Suggestions needed for tomorrow

[Crazy Doodle Lady]

Dexter finally comes home tomorrow. I can not wait! I have the house all ready to go, my camera batteries charged, camera gear out and ready to use and a long weekend off to adjust my little boy to his new life and schedule. The only thing I am concerned about is the drive home tomorrow.

I work until midnight tonight and will be leaving at 5am to get him. It will take me probably 4-5 hours to get there thanks to rush hour traffic and then another 4 hours home. I'll be exhausted for sure. My question is how do I keep him calm and happy on the long drive home? I'll be traveling by myself and have never driven long distance for a puppy before. What if he has to go to the bathroom? Or gets car sick?

Does anyone have any tips for me? They would be much appreciated.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I collected Riley on my own. It was a 12 hour journey home including a ferry crossing. I put him in a crate in the back of the car. I brought newspaper black plastic sacks, baby wipes, a water bowl, stuff for cleaning and rubber gloves. I took some of the breeders food home with me and fed him a little half way home as it was too long a journey. When I stopped I lifted him out and had him on a leash and put newspaper on the ground. I carried him into shops and ate fish and chips outdoors in the rain before we took the boat home. He slept most of the way and never cried or got sick once. It turned out to be much easier than i expected though it was exhausting. I took a vitamin boost  tablet to stop me being sleepy! and brought a big flask of coffee and a bottle of water too.  Good luck.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

What was in the flask, Nicky????   :p

[Pat and Traveler]

Riley's coming home is the gold standard for trips to get a puppy!  :)

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

Definitely have him go potty in no so populated spots.  Or just lay out potty pads for him to go on.  Good luck and have fun!  Be careful driving since you will be going on little sleep...  I'm a night shifter too! 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I went alone to pick up FInn, but it was only a 3 hour trip.  I had a small Kennelcab crate that I secured the passenger seat with him facing towards me so that he could see me and I could pet him.  I put in a fleece pad and took a soft toy from the breeder with his mom's scent.  I had trash bags, newspaper, wipes and water with me. The breeder offered me earplugs but I declined :) After a few minutes of crying, I put on some soft music and he slept the whole way home.  Good luck!

[Crazy Doodle Lady]

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. You are all very helpful. I feel a little less stressed about tomorrow now. I'll be sure to bring extra towels and puppy pads. The playpen idea was genius. I have one with a canvas floor that is removable and washable so I'll put puppy pads in that at the rest stops and let him stretch his legs for a bit. You guys are the best! Dexter and I thank you!!!!!!!

[Emily, Bentley, & Maserati]

Good luck picking up Dexter! I second a small crate with towels and a small bowl for water. We always brought a little lovey for our dogs when we picked them up for them to snuggle with in addition to the blanket the breeder sent us home with. Thankfully, we haven't had trouble with car sickness and our dogs, but one of our fosters got car sick repeatedly. If he would get comfy and fall asleep before we left he did a lot better. 

Make sure to give yourself plenty of breaks too! :) 

[Jordan & Daisy]

We picked our Daisy up in Cincinnati, Ohio which was THIRTEEN hours from us!! You definitely want a travel crate and inside I would put a soft towel or blanket and some kind of chew toy. Daisy did get sick during the first 10 minutes or so and then again about 10 mins later again but we just switched the towel out for a clean one and wiped her with some puppy wipes. We brought some bottled water and a small bowl in case she got thirsty. She honestly slept 90% of the time and we stopped every 2-3 hours or so to let her go potty. We did NOT stop at any rest areas or places with lots of people, instead we pulled off an exit into a residential area and let her go potty on some grass. Definitely don't let him out anywhere where lots of dogs might have been.

[Pam Thomas]

Good suggestions. I will be driving 11.5 hours to get my pup. I may have  friend to help, but maybe not. If not I will be asking for suggestions on pet friendly hotels on the route. Good luck on your new puppy. You must be so excited!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Pam, just as a FYI, LaQuinta is pet friendly. We used them traveling across country and was very pleasantly surprised just how clean they were. They also block off underneath the bed so cats, dogs, can not climb underneath. Every consideration is taken.

[Pam Thomas]

Thanks for the info