Moving to the Country - Part 1

Preface: A brief preface to our upcoming weekly series of advice meant to help those contemplating moving to the country from the city, particularly those who are new to country life. What does this have to do with pets, everything actually. I only know a few people who live in the country that don't have pets. As a matter of fact, for many, including myself, it was because of my pets that I initially wanted to make a change in lifestyle, to give my dogs freedom to run and to be able to be with my horses more. Making the move to the country seven years ago, I have learned sooooooo much, especially from the mistakes I've made and the mistakes I've observed others making. There are a lot of misconceptions regarding country home living, and hopefully, all those considering a country life for their family and pets will find this information useful, helpful and interesting. One thing I would like to preface first is my desire for my pets to have the best life possible. For this reason, some may find my advice a little extravagant. For instance, I make sure my cats have a sheltered spot with a pet heat mat for warmth to provide a little extra comfort on chilly days, while others may feel the haystack in the barn should be plenty. I bring my outside working dog Pyrenees' in when the weather gets bad, while others would think they would be "just fine" toughing it out a little ... and so on. Hence, this guide will be very animal care centric and dedicated to making our country home life together (with our pets) just a little bit better. Look for advice on wether a country life is the one for you, how much land to buy, where to settle, "neighbor" concerns, building design, enviromental planning, pets planning, animal care and much more.