Transporting Puppy in Car

[Mary M.]

Tomorrow Henly turns 6 weeks.  Only 2 more weeks to go!!!  (not that I'm excited, mind you :-)

I'm starting to think about transporting Henly in the car.  I did some searching here and realize she might have motion sickness initially so I'll play with her in the car, in the driveway and hopefully take short, slow drives around the neighborhood.  I have a wellness visit scheduled with the vet 4 days after we get home.  I'd also like to take her to puppy socialization classes that are offered for young puppies in our area (after she has her 2nd DHP) but we'd need to drive.

So, if we can actually drive the car, how do you restrain your puppy vs a dog?  Initially I thought about a soft sided crate place in the back of my SUV.  But then I saw front seat might alleviate carsickness.  Then I researched harnesses and discovered the Sleepypod Clickit Harness.  

We get to visit Henly tomorrow and I plan to measure her to see which size harness will fit her.  Most likely, she'll grow out of her first harness though.

So I'm wondering, how did/do you transport your puppy if you're the only person in the car?  And was it in the front seat, back seat?  And how do you transport your dog?

I bought her water and food bowls :-)  Still have to put her crate together :-)  Have some toys :-)  Going to place a Chewy order and an Amazon order next week.  

Can't wait to bring her home!!!

Thanks for your advice!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I'll never tell Ro

And yes, we kissed, kissed, kissed, all the way home.

P.S. yes, I did wear my seat belt and put a blanket in front.  Snug as a potato he was 

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

:)

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Oh that is so cute!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I have to admit, too, that both Lucy and Oscar rode home in my lap while Tim drove, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. They were both the sweetest puppies on the way home, cuddling with their soft eyes locked on mine, with both their soft toys, one with momma's scent and one with our scents, nearby. Both very, very precious moments.

[Nikki & Charlie]

When I brought Charlie home, we brought a laundry basket with some towels inside. He was never car sick, he slept like a baby the whole way home and to this day he LOVES car rides so much that he refuses to get out of the car when the ride is over. We anticipated car sickness too but luckily he's never had it.

As a pup I kept him in the front seat with me and held on to his leash incase I had to hit the breaks hard / to prevent him from climbing into the back.

Now he's almost a year old, he just sits in the back seat. We don't have a dog seat belt for him. I watched a show testing 15 dog seat belts and only 1 passed the crash test... I know keeping him loose in the back seat isn't safe but I have yet to find something for him to have in the car and our car is small so it doesn't fit a crate.

[Erin B]

Butternut is 14 weeks old. She rides in the back seat in a VariKennel (like this http://www.petco.com/product/124398/Petmate-Ultra-Vari-Dog-Kennel.aspx).

At first she hated it and would complain; now she doesn't especially love it but will ride quietly. 

ETA: She is so freaking wiggly; I can't imagine having her loose in the car at this point. 

[Mary M.]

Erin, the wiggly bit is exactly what I'm worried about!

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

My husband and I drove 3.5 hours to pick up Charlie.  He slept the entire way home on my lap on top of a little blanket.  The breeder had a small crate with his blanket all read for his trip home, but I just could not put him in it!  My bad- probably!   We had planned to make a stop if need be but it was not necessary.  Two years later, we picked up Charlie's half brother Beau from the same breeder.  Once again, it was a smooth non-stop trip home. Beau slept the entire trip on a cushy small blanket right next to me in the back seat.  Charlie road shotgun with his head on the console staring at his new brother for the entire ride!  Both of our puppies were extremely quiet the first couple of days home - after a couple of days their personalities starting showing.  I think we got two laidback puppies! 

[Mary M.]

Linda, love that image of both of them!!

[Christine & Shelby]

Shelby rode home in her crate. That was the requirement of the breeder, that the puppies be crated and safe on their ride home. I brought a blanket and she had a blanket with smells from her mom and litter mates. She whined for about 2 minutes... And then settled in beautifully on the ~ 2 hour ride home. No car sickness... My Shelby loves a car ride :).

[Mary M.]

Well, we got to go visit Henly this afternoon since my husband was traveling on Puppy Picking Day and he hadn't met Henly.  (I highly recommend this strategy if you live within driving distance :-)  Henly is 6 weeks old today and weighs a little over 5 lbs.  And yes, I'm a proud mama!!

The breeder also recommended a cat carrier for the early weeks although she was STRONGLY against me taking Henly to any puppy socials until after she's 16 weeks old and fully vaccinated.  She doesn't want me to take Henly out AT ALL unless it's to the vet for her shots.  ugh!  

Couple of pics.  One shows her gorgeous coat although I know...it will be totally different as she matures.  But so what...