Author: mhjpadm28

Have you and your pooch pal just moved to New Zealand or planning to relocate your pet to Auckland in the near future? Moving is an exciting and fun time, and we want to make sure your dog gets to experience all the best new sights, sounds and smells that Auckland has to offer. Let your four-legged furry companion meet and play new doggo mates while you soak in the fresh views.

Top 5 Dog parks in Auckland

1. Meola Dog Park, Western Springs

Image: nzherald.co.nz

Meola Reef Park is the only fully fenced, year-round off-leash dog in central Auckland. Featuring lush green terrains and bush area, this park is a popular spot for dog owners. Plenty of parking is available and your dog will have a good old time romping around with other furry visitors. For more information on Meola Reef Park, click here.

2. Auckland Botanic Gardens, Manurewa

Image: Your Life with Dogs

One of Auckland’s most beautiful gardens, the Auckland Botanic Gardens is a botany fan’s paradise with duck ponds and boardwalks. There is an off-leash area at the northern area of the Gardens where your dog will be permitted to roam free and frolic to their heart’s desire. For more information on Auckland Botanic Gardens, click here.

3. Craigavon Park, Green Bay

Image: Bark Bag

A diverse landscape that’s wonderful for doggos and their human parents alike, Craigavon Park features tons of large grassy areas for romping around and even a small stream for fans of the water. Challenge your pup with the dedicated agility course, which is sure to tire them out at the end of the day. For more information, click here.

4. Bomb Point, Hobsonville

Image: Bark Bag

Boasting a rich military and aviation history, Te Onekiritea Point (Bomb Point) now has a fully fenced off area for pooches to run around freely, off leash. For more information, click here.

5. Onehunga Bay Reserve

Image: Auckland Unleashed

A terrific place to take your pup for a run and a swim, the Onehunga Bay Reserve features a lagoon that’s separated from the sea, keeping the water calm for first-time swimmers. Bordered by large grassy area and accessible via a gentle walkway, this is a fantastic off-leash option for dog owners. For more information, click here.

At Jetpets, we like to help you make the pet travel process as easy and stress-free as possible for you and your furbaby. However, it’s important to remember that the travel process goes beyond the pick up from the airport or transit lounge, your furbabies will still need some time to get used to their new home and the new sights, smells and sounds that come with it. This is especially true for cats, as they are creatures of comfort and can take longer to acclimatise when compared to their dog counterparts.

We’re very fortunate to have expert in-house vets at Jetpets and we’ve asked Dr. Angus for his advice and top tips when it comes to helping your cat settling into your new home.

Phase 1: ‘Safe Mode’

Cats are usually quite bonded to their home territory so tend not to appreciate the time, expense and effort that you’ve gone to in relocating them with you – not initially anyway… Once they leave their established home most cats will go in to ‘safe mode’ whereby they will ‘lay low’ and ‘sit tight’- as in they will retreat to the back of their travel crate and maintain a low body and head posture to try and remain as ‘invisible’ as possible; this is a natural self-protective response employed by cats. We should, however, mention that there is a small cohort of outliers among the cat population who are a bit more outgoing; these are the ‘confident’ cats who will be at the front of the crate looking for any attention they can get. Having said that; the following advice applies to all cats.

Image: @exoticblume

On receiving your intrepid feline adventurer (or bag of nerves – whatever the case may be) on arrival either at the airport or if they are delivered to your doorstep the most important thing to remember is, no matter how much you want to give them a reassuring scratch around the ears,
do not under any circumstances open the crate in an uncontained area. A cat that escapes in an unfamiliar area, no matter how friendly/easy going/dog-like they are normally is very likely to bolt and may be lost forever.

Phase 2: Allocate a ‘Safe Room’

So, once you’ve got them to their new home; it’s best to allocate them their own room for starters – preferably one without hiding places behind heavy electrical devices like fridges and washing machines.

In this room you’ll need at least one good-sized litter tray filled with their preferred litter (if they have a preference) and at the opposite end of the room a bowl of clean water (preferably bottled water – some cats may not initially drink tap water that tastes ‘different’ due to chlorination, different pipes etc.) and a selection of their favourite food – we’re talking the expensive stuff here; prawns, salmon, venison – you’ve spent enough to cover a business class airfare on them so you may as well splash out on some business class tucker too. Your cat will of course reciprocate (OK, punish you) and expect you to eat beans on toast for a few weeks.

