It’s time to move! You’ve secured the perfect place. Moving with your beagle will be easy — or so they say.

Let’s face it: Moving to a new home with your beagle can be the epitome of an emotional roller coaster, regardless of what the circumstances are behind the move.
Making sure the move is as stress-free as possible, involves ensuring that all of your family members are accommodated for — including your beagle.

What do I mean by accommodating your beagle? Remember: In their eyes, your dwelling is also their territory, their home base if you will.
It is of paramount importance to minimize the changes in their schedules in terms of bedtime, their feeding schedules, etc.; to help facilitate a successful transition into the new home.

General Guidelines For Any Mode Of Transport

Check-Crate

Owning a crate is an all-encompassing good solution for the safe transport of your four-legged loved one. There are a variety of carriers or crates that are well-ventilated. It should be free of interior protrusions and have a leak-proof bottom covered with absorbent material.

If you need to meet airline guidelines: a hard-sided plastic kennel must provide cross ventilation. It must also have a front opening.

Whichever you choose, the easy rule of thumb for proper crate sizing is: Your beagle should be able to sit, stand, lie down, turn around, and basically do the hokey-pokey comfortably throughout the trip.

It would be very wise to get your dog acclimated to the carrier in the comfort of your home before your move begins. Not to mention, it is also very beneficial during a hotel stay, and it minimizes the trouble they can get into.

May I See Your I.D.?

In general, your fur baby will have to be at least 8 weeks old, if you plan on them stepping paw inside of an airport terminal.

Make sure your dog has a sturdy leash and collar. The collar should have identification tags with your beagle’s name, your name, your cell phone number.

Before any extended trip, bring your dog to the veterinarian. Make sure their vaccinations are up-to-date. Certification of health must be provided to the airline no more than 10 days before your travel date.

Want to go the extra mile? Get your beagle micro-chipped.

On a side note, I’d say have a recent picture of your dog. However, I’m sure that you already have over 300+ pictures of your beloved pooch on your phone, so having a recent picture of them won’t be an issue.

Feed Me

You’ll probably feel the emotional pull to offer food and drink as usual. However, while traveling; you’ll need to put your beagle onto a regimen. They should have a light meal three to four hours prior to departure with moderated amounts of water to avoid any unnecessary calls of nature. A couple of ice cubes serve as a great adjunct for hydration.

Where Is The Bathroom?

Don’t forget to stop frequently to allow them (and yourself) to use the facilities. Oh, and don’t forget to bring the waste bags with you. No one likes a mess.

It’s Playtime

If it’s going to be a long trip, don’t forget their obligatory toys. They will thank you profusely.

Dude! Where’s My Car? [Car-Specific Points]

Hotel, Motel; Doggies Let In?

You likely won’t encounter a size restriction for a beagle. However, you’ll still want to find hotels or motels along the way that are pet-friendly.

If your dog is allowed to stay at a hotel; be cognizant to respect the other guests, staff, and the property itself.

Do not leave the dog unattended. They might start acting crazy or get rambunctious in unfamiliar surroundings.

Be sure to only use designated pet areas to walk your dog. Leave no messes behind.

Be sure to puppy-proof your room. Ensure that electrical cords are inaccessible and that there was nothing left behind on the floor or under the furniture, that could be possibly harmful to your beagle.

Restrain Or Carry?

Depending on if your beagle is more comfortable with a restraining harness or a carrier in the car, you should take short trips to get them ready for the long haul. This may take a few weeks.

I like to have my beagle, Skyler; in a safety harness personally. It’s giving him a little more freedom to be his wacky self, but restrictive enough to keep him safe.

A few words of advice though. If your dog tends to be more prone to car-sickness, you may lean more toward them traveling in a carrier. Either way, it will definitely help to minimize their anxiety levels. We discussed how to address this here: Does My Beagle Have Motion Sickness?

Kits For Trips 1.0

You should put together a pet traveling kit. Include things such as food, snacks, water, bowls, plastic bags, a waste scoop, medication, hand sanitizer, a first-aid kit (for dogs), pet hair roller, grooming supplies, pillows, and toys.

Liners And Covers And Trays, Oh My!

If you travel with your beagle quite frequently, investing in materials that will better protect the interior of your car may be a sensible solution. This is only emphasized if you tend to prefer usage of a restraining harness over a carrier.

Don’t Even Think About It…

*Over Loud Speaker*

“Ladies and gentlemen: May I have your attention, please? I have 3 bones of contention:

1. You will not — I repeat, you will not leave your beloved beagle in a parked vehicle alone.
2. You will not let your dog ride with their head sticking out the window.
3. You will not allow anyone to annoy or tease your beagle.”

