[PrincessCupcake]

Hi everyone, I'd like to thank everyone in advance. First of all, I just want to tell you my situation. I got a Chihuahua puppy when I was 17 to help ease my depression and anxiety. Well, I've loved her and cared for her since then up until I had to go to college in a city 150 miles away from my home. My Cuppykins stayed with my family who loves her and cares for her. When I visit she jumps up into my arms and licks me and gets so excited. She misses me and loves me. I've always wanted her with me but I couldn't have her with me. Well a few months ago I moved into a pet friendly apartment complex and my boyfriend finally said that I could bring her to live with me. My question is, how do I make the move as comfortable as possible for her. I've been reading online and it says that I should have her visit the apartment before moving her in but it's impossible because I can't have my boyfriend drive me back and forth 150 miles even two times in one month and I think it would be pointless to bring her to the apartment once every three or four months or so because she probably wouldn't get used to it that way at all. How can I make it as comfortable for her here as possible, any tips? I will be taking some old toys of hers and that's about all she has of hers.

 

[rokmurphy]

Well, I don't know how she acts on car rides. But I am guessing she is will nervous and anxious at the same time. Try having your bf stop during the ride and let her out to stretch and use the bathroom. They sell caliming medicine at petsmarts, but I don't think that is needed. Just let her sit in your lap and comfort her. I wrap mine in a blanket every time we go for a ride and it is instant sleep.lol. He won't wake until we arrive to our location.

 

[svdreamer]

I think she should do fine. Dogs are adaptible, and she knows and loves you, so I think she will settle in just fine. When I rescue dogs they they dont get to visit, they just move in with me and my kids and dog pack and I have no problem. And I will be rescuing 6 dogs that are over 1600 miles away from my home, I think your little one will be just fine going 150 miles. That's only about 2 1/2 to three hours, she should be fine even without stopping.

 

[PrincessCupcake]

Thank you both for the advice. I was just scared that when she gets to the apartment she may become sick with sadness or something from moving from home. I will do my best to make her comfortable. I will probably wrap her in a blanket and I will stop once in between cities so she can go to the bathroom, just in case as I think my bf would throw a tantrum if she went in his new truck! Thank you so much for your advice It's good to know that dogs can travel 1600 miles and still be okay.

 

[Gurman]

My chi helps me with the same things She and my other dogs are also well-seasoned travelers. I agree that she should make the drive just fine, and I think an all at once move would be ok because you are there. Ultimately, my dogs with go anywhere (a hotel, a car, a canoe) if their people are with them Maybe bring all her familiar stuff like beds, toys, bowls (mine don't like to eat/drink out of strange receptacles) and maybe when you go to pick her up, if she doesn't know him already she could have a chance to spend some time with your boyfriend on her own turf. Try and stick to her familiar routine from your family home as much as possible and I believe she will be just fine :toothy4: Happy homecoming!

 

[JadensMimi]

Yikes. I sure hope your BF gets to know her and love her. It sounds like he's not much of a dog lover, (sorry to sound rude), but it could be hard for you if the dog ever makes a mistake. My husband is a newly converted dog lover, but before it wasn't so easy. Now if something goes wrong around here, I just blame it on "his" dog LOL. You said that she is so happy to see you when you returned home, that's wonderful. Give her potty breaks on the way, don't feed her alot before you leave to decrease the chance of car sickness. She'll be with you and she'll be fine. Give her time to explore on HER TERMS until she gets comfortable, don't push her and don't coddle her. I've moved cross country a few times with many animals, birds, dogs, cats, and a horse. It worked out fine with them given a little time to get to know their new surroundings.

 

[svdreamer]

I think she will just be eager to explore the new place. Remember, even though its new to her, it smells of you all over, so I think that will help her settle in, too.

 

[CHITheresa]

Dogs adapt very easily I think she will do fine.

 

[~LS~]

How old is she?
How long has she been living with your family instead of you?
Also what changed your bf's mind about the dog coming to live with you?

 

[PrincessCupcake]

Yikes. I sure hope your BF gets to know her and love her. It sounds like he's not much of a dog lover, (sorry to sound rude), but it could be hard for you if the dog ever makes a mistake. My husband is a newly converted dog lover, but before it wasn't so easy. Now if something goes wrong around here, I just blame it on "his" dog LOL. You said that she is so happy to see you when you returned home, that's wonderful. Give her potty breaks on the way, don't feed her alot before you leave to decrease the chance of car sickness. She'll be with you and she'll be fine. Give her time to explore on HER TERMS until she gets comfortable, don't push her and don't coddle her. I've moved cross country a few times with many animals, birds, dogs, cats, and a horse. It worked out fine with them given a little time to get to know their new surroundings.

Hi! Oh, well my boyfriend does love dogs, and I guess it did sound bad but when I said he would throw a tantrum I didn't mean he would hit her or hit me or anything like that lol. But yeah, he would be mad since he just got his truck off the lot about 3 weeks ago or so. If she does make a mistake he just told me I'm going to have to clean up after her and that's about it. He does love her so I'm comfortable having him around her. If he hated dogs or I thought that he would harm her or even yell at her if she did something wrong, I probably wouldn't have him as a boyfriend lol, and I certainly wouldn't have him around her.

Thank you for all the advice too, I probably would have coddled her a lot upon bringing her to the apartment! It must have been hard moving a horse across country!

 

[PrincessCupcake]

Thanks Gurman, ChiTheresa, and Svdreamer, I was kind of nervous about moving her but now I'm more relaxed!

LS, she just turned 4 a couple of days ago.
She has been living with them I would say near a year or so. Some of that time I've been there staying with them.
He didn't really change his mind I would say, he always said that I could have her in our apartment but he wanted to see how the apartment was before we had her move in. We moved in in June, so it's been five months. He said he wanted to see if there was break ins or if the area had friendly people, stuff like that. So finally after 5 long months I guess he thought it was a great place for her to live.

 

[bayoumah]

hi im so glad shes comeing home to live with you and your boyfriend your boyfriend will fall in love with her very soon after she arrives and youll feel complete to have her close at home again

 

[PrincessCupcake]

I will feel complete. I've been very anxious and depressed and I'm sure she'll help me a lot once I see her tomorrow.

 

[~LS~]

4 years is young, I think she'll adjust just fine. It might take time, it's normal, just make it worth while for her, lots of walks, playtime and good food! Good luck

 

[mooberry]

My advice
1) bring paper towels just in case
2) be grateful she isn't a cat

 

[~LS~]

My advice
1) bring paper towels just in case
2) be grateful she isn't a cat

ROFL :laughing5:

Good advice! :thumbleft: