Tips for bringing puppy home on a 4 hour drive ?

[Missy Boleyn]

Hello Everyone,

 

I am looking for some guidance.... I am bringing my puppy home soon..yay! however, it is going to be a four hour drive. I am mentally prepared for potential throw up ...and have a plan for rest stops so that my pup doesn't come in contact with other dogs or their business ( parvo risk - going to bring a disposable blanket/tablecloth  or some such to let the puppy do his business on).

 

i am wondering what is the least stressful way to transport the poor little thing ?  will a small crate make him feel safer? my sister in law said that she brought her dog home in a small crate & the pup pooped all over itself.......

 

I have purchased a seatbelt restraint system for dogs...basically it is a padded harness whose lead has a seatbelt faster that "clicks" into the seatbelt, so that the dog has about a 8"  of leash to turn around & lay down etc, but is still restrained in case of sudden stops or an accident.  At lest with this approach, I could pet the puppy & comfort her. But maybe being in the wide open car would make her feel insecure?

 

Any tips would be greatly appreciated !

 

Kind regards,

Missy

 

 

[Adina P]

I can only tell you what I did...over 4 years ago. Our drive was 6 hours and we probably stopped 3 times. Pup wouldn't go potty on the tablecloth so eventually we stopped in a couple places along the highway where it was unlikely dogs congregated regularly. We started with puppy in my arms and a crate in the backseat to put him in later. He didn't really like being in the crate (though we did keep him in there part of the time) and pretty much spent the trip in my arms and on the arm rest between the driver and me. Will you be traveling alone or with someone else? He did barf on his blanket and on the floor...but he seemed content about it.

[Missy Boleyn]

There will be three of us, my husband, myself & our daughter. I think both my daughter & I would prefer to hold the puppy, if we could. Even if we get puke'd on....If I were a puppy I would rather be held by someone warm that has a heartbeat then be stuck all alone in a crate ...I think we'll give it a try !! I can see needing a break though, & letting the pup go in the crate for a little bit ... I guess we'll bring both the crate & a blankie to hold the puppy in. The breeder is sending a blanket that has the mother & litter mates scent on it ...so maybe that will help with the comforting a bit. Thanks very much for your help, I appreciate it !

[Amanda and Quinn]

I held our puppy on our 4 drive home from the breeder and it worked out very well. I brought a towel that I rubbed on his mom before we left, and a stuffed toy. We stopped once for a potty break--he did go--and that was it. No barfing or anything, and he pretty much slept like this the entire time.

Good luck! It's such a fun day.

[sandy b]

We had about a 2 1/2 hr drive and Max slept on a towel on my lap all the way home. I brought a crate just in case but the breeders said let him stay on your lap, he'll do much better. We stopped once and he pottied and got right back on my lap and went to sleep.
I will say one thing - we had a few minutes where the sun was very bright coming into the front window and he didn't like that, but once the sun was behind us it was snoozeville :-)
Congrats and enjoy your new puppy.

[BG and Gavin]

Our breeder suggested not to use the crate for first transport as it may create a negative association to the crate. Her suggestion was a laundry basket with a towel in it. That's what we did and it worked out fine. He could see out and we could pet him. Our trip was not nearly that long though. Congratulations by the way!
p.s. Adorable picture Amanda!

[April Cliber]

Towels, paper towel, baby wipes, water, bowl, a blanket or two and rescue remedy. That's my checklist when I travel with pups. If I'm driving by myself I put the pup in an open top, round, plastic laundry basket with a blanket on the bottom. I've found that the pups are happier in the basket vs a crate. If the pup throws up or potties, I just change the blanket and clean him up with baby wipes. The open top also gives me easy access. :o)

I was told about rescue remedy when I started fostering doodles. I LOVE this product!! It calms tummies, nerves and helps with stress. People use it as well. I use to give it to my son on long car rides. He would throw up EVERY time we drove longer then 20 miles! Anyways, I always joke when I get a new foster dog that I need to go get a bottle for the dog and a bottle for me. :o) A pup only needs a very small amount. I get it at GNC.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

We had a three hour trip, and I put Guinness in a small crate in the back (where he could still see me). I did this because I was worried about his safety. If I had it to do all over again I would have held him. Even though it wouldn't have been as safe I just know he would have felt more comfortable. He didn't cry, but he was very insecure on this trip home. He got carsick a few times, and each time we stopped and cleaned him up as well as the crate. Now that I know more, I would have taken that risk, and just held him so he knew I was there and he was safe with me. I would have covered myself with a towel, and who really cares if he got sick on me.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I meant to add that when we brought Murphy home I did not put him in a crate. He cuddled up in the back seat with Guinness, and I sat back there with the "boys". It was a "bonding" time for all of us, and crating him for that trip was never a consideration. He needed to feel loved and protected.

[Leigh & Allie]

I am with the consensus. I held Allie on our ride home and she slept most of the way. She climbed on me the rest. We stopped one time and I found the most out of the way place to put her down. One thing I did not see mentioned.....when you get home take your puppy out immediately in your back yard. I read it somewhere and it said it will establish this is where she is supposed to go. I have always told her to "go potty". If she did, I had some treats and I excitedly told her what a good girl she was. You have to start potty training as soon as you get her home, in my opinion. Good luck. When do you get your little one?

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I drove 600 miles with our Fudge and 350 with our Vern. I lucked out, because neither of them got car sick and were perfect. I put a small bed between the driver seat and passenger seat and both laid in there good as gold. With Fudge, I brought a crate, but never used it. We also held them (my daughter went with me to get Fudge and a friend to get Vern). Your idea of using a harness is much safer than my way, but I wanted them to feel safe and loved with all the changes. I brought towels and blankets, but I also kept the air conditioning on. To this day, they are both good car travelers and Vern still likes to snuggle up in the crook of my neck like he did when I held him on the way home. The funny thing is I am a terrible passenger and prefer to be the driver, but I let my friend drive my car and she went on and on about me really loving that dog. Also, I did bring water and a little food (due to the long drive) and when we stopped, I just took them to areas that did not seem to be frequented by other dogs. Good luck!!

[Debbie and Thomas]

yOu will have someone with you right? Then just hold the little guy wrapped in a blanket or towel. We drove 4 hrs. home with our 8 week old. My son drove...I sat in the passenger seat and my husband sat in the back with the doodle. It was so hectic picking him up...paying the bill...watching him play with his brothers and sisters...we were all exhausted and he slept all the way home. Not a peep from him. We did not stop for a pee break...just kept driving...big snow storm. We got home and brought him inside and made up a bed for him in our laundry room. Never heard a peep from him until I went in to let him out in the am. Wishing you the same luck we have had.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We had about a 4 1/2 hour drive. We tried putting Ned in a crate at first and that was not successful. We put a towel in the foot area behind the passenger seat at the suggestion of the breeder. Ned rode there for a bit, but I held him for almost all of the trip. We stopped several times to see if he needed to go potty which he didn't. Finally he got very wiggly and we stopped and he went potty. We just let him go on the grass (I guess we have been parents for too long because we didn't worry about what he might catch). He is a fantastic traveler and although he no longer travels in my lap, he does love to ride on the floor behind the passenger seat.