*Transmission Over*

Two Tickets To Paradise [Plane-Specific Points]

Flying as a human can be a trying process in itself. Well, it needn’t be that trying regarding your beagle’s travel, as long as you are armed with information before heading off to the airport. Be prepared for making reservations for your beagle in advance, as there are restrictions on how many animals are permitted on each flight. This is a first-come, first-serve basis. Be mindful of the additional expense of one-time fees for your dog’s accommodation.

Don’t Be Anxious

If your beagle gets easily stressed, taking them on the plane with you may not be the best of choices. Not only that, but most airlines require your dog to be well-mannered and/or quiet.
If this applies to your beagle, do yourself and your dog a favor and keep their paws closer to the pavement.

For those of you who would prefer that they endure the trip, I’d consult your veterinarian. They may even consider sedatives to better handle the flight.

Keep Calm And Carry On

Let’s get down to the nuts and bolts about their accommodations:
A pet carrier must be able to fit underneath the seat immediately in front of you. Maximum carry-on kennel dimensions are determined by your airline.

Oh, btw: In this situation, your beagle’s carrier will now become your carry-on. So you’ll likely be only able to bring on one more personal item into the airplane cabin. Stow the other carry-on above you.

When purchasing a beagle carrier, make sure it has plenty of extra pockets to be able to hold any small gadgets, books, etc; that you may need during your flight.

Finally, I would suggest playing random airplane sounds in your house, so they can take it all in. If they’ve heard it previously, they’ll be less likely to freak out during the actual event. Trust me.

Side note: Service or therapy dogs and their accommodations are an exception to this rule.

Kits for Trips 2.0

An airline pet-traveling kit should include fewer items due to space being at a premium. I would encourage: snacks, a non-spill water receptacle, hand sanitizer, medication, pet hair roller, non-squeeky toys (remember, we’re trying NOT to get kicked off of this plane), and maybe a pillow or shirt that has your scent on it. It will provide comfort and familiarity in an otherwise unfamiliar environment.

On a side note: If they don’t seem as eager as usual to partake in their favorite toy or treat, don’t be too alarmed. They may be experiencing a little bit of travel anxiety, just like anyone who would not be particularly accustomed to being on a plane.

Wheels On The Bus Go…. [Bus/Train Specific Points]

In general, bus and train companies, the pet policy dictates that only service animals are allowed on board. If your beagle is a service animal, bus and train travel is a solution if you prefer not to fly or drive. You will need to keep your beagle in their carrier or on a leash at all times.

“Welcome Home!” Beagle Style

We’re finally here. It seems like it has taken forever and a day to plan for this one moment, but it’s finally here. Your new neighbors have undoubtedly peered out their windows more times you can count, to see who are the newbies into the neighborhood. The movers have finally left, and it’s time to get situated.

Introduction To A New Environment

You’ll want to bring your beagle around on a leash, both inside and outside of your new home, as a way to formally introduce them to the new space. It will help them feel safe and secure with you guiding them. Or more likely they are guiding you — got to love that beagle nose, right?

If you’re going from a larger home to a smaller home, they will need time to adjust.
On the flip side: If you’re moving from a smaller home to a larger home, they will need time to adjust, and they will likely be bouncing off the walls in the excitement of all this extra space to stretch their legs.

Establish Their Routine

The key to make this adjustment as seamless as possible, it is key to establish a routine as soon as possible. Just as how your beagle simply knew when it was time to eat, and what time you’d likely be going on walks together, that will help them through. Get their dog bed, treats, and toys unpacked as soon as possible. After all, familiarity is friendly. Try not to leave them in an empty space alone overnight, even if they have what they need. Once in your new home, secure a safe spot for them to stay while you are moving things in.

If you can swing it, set your schedule up so when you arrive, you still have days left over to be able to stay home while you unpack. This extra time to be around your beagle will further help with this adjustment period. Not to say that you should stay hunkered down during this time and become a recluse, you just should avoid being out of the new house for an extended period of time. If you need to run a quick errand, that should be inconsequential. They should help them learn that you will not be around all the time, but if you do leave, you’ll be back.

One word of advice: Do not leave your dog outside unattended, even if it is safely fenced off.
Some dogs have been known to try to jump a fence, in an attempt to find their way back to their prior homes.

Don’t Neglect The New Vet

Remember those peering neighbors I referenced a little earlier? Well, they may serve as a great source of knowledge, regarding recommendations for a new veterinarian for your beagle. Or of course, you can just look it up on the internet like you did to find this article.

I would recommend a preliminary visit ASAP to familiarize your beagle with their new medical caretaker. It’s much better to have them acclimate to a new veterinary team if they’re not having an emergency, as opposed to if they are. Be proactive, not reactive.

Final Thoughts

Armed with these essential tips, you should feel particularly confident that moving with your beagle will be an experience that will be both pleasurable and safe for both beagle and human alike.

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