I just wanted to check something with you all that's been going through my mind a bit. When we collect our pup is it better to have him/her in the footwell by my legs or in a box on my lap, than in the car crate in the boot, because of how anxious they may be? And then the next time they are in the car are they still too small? to be in the car crate (we have a divider)? Or is it okay at 8 weeks? Thanks so much!
Chepi made the 5 hour journey home at 8 weeks in her car crate and slept for most of it. For a short journey I may have had her on my lap - there's more room in a crate than on a lap or on the footwell and less distracting for the driver.
Jura was on my lap for the journey home. We did briefly try the car crate but it did not go down well, neither did the footwell of the car, she just kept scrambling up my legs to get back on my lap, so for the first journey I kept her on my lap. We had to introduce the car crate gradually over a period of weeks once she was home, she really didn't like it to start with for some reason, lots of treats, and now associating it with exciting walks has solved the problem.
Jane Martin - That's amazing!! Bless her she did brilliantly I understand, thank you!! Raven12 - Thanks for sharing what you did and how you got her to like the car crate! That's the way I was thinking... gradually introduce him/her to it and have lots of treats ready!
The safest way for your pup is in a proper crash tested car crate that is no bigger than it needs to be. Next best is a proper crash tested harness. Neither of these are very practical for a first car trip with a puppy that might need attention. Charlie did the journey home in a cardboard box on the back seat next to me. He was fine. Cried for a bit then set about ripping up the box and generally being a hooligan.
Just be open to a couple of alternatives on the day and deal with stuff as it happens. Don't put the puppy down on the ground if you need to stop. (Lots of dogs stop and may carry diseases) Chepi didn't need a wee at all on our journey because she had a very good long play with her litter mates (all going the same day so all had the same plan, except we were going the furtherest) and a wee before setting off. Wear old clothes, take old towels! Have a brilliant time! When is this happening?
Thank you that's a great tip just to be flexible and see what happens on the day. Totally understand about not letting him/her on the floor That's brilliant she didn't need a wee at all because she had such a great play beforehand and a wee!! Thank you I'll remember those things! 1st of August so not long at all!!!
We had a journey of around 4 hours to bring Juno home. Juno was 10.5 weeks old when leaving the breeder. We started with her in the footwell but she didn't settle so a couple of miles down the road we stopped and I moved into the back seat and had Juno snuggled in my arms for the rest of the journey. I also had her crate set up on the back seat so as a last resort I could pop her into it. Juno travelled home snuggled with no problems, and I got lots of puppy licks whenever she roused . We introduced her to her crate during the rest of the afternoon and evening by throwing treats in for her to find. Popped her in the crate at bedtime with no bother, went out of the kitchen with no problem and turned off the kitchen light at which point she cried. Rather than having her crying we took the crate up to the bedroom and she went in with no problems. She whimpered a bit with the light off but I just spoke quietly to her and let her smell my hand through the crate. Didn't hear anything from here until she needed to wee about 4 hours later.
That's brilliant how you had many options for Juno. Love her that's so wonderful!! Thank you for telling me how you introduced the crate, throwing the treats in makes it even more fun!! That's so lovely... sounds like you had it all worked out. Thank you for sharing your experience, it's so valuable to hear everyone's way of doing things.
Lots of reading of the Happy Puppy Handbook and reading posts on here . Also don't forget, towels, kitchen towel (easy to dispose of) some hand wipes, water and a little bowl depending upon the length of the journey home. We did stop to offer a Juno a wee half way home but she received her first vaccinations as she was 10.5 weeks old, but she was fine, just had a few laps of water.
Forgot to say -plan trips with your puppy in the same was as trips with babies and toddlers and you won't go far wrong
Thanks MaccieD. Yes got the puppy handbook on hand thank goodness!! I love reading posts on here and learning more each time. Love her. Thank you!!
Murphy travelled home for the breeders (about 45 minutes away) curled up on my knee, wrapped in a blanket which we'd left at a previous visit which smelled of his mum and litter mates, he was 8 weeks and 4 days. 2 days later we went on a 10 min drive and he went in his crate, which is in the boot, but luckily our middle back seat can come down so he could see both my daughters, and was fine. He still barks a bit on and off if we stop in traffic, but soon settles. I think the first day is all about keeping puppy happy and it is a traumatic thing to leave their home and all theyve known, so for me I was happy to snuggle him en-route - good luck!
Thank you!! Love the cuddling idea and also the blanket must of been so comforting for him. It's good to know how he copes now, it's very understandable. Exactly it's very traumatic so I'm very happy to cuddle... such a hardship Thanks!!
Both Tatze and Gypsy hated travelling in the car crate, they shouted, howled and did scared sloppy poos. I ended up doing 2 minute journeys every day to get them used to it - and it took both 'till they were 5 months before they stopped shouting. So I have a small plastic crate for Twiglet (9 weeks old) with vet bed and a big teddy in it - she loves it. It takes me an hour to get to puppy class and we have just been - not a squeak, hurrah! It's on the back seat of the car fastened in with the seat belt. I'm sure it won't last her past 12 weeks old but, hopefully, she will be used to travelling by then. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Medium-Petma...6DT21PBSWY4VJS
Oh, and have a nylabone or similar ready - Tatze was already a crocodile when we picked her up and would have chewed my hand off if I hadn't taken some nylabone keys for her to chew!
Thanks so much Boogie! Bless them!!! Brilliant perseverance from you bless you all!! That's a great idea!! Thank you for the link! I'm so glad that works well for her! I love your blogs so much, I've been reading about Gypsy (and Tatze) for quite a while, and yesterday caught up with Twiglet (what a beauty!) and saw I have the chew keys like you have (and playpen, and wolfybed, vet bed etc lol) I will make sure to bring them with us when we pick him/her up!
We had a 3.5 hour journey I wore old clothes and took plenty of towels and had the crate set up in the boot of the car. I'd also got an old fleece jacket covered in her mums scent. She slept part of the way on my lap but most of the journey in the foot well. I then used the crate at night for her to sleep in as it was small. She has always loved the car which has turned out to be a blessing. The crate I used was a Ferplast Atlas Car 100 Pet Carrier, although it's expensive and didn't last more than 14ish weeks I found she was really safe in the boot of my Ford Fiesta I also used it when visiting friends. My mother in law died when Mabel was a 12 weeks and the wake was at a hotel that is used for Crufts. She was able to play and had a nap in the bar. A real home from home. Exciting times with your puppy. Enjoy.
Thank you for sharing what your experience was!! That's lovely, and I'm so glad she was happy in the crate and loves the car too. It is a shame these crates are so expensive, but it makes sense when you are paying for quality and safety. I'd rather have less money and still have a dog in a crash, than the other way around. That's really good she did so well at the wake bless you all. Thank you, very exciting!!!
