Bringing puppy home

[kristine & Auggie]

We have a  5 hour drive to bring our puppy home and I am wondering if he is sitting on my lap or should he be in his crate ?  Also, since he is so young should he be feed somewhere in that 5 hours or is he more likely to get car sick ?

Thank you, Kris

[Vivian & Mojo]

I had a 3 hour drive home from the breeder, I had a small box with a towel in it and put puppy in the box and held him on my lap. (after the ride home he started riding in the crate)  I did have the create in the car in case he was wild in the box but he mostly slept and was calm. I stopped every hour for him to potty, I had another box with a wee wee pad inside for him to potty in so he wouldn't be in danger on the ground. I didn't feed until we got home but your trip is longer so others may have an answer.

Here is Mojo on the way home.

[kristine & Auggie]

He is really cute.  Thanks for the reply.  That is a good idea about the pee pad.

[Vivian & Mojo]

Thank you Kristine and good luck with your new puppy...post lots of pics.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

What beautiful eyes!!!

[Vivian & Mojo]

TY Lori, they changed to topaz as he got older.

[Libby Stinson]

Kristine,

I am no expert but have brought two puppies home in the past 2 years or so. The first one I held in my lap while my husband drove the hour drive home. He cried a lot and I finally put him in the back seat of our mini van, inside a carrier, with a toy and he fell asleep.

The second experience I had was returning a puppy a mini doodle home via an airplane. She was in a carrier the entire time and made no noise and did not eliminate the entire time, from 10:30 am to 7:00 pm. 

My opinion would be to get a carrier specific to your puppy's size and put inside it a soft blanket and maybe a gel pad as well as a soft toy that does not squeak. The gel pad will absorb any pee. 

You can make a few stops in that 5 hour drive if the puppy needs to relieve himself.I would not feed him along the way.

I hope that helps.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

We brought Guinness home in a crate, and I wish I hadn't.  He was very nervous and got carsick a few times.  We brought Murph home with me sitting in the back seat with the two Doods.   That seemed much better.....they were relaxed and they both slept cuddled up. 

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Hi Kristine ~ I brought Charlie home almost 2 years ago and we also had a five hour drive.  I had a small fleece blanket on my lap and he just leaned into me and fell asleep.  Half way home, he woke up and we stopped on top of Snoqualmie Pass, WA for a potty break, I wiped his feet off and away we went.  He slept the rest of the way home.  No, I did not try to feed him.  Two weeks ago, we went back to pick up second puppy (Beau) and I sat in the back seat with him next to me on a blanket and he slept the entire way home.  He was 10 weeks old then.  It has been my experience that they feel safer when they can feel you next to them.  I think Vivian's box idea is great too.  All that being said, if you get in the car and it is not working, you can always readjust the situation and do what is more comfortable for you and your new puppy.  I can imagine how excited you are for the arrival of your new little one.  Have a safe journey.

 

[kristine & Auggie]

Linda, that Charlie Bown is one cute dog!!! 

I am thinking  on my lap for the ride home with a box just in case and a box with a wee wee pad.  We are super excited but probably over thinking everything lol

I have a daughter who lived in Kennewich while I lived in Seattle so I have done the Snoqualmie Pass drive a time or  two.  We have a straight shot down the I-5 from Portland so it will be an easy drive with lots of places to stop if we need to.

Thanks everyone for all of your great feed back.

Kris

[Cori, Cali, and Riley]

Our ride home with Riley was 5 hours. She started out on my lap with a towel, and was pretty whiney. Eventually she hung out in the back in a doggy seat and slept. We stopped 3 times to let her potty and she went each time, and stretched her legs a bit. The majority of the trip she slept though and did not get car sick or have accidents. We brought garbage bags and extra towels with just in case though. Also a non squeaky toy that she's now slept with every night since.

[Patti Golden]

I brought Boone home Wednesday.  It was an 8 hr. trip.  I brought a towel for him to lay on by my feet but he seemed to prefer my lap and tried to crawl up on it.  He slept most of the way home in my lap.  A friend of mine went with me and she drove all the way home.  We stopped a few times for potty breaks but I did not feed him.  The breeder gave me some anti-emetic medicine to give to him she had just gotten from her vet.  He had been carsick that Monday when she took him to the vet but she thinks it was because he was in the back and was trying to get to the middle and hanging over the seat.  I did give him half a pill (I think it was called Cerenia) and he never got carsick. 

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Patti, I'm so happy for you! Pictures please???!!!