Bringing puppy home - updated with photos

[Diz]

Originally Posted by Michelle

I have just got a puppy and had a 2-3 hour drive for her. I bought a soft sided crate to bring her home in. She now uses it to sleep in and for car journeys.
Get some Vet bed and hopefully the breeder will give you something that smells of the
Good luck with your puppy lab's are a great breed.

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Thank you off to google vet bed and yes breeder will be sending him with something smelling of mum plus a bag of usual food. Puppy already recognises smell of our DS as we have been visiting regularly since a couple of weeks old so might take something of his with us in car

[Tetrarch]

We brought home a 10 week old cocker spaniel pup at the end of September and had a 45 minute journey. We used the crate we were going to use at home but had secured a plastic box in one end to make the crate smaller. The crate fitted in the car with part of the split back seat down and sitting in the back with him, I could open the door just enough to fit my arm through to stroke him for comfort. He fell asleep!

We have tried various harnesses in the car since then without too much success as they all give too much freedom to jump around, but I think these will be fine when he gets bigger.

On the subject of crate training, if yours is too big to start with, you will need to find a way to make it smaller or the puppy will just use one end of it as a toilet which you must avoid.

Good luck with your new furry friend and can't wait to see some photos

Debra

[borntoshop]

We used a soft sided crate with soft bedding, toy and ds22 sat next to him. He was about 2 hrs away and he settled down and went to sleep.

We also had this in his crate to start with as it was cosier for him.

[ILoveLeith]

We used a soft sided box & harness when we picked up our cocker spaniel a year ago, DD daughter sat in the back with him & he basically slept nearly the whole 3 hour journey home. Within a few weeks he’d bit through the harness & part of the box so the were chucked

He now sits quite happily on the back seat for long/short journeys.

[mitch84]

Must admit we used blankets on laps too with our lab puppies.
If you have any questions let me know. My current lab is 18 months old now so gone through the hard stage

[storm]

£2500 fine if your dog is not restrained in the car and your car insurance may be invalid. Please for the safety of all use a crate/dog seatbelt etc

[borntoshop]

When we'd had him a little while we got him used to wearing a seat belt and our other boxer is in the boot(estate car)so plenty of room. We also have a metal grille across the top of the back seats for safety now as well.

[Diz]

Originally Posted by Tetrarch

We brought home a 10 week old cocker spaniel pup at the end of September and had a 45 minute journey. We used the crate we were going to use at home but had secured a plastic box in one end to make the crate smaller. The crate fitted in the car with part of the split back seat down and sitting in the back with him, I could open the door just enough to fit my arm through to stroke him for comfort. He fell asleep!

We have tried various harnesses in the car since then without too much success as they all give too much freedom to jump around, but I think these will be fine when he gets bigger.

On the subject of crate training, if yours is too big to start with, you will need to find a way to make it smaller or the puppy will just use one end of it as a toilet which you must avoid.

Good luck with your new furry friend and can't wait to see some photos

Debra

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Thank you for the advice. The breeder told me to get a medium crate even though he is a lab for the very reason you say!

Crate and husband’s arm through door an option!

[Diz]

Originally Posted by Megandllsmum

When we got our border cross terrier a good few years ago I had him on my lap whilst OH drove home but he was tiny and scared, and pee'd so Definately have puppy pad on your lap too. Our lurcher when we got him last year he was a lot bigger and we had a longish journey with him, he was a rescue so was grateful for full on human contact but he laid beside me and I fussed him plenty and had a lead on him which we secured with seat belt, we have RAC approved dog harnesses for them now in car we got from Halford that were a good price and do the job

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Thanks I’ll take a look at the RAC harness

[Diz]

Originally Posted by borntoshop

We used a soft sided crate with soft bedding, toy and ds22 sat next to him. He was about 2 hrs away and he settled down and went to sleep.

We also had this in his crate to start with as it was cosier for him.

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Sounds like a few have fallen asleep in the car fingers crossed he does