Image: @exoticblume

Also, in their initial ‘safe room’ you’ll need a comfortable hiding place such as an igloo. You may be able to use the travel crate as this hiding place but first check that the Stay Dry mat hasn’t been soiled – turn it over to check for any tell-tale marks on the underside as it will, as given away by the name, be dry on top. If need be tip out the bedding from the crate and replace it with clean bedding.

Highly recommended for the ‘safe room’ is a Feliway plug-in diffuser, this will help indicate to your cat that this is a safe area and help them to settle/calm down more quickly.

It’s best to open the crate in the ‘safe room’ and let your cat come out of their own accord – most will within a few minutes but a few may need a little coaxing. Most cats will then carry out a ‘sweep’ checking for the presence of any other cats – in other words this is the first stage of establishing their new territory. They may vocalise while undertaking this sweep and may want to jump up onto any high surfaces such as cabinets, shelves etc. to get a better view of their surroundings.

Once they’ve established that the area is theirs and theirs alone then they will begin to relax and possibly even come and say hello to you (and check that you haven’t been cheating on them with any other cats during their absence…). Once you’ve reached this point you can leave them to relax further in their new bit territory by giving them some peace and quiet and time to have a bite to eat and use the tiger-latrine.

Phase 3: Time to Explore

Image: @exoticblume

Sooner or later there will be a request to have a look through the door and find out what’s in the next room. If you’re happy to, and provided all exits are closed, you can let them through and they will then repeat the process of checking that they have exclusive rights to this new bit of territory.

You can then progressively introduce them to as much of their new home as they feel comfortable being introduced to. But remember always ensure that all outside exits are closed!!

You do not want to let your cat out into the open until you are completely confident that they are well established in and bonded to their new indoor territory. There is no hard and fast rule as to how long this establishment or bonding takes (some people say two weeks others say up to six) as it very much depends on your cat’s individual temperament. Ultimately you need to be confident that they have established their indoor territory as a safe place where if they are outside and something scares them then then their automatic response is to retreat to the house.

Phase 4: Out and About (this only applies to cats who are not indoor-only)

Most cats will pretty quickly in the first couple of days after arrival in their new home begin to show an interest in the outside world and begin to ‘ask’ to go outside – it’s best to take a conservative approach to this and don’t give in to them too soon until you are comfortable that they will come back to the house rather than launch into an epic journey to try and return to their previous home.

When you do let them out for the first time this is best done under close supervision letting them explore in, preferably, an enclosed area and only at ground level few minutes or until they start looking to jump or climb before returning them inside. You can then repeat these supervised
outings for longer periods of time and always make sure that there is a clear way back into the house through an open door. Cats do not understand or respect roads and traffic so you always need to be aware of busy roads if they are nearby.

Image: @exoticblume

A good time to let your cat out for the first time is prior to a meal. Initially you can take them back in and feed them and then once they’re more relaxed outside put their food out just inside the door and allow them to come in under their own steam. Once your cat has explored your
immediate garden and has chosen a ‘favourite spot’ where they are comfortable sitting and watching the world go by, and will come in for food when called, then you can at last consider your cat’s relocation a success.

But always remember with all cats that curiosity will often lead them further afield; this typically occurs during hours of darkness so it is recommended to keep cats indoors at night both for their own safety and to mitigate impacts on local bird and wildlife populations.

Jetpets Resident Vet Dr. Angus provides his top tips to help your dog adjust to your new home in New Zealand

One of the questions we are asked most often after a pet arrives is, “Will my dog be okay after the journey?”

After many years of helping pets travel, we’ve learnt that dogs are remarkably resilient. Our favourite part of the pet travel journey is seeing pets reunited with their family after their flight. The excitement of seeing a familiar face often outweighs everything that came before it. Once your fur-family member is back with the people they know and love, most dogs settle far more quickly than their owners expect.

That doesn’t mean the adjustment happens overnight. A new home brings unfamiliar smells, different routines and a completely new environment to explore. Just like people, every dog responds differently to change.

