Hello everyone Okay so i have a couple of questions which I think i know the answer to but still have reservations? We are collecting our puppy on the 25th November, she will be 8 weeks and 1 day old. We are collecting her from south Wales, a round trip of 410 miles, from Manchester. I was thinking of collecting her on my own via the train, but the longer I've thought about this the less of a good idea it seems. I was going to ask my mum to come with me but she is nearly 70 and although fit and willing, is it really fair to ask? The best option so far, i think, is for me and Jim (partner) to drive down with Shiko, (having regular stops, she also needs to get used to longer car journeys). Yes it will be along day but to ask someone to look after her for 9 hours is a bit too much and she hates being away from us. Any thoughts please Next dilemma... I've red in the Labrador handbook, on the first couple of nights at new home, it's advised that the puppy sleeps next to your bed, in a crate or high sided box?? I understand the reason for this but my concern is will it not get to used to this and when it goes back downstairs or on the landing in her crate become even more upset and cry and whine more? advice needed thanks
I would certainly go by car, what if pup wants to 'pee or poo' on the train! My pup stayed by my bed for the first few nights but during the day slept in his crate downstairs, so that by the time I wanted him downstairs, the crate was the safe place to be for him. Also if you have another dog that will be company for the pup.
I'd definitely prefer to pick up a puppy by car than train if at all possible. I'd think a long train journey is pretty stressful for a puppy's first journey away from home - all the noise and people. And for the first few days you could see how it goes. Jess was absolutely fine sleeping downstairs at first (it was some months before she discovered the bed was more comfortable ) If she'd cried, I would have slept downstairs on the sofa so that I could be near her or I would have taken her upstairs in a crate. I agree that probably once they're in the bedroom they are unlikely to make that long trip back downstairs -but in our case that was more our doing than hers!
My own preference would be car over train. But on my recent trip to Scotland there was a fellow with a 10 week old GSD puppy in a rucksack, going from London to Glasgow. I'm not kidding. He looked like a Joey in a pouch, he seemed quite happy I have know idea what happened re wee or poo. I was only on that train for 3 stops.
W&S both went four hours in the car from Bordeaux to Andorra without needing to go. Bringing Luna from Scotland to Surrey, she only went once the whole time. We stopped a couple of times, but she didn't want to go because everything was too exciting. Still, at least in a car, you can find somewhere to stop if needs be. That's not so easy on a train - I think they take a dim view of someone pulling the emergency cord for a puppy needing a wee
Definitely car for the trip home, preferably with company so you can carry the pup in your arms. Have a chew toy in case they are crocapup from day 1 - my Tatze was! Don’t worry about the first few nights - a box by your bed will be fine. Once they settle in they are better at night but you won’t set up a habit in just a few nights. This is what I do for the first week - I have a box set up by my bed just in case they don’t settle. At bed time I put them in their own bed and wait until they fall asleep. Any crying and I take them out for a quick toilet, no words, no eye contact, no lights on - I just use my phone torch. Then back to bed. I am all ready to take them to the box by my bed if they cry but, so far, all have all settled well in their own bed. But the safety net of the box gives me confidence that I have ‘plan B’ ready, which - I think - helps the pups feel confident because I do!
All of mine have moved out of the bedroom after a few weeks without problems. Once they feel safe and that they belong they don’t mind sleeping away from you.
Yes, car rather than train, as it's probably less stressful all round. It's easier to take plenty of paper towels, old towels, puppy pads and wet wipes too. I've never had mine sleeping in the bedroom - well, not for many years. We found it had its problems when our first dog, a cairn terrier, became old and began to have 'accidents'. It's not so easy to carry a dog outside quickly during the night, negotiating stairs too! Subsequent puppies have generally settled well downstairs when they've had another dog for company, especially if each dog is able to have its own space/crate, but in the same room. I also used a microwavable heat pad (made by Wispa's breeder) for Wispa and then Tuppence to help them feel cosy.
