Hi,

I have new owners coming to collect their pup on Saturday and they are taking her on a 5 hour car journey home.
What would you recommend regarding toilet stops etc in service areas? She is fully vaccinated but only having the 2nd jab on the day of collection. I have advised them not to let her out and just put newspaper in one side of the cage that they are taking her in?
What are anyone's thoughts on this?

Is it possible for the pup to have her 2nd vaccination the day before she goes, just incase she has any reaction to it and with a 5hr drive. As for toileting I would put paper in the crate aswell...just to be on the safe side:)

It's quite likely that the pup will be sick as well so toilet stops aren't going to be terribly effective - except for the humans!

I'd suggest, like you, that the pup remains in the car.  Plenty of newspaper, kitchen roll and a bin bag for the rubbish.  I'd also recommend baby wipes for the people and a water spray with diluted hibiscrub for moistening kitchen roll to wipe the pup if needs be.  I know some people use baby wipes on dogs but I'd always rather not :)  For comfort I'd also suggest a few cotton towels which can be washed when they get home (charity shops are great for these)

...makes me feel puppy broody!

My mistake - yes she is actually having the vaccine Friday and going on Saturday afternoon so plenty of time to get over that!

That is pretty much what I have recommended - water to offer her and plenty of newspaper / towels etc! At 10 weeks it is highly unlikely she is actually going to wee when they let her out anyway!!

Ive sent pups longer than 5 hours, and brought them myself longer than that too and there is no way in the world id be allowing it out for a toilet break anywhere. plenty of newspaper and towells and some disinfectant and put up with the mess and the smell in the car. no other option in my opinion.

We had a similar lenght journey for my pup and his sister. They were crated with newspaper and water in a travel bowl a blanket and soft toy to curl up with ( we had already given the toy to the breeder so it was nice and smelly of both us and the breeders home.) We were also armed with more water kitchen towel and plastic bags for disposing of things. Both pups almost slept the whole way home.

for me I put the pups into the crate and they sleep and stay quiet till home.  I have travelled longer and 5 hours and no problems. only stopping when I was desp for loo.

I let my 7 week old puppy out at the services for his toilet stops and he did not have his first injection until 9 weeks old, my choice.

He is now a strapping 5 year old.

Lessons learned as a pup are those learned for life, I have no intention of allowing my dogs to eliminate in the car!

I have done much longer journeys with puppies and to me the main thing is getting fluid in rather than out so lots of drinks and maybe some rehydrate the next day in drinking water?