The good news is that there are a few simple things you can do to help your dog settle in and start enjoying their new home.

Give Your Dog Time to Adjust

One thing we often notice at Jetpets is that owners are usually more worried than their dogs.

Some dogs will confidently explore every corner of their new home within minutes, while others will stay close to their family until they feel comfortable enough to venture further. Both responses are completely normal.

Rather than encouraging your dog to investigate everything at once, let them settle at their own pace. Give them time to take in the new sights, smells and sounds without feeling overwhelmed.

Remember, the biggest source of comfort for your dog isn’t the house itself. It’s being back with the people they know and trust – you!

Keep Their Routine As Familiar As Possible

While your surroundings may have changed, your dog’s daily routine doesn’t have to.

Dogs thrive on consistency, so maintaining their usual feeding times, walks, play sessions and bedtime routine can help provide reassurance during a period of change.

Familiar items such as their bed, favourite toys and blankets can also provide comfort while they adjust. These familiar scents help create a sense of security, even when everything else feels new.

At Jetpets, one of the most common pieces of advice we give families before they collect their pet is to focus on routine first. Once your dog understands that their favourite people, meals and daily activities haven’t changed, settling into a new home often becomes much easier.

Make Safety Your First Priority

There’s always plenty of excitement when your dog arrives home, but before they start exploring, it’s worth taking a few minutes to make sure your property is secure.

Check that fences are intact, gates close properly and there are no gaps or areas where an adventurous dog could escape. If you’ve moved somewhere with neighbouring dogs, busy roads or larger outdoor spaces, think about how your dog will safely explore these areas over the coming days.

When pets move to a new home, there’s a chance that if they get out, they won’t be able to find their way back. A CareTag gives an extra, high-tech layer of safety as your pet transitions to their new home and is exclusive to Jetpets. Why choose a Caretag over anything else?

• Each CareTag has a unique QR code which anyone with a smartphone camera can scan (no special app required).
• Your pet’s finder will be able to see critical details about your pet, including your contact information, but also urgent health alerts that the person should know (e.g., your pet requires insulin or has a severe allergy).
• When your CareTag is scanned, you receive the finder’s GPS location and contact information.

Taking a few simple precautions now can help avoid unnecessary stress later. If you would like more information on Caretag’s please speak to your Jetpets Pet Travel Consultant.

Keep Your Dog on a Lead While They Learn

Their New Surroundings

This may sound obvious, but it’s one of the most important pieces of advice we can give.

Even if your dog has excellent recall, everything around them is unfamiliar. New smells, different walking routes and the excitement of a new environment can all be distracting.

One of the few moments that still gives our team butterflies is seeing an excited dog in an unfamiliar car park after collection. We always recommend keeping your dog safely on a lead from the moment you collect them until they’re comfortably settled into their new surroundings.

Giving your dog time to learn where “home” is before allowing them off lead is one of the simplest ways to keep them safe.

Visit Your Local Veterinarian

Once you’ve had a chance to unpack and settle into your new home, it’s a good idea to introduce yourself to your local veterinarian.

Your vet can update your dog’s microchip details, recommend any preventative treatments that are appropriate for your local area and make sure vaccinations are up to date.

Even if your dog is perfectly healthy, establishing a relationship with a local clinic before you need one gives you peace of mind and ensures support is close by should you ever need it.

Remember That Every Dog Is Different

One thing we have learnt over the years is that there is no single “normal” when it comes to helping dogs settle after a move.

Some will behave as though they’ve lived there forever. Others might take a few days to relax and find their confidence.

Be patient, keep their routine consistent and give them plenty of reassurance. In most cases, you’ll soon start to see them exploring more, playing more and settling into family life just as they always have.

Helping Families Start Their Next Chapter

From helping families prepare for travel to welcoming pets on arrival and providing advice for those first few days at home, we’re here to support you throughout your relocation journey.

Seeing dogs reunited with their families is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do. Knowing they’re safely home and beginning to settle into their new surroundings is exactly why we love helping pets travel!

Whether you’re relocating within New Zealand or planning an international move, our experienced team is here to help make every stage of your pet’s journey as smooth, safe and stress-free as possible.