Bringing Sophie home
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When we picked up Bob (he was 8 weeks) it was about 4 1/2 hours. I had him on my lap  , but it turned out to be a really great bonding time - and he didn't have any accidents. I kept a towel on my lap under him and we stopped a couple times to let him go. I didn't want to leave him in a crate because he had already been in a crate for over 10 hours (our breeder was from South Carolina and met us in PA). It worked out fine for us that way!!
Karen |
We never crated our puppies when we picked them up. I would sit in the back of the truck with them and get to know them a little. We did put a plastic sheet under a comforter and pillows around everything to be safe. No accidents  |
| I know this is probably the exception, rather than the rule, but Jasper came to us on his 8 week birthday. He had a 10 hour flight (I think? anyway...a long one), and then we had a 2 hour drive home. He didn't have an accident at all. He definitely made up for it his first few weeks at home though! lol
Good luck getting your puppy...they are SO much fun!  |
| When we picked up Hendrix it was a 7 hour drive. We thought we'd put him in the crate, but he didn't fit!
The breeders did not crate Hendrix and the thought of putting him inside a crate for the first time while ALSO taking him away from his family was not something we wanted to do. He was shaking so much when we took him, we couldn't imagine sticking him in a crate at that time either. I drove and my fiance, Ray, sat in the back with him just petting him and getting to know him. It really built up Hendrix's trust to sit with him. We made LOTS of rest area stops for him to do his business. The only problem we had is he threw up twice in the car. He wasn't accustomed to moving quite yet. |
| I carried each pup in my lap, like someone said it is great bonding time when you first meet your new pup.... I was so happy to finally have them I didn't want them away from me anyway...lol... |
| When we picked Beau up at 8 weeks, we had an hour drive home and my sister held him.
When I got home, Tahje and Mollie didn't know what was going on and Beau started chasing them and they both ran upstairs and looked down at Beau. It was the funniest thing, watching both of them look down on Beau.  Now, 5 months later, when Beau chases Tahje, he runs upstairs and hides underneath the bed. |
Safety says you should use the crate......... but the heart says differently!!! We drove a long way to pick up Ty and although I had brought the crate I couldn't bring myself to put him in it  He was wrapped in a blanket on my lap.
BUT (there is always a but) you are taking chance. THis past winter a person I know had her puppy on her lap and they were involved in an accident and sadly the puppy was killed. So I guess it's a tough decision. I agree it's a really great bonding time but it's also a risk. |
| Maybe this is the worst case scenario of using a crate, but when I picked up Barney at 8 wks, I started by having him in the seat beside me in my pickup although I had a wire crate in the bed (which has a camper top on it), but realized I couldn't ride and keep him calm at the same time. I put him in the crate and he cried and howled in the worst way for 30 min of the 45 min trip home. After that he never did like his crate and after fighting and coaxing him into it at night for about 3 months, I gave up and let him have the run of the house. Maybe if your pup feels comfortable in it and its along side of you or in the back seat, that might be different.
Otherwise I wouldn't force it on him. |
| Having someone drive while you sit in back
with Sophie on your lap is a good option. It's alot of stress on the puppy to be transported, so she will be more comfortable in your direct care........... You can bring the crate so its along should you need it. You can stop for frequent breaks, but just keep her away from other dogs or areas where dogs have been since she is still in the mist of getting her vaccinations.. Congratulations and Best Wishes ! Looking forward to seeing pictures! |
| i had about a ten hour drive to pick up roo, and I brought a crate, but he was so friggen big he didn't fit in it! He sat the entire ride on my lap and he didn't have a single accident! Of course, he still gets on my lap, maybe that wasn't such a good thing.... hehe!! great bonding!! he didn't want on the floor, he knew from the start he was a lap dog. |
| Max arrived by plane, so when we picked him up he had been in his crate for a while and was wet! We brought towels with us and cleaned him up before getting in the car. Our three kids held Max in the backseat of the car and it was the best trip, of course we only had a 45 minute drive, but the kids loved it and Max dozed off!!
Sharon |
| When we picked up Gucci he had just had a 3 hour plane ride and he was screaming to get out of that crate! I sat with him in the back seat, we had a 3 hour drive home, and he just slept the whole way! Also, he never did like his crate after that! Can I also say that was the last time he EVER slept in the car! Too much to see now that he's big and able to look out the window!
If you go on http://tinyurl.com/e2q6u and go to Gucci's Gallery you will see one of his car pictures! He's not sleeping I'll tell you! Colleen and Gucci=>I love to feel the wind on my teeth in the car! |
| Have you considered a travel harness to buckle the puppy in? This would be the best of both worlds in the backseat. The puppy will be safe with the saftey harness (buckled in) and having a person sitting next to them to keep them calm and comfortable.
Just a suggestion |
| Even though humans would feel more secure being held, a puppy would probably feel more secure in a crate especially in such a long ride home. I wish we had done that with Frank since he has car anxiety issues. Not sure if it would have helped or not, but my understanding from our vet and a couple of breeders is that dogs will feel less anxious in a crate in the car if they are crate trained to begin with. Might be a good way to go. You'll have plenty of time to bond when you get home plus the couple of rest stops you make, you'll be able to give lots of pats. |
| When I brought Carl home I put him in a car harness. Somehow he wiggled out of it and kept climbing into my lap. Since I was in my Miata there was no room for a crate and no backseat to stick him in. I ended up riding the rest of the way home with him sleeping on my lap. Luckily it was only about an hour drive. |
| RE: travel harness
I was told by our obedience instructor that travel harness' should not be used until the puppy is one year old due to soft bones. Don't know if this is a fact, maybe someone else could address this. |
| Maybe I'm lucky but I've never had a dog that didn't take immediately to riding in the car. Clyde only had a 10 minute ride home the first day so James just held him like a baby. He was so calm as a puppy I would take him places and hold him like that and he'd literally stay still for hours. I took him to visit my sister when he was 12 weeks old at the pizza place she owns and I sat in the lobby with him for 2 1/2 hours. He sat in my lap and didn't fuss at all. People thought he was a big stuffed animal.
Of course now he won't sit still for 2 minutes let alone 2 hours. |
| Hi Tasker's Mom! I have never heard this before, but I am glad you brought it up. I just bought a small travel harness for our new puppy that we will be bringing home in a few weeks.
Has anyone else heard about this with the puppy's soft bones? I don't want to do anything that would harm our puppy. Please advise. Thanks! |
| I have an apt with the Vet this week, I'll ask about it. I had never heard it before either. But I guess it makes sense........... |
| Just got off the phone with the Vet and asked the travel harness question. She said she didn't see any problem with it!!! I guess its like child rearing, different people with different ideas. So I've hauled mine back out!!!!! |
| Hi Tasker's Mom- Thanks for asking the question....I feel much better know about using the travel harness |
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