If you are just moving to the area, these are also great references for when you are away for the weekend or on the busy weekdays.

 

If you are moving, you may consider the above referenced options for moving day. It can be a very stressful day for our pets since they don’t quite understand what is going on. If your dog is one who tends to run away given the opportunity, you’ll want to consider having them out of the house as there will be plenty of opportunities to run with moving people going in and out. The first step once you are settled into your new home is to search for a new vet in the area. The American Kennel Club recommends when choosing a vet, you get recommendations from friends or family in the area, visit the vet without your dog first and inspect facilities then return with your pet, monitor how the vet and the entire staff engages with your pet and always check credentials. Below is a list of recommended vets from our staff.

 

If you are just moving to the area or you’ve lived here for years, you should know this is a very pet friendly area and there are lots of opportunities for your pets to socialize, shop or stay. To start, the beaches are open to dogs (off leash) during the off season. The beach is a great place to exercise your dog to expend their built-up energy during the winter months. There are numerous dog parks across Fairfield County and some great ones in New Haven County… we made a list for you below! Lake Mohegan in Fairfield is another great place that dogs can run off leash; they have trails through the woods that go for several miles and beach access to swim (dogs only) and cool off.  In addition, Aspetuck Land Trust and Brett Woods Open Space has many dog-friendly hiking trails. Woofgang & Co produces, packages and markets high-quality, all-natural dog treats and toys. The company is a non-profit which employs and empowers adults-with-disabilities through vocational and life-long learning opportunities. Westport hosts an annual Dog Festival every year in May – this event is located at Winslow Park in Westport and is a fun event featuring adorable pets, dog competitions, vendors, food trucks and more.

 

There is a lot to consider when moving with a dog, from listing the home, to the move itself, and to settling into the new area. We hope this information makes your move easier - remember your new home is also a new home for your pet.

 

 

• Doggy Styles 
• Dogtopia
• Dogfather Groomers
• Neon Dog 
• Town House for Dogs & Cats
• Barks ‘N’ Bubbles

 

• Wag Central 
• Dogtopia 
• Pooch Hotel 
• Town House for Dogs & Cats
• Pet Degree 
• Dog Gone Smart, Norwalk

 

• Lake Mohegan 
• Winslow Park
• Southbury Dog Park
• Jared Dog Park
• Shelton Dog Park
• Eisenhower Dog Park
• Taylor Farm Dog Park
• Easton Dog Park

 

• Greenfield Hill Animal Hospital 
• Beacon Falls Animal Hospital 
• Fairfield Veterinary Hospital 
• Community Veterinary Clinic
• Specialist: Animal Eye Clinic in Wilton
• Home Veterinary Services, Trumbull