Hi All

I'd love to hear your thoughts on what's required for the car journey when collecting a puppy for the first time. Journey time would be roughly 2-3 hours. Initial plan is to have readily available drinking water and warm cozy blankets. Not entirely sure about a crate..

Many Thanks

Lots of different opinions on this thread to have a read through
https://forum.champdogs.co.uk/topic_show.pl?pid=1487156;hl=collection%20puppy

> Not entirely sure about a crate

Hi Ballgame:  I am one of the believers in a crate...if secured it is the safest way to transport.  Should their be an accident (god forbid!) there is then a safety issue re loose Puppy being thrown forward injuring themselves and other passengers.

The advantage of a crate means Puppy can have familiar smelling objects in the crate ie blanket/toy smelling of Mum & Siblings. 

Water is a must however, so are Puppy Pads & wipes as some find the journey stressful and inevitably could be sick, wee or poo - possibly all 3. I would advise a stop twice on a 3 hour journey.  Hope this helps.

Thank you so much for the reply, dog crate it is then :)

I'd do the journey home without stops, unless puppy has been sick and you can't live with the smell. They won't need water, just somewhere comfy or somebodies lap to sit on and lots of cleaning supplies just in case, not forgetting bin bags to tie smelly bedding up in.

I'd do the journey in a single hit, without stopping. The pup can't go on the ground anyway, so no point in getting it out of the car to be carried around in someone's arms! No need for food or water - they'd probably make it car sick. I find they travel best on someone's lap in the back of the car, being held securely so they don't get thrown around like they can in a crate. And it's much easier to clear away any sick!

>The advantage of a crate means Puppy can have familiar smelling objects in the crate ie blanket/toy smelling of Mum & Siblings.

Remember that if the pup is sick on this you'll have to wash it as soon as you get home, meaning all the benefit of its comfort at night is gone! Save that precious scented blanket for when you get home.

Whole journey in one on a lap would be my preference never had an issue. Crate didn’t work as well for me the one time I had to do it.

Thanks so much for the replies, much to consider.

Again, for me it was crate because it's safer.   My first buy in, for a very long time, was only a couple of hours away and we had her in a crate alongside my husband  who was on our split back seat so he could comfort her, if needed.   Which it wasn't.   She simply went to sleep.  No stopping, no water.  And no scented blanket either - not that it was offered, but I believe a puppy has to move on, not be reminded of her 'past'.  Mum was off the litter by the 9 weeks she was at the time, in any case .

With our second buy in, his was a much longer trip.   He was 4 months, and vaccinated so we stopped on one of the motorway service stops.  I had him out to see if he'd need to pee - no!   So we were back in the car and off home.   He did pee on his bedding shortly before we got home, but we had a change, so that was no big deal.   He was crated too and I offered him water when we stopped on the motorway.

The only comment I would make is to see if you can collect your puppy as early as possible, so he has the whole day to explore before bed.   And have his breeder give him slightly less for breakfast - less in, less back up.

Regarding scented blanket. One breeder i had a pup.from asked me to find an item of.clothing of a piece of.cloth and leave it in my dirty linen basket for a.few.days .After.that i was to bring it to the breeder when I visited leaving it there  ready for.the day I picked up pup.
her view was.that way pup had my scent as well as his mums and litter mates scent to go home with.
Not always practical if u cant visit but I understood her logic.

Furriefriends;> One breeder i had a pup.from asked me to find an item of.clothing of a piece of.cloth and leave it in my dirty linen basket for a.few.days

> that way pup had my scent as well as his mums and litter mates scent to go home with

What a brilliant idea and one I had never thought of - thanks - I will give that advice where ever possible.

It's not about the Puppy moving on but trying to elevaite the stress of unfamiliar surroundings!

Jeangenie:  why wash the blanket if the Puppy is sick on route to their new home.  The tiny amount brought up could easily be lifted off
with a piece of kitchen towel.  They have to be subjected to some bacteria to build their immune systems - Idon't believe Puppies can be
clinically raise in a sterile conditions or they would be open to every germ when eventually introduced to lofe outside the home. (as long as they have their jabs of course)

The other thing I did was to wear the same perfume when I visited pup each time . Hopefully my meeting and  playing with pup was a good experience and my perfume would remind of.good experience and familiar .
No idea what difference it makes or if I am just being ott. I just want.the while experience to be as stress.free.as possible

Furriefriends:> I just want.the while experience to be as stress.free.as possible

Yip!  That little new addition needs all the reassurance we can muster as Breeder & New Owner! We can't be sure that every piece of advice works no, but the fact we try is showing we care

>why wash the blanket if the Puppy is sick on route to their new home.  The tiny amount brought up could easily be lifted off with a piece of kitchen towel.

Because it can be a large amount that soaks into the blanket, and can stink, depending on what the puppy has been fed (tripe and raw mince, for instance)! A well-reared puppy eats a lot of food, and it's unlikely to be a 'tiny amount' even if it's been a while since the pup last ate. It's nothing to do with avoiding bacteria - it's just that being covered in vomit and possibly poo if it's scared in a vehicle it's not used to, being driven in a way that it's not used to (as the freely-moving puppy will likely have paddled in it and lain down in it as well) makes for an smelly pup (who will probably need the stress of being washed as well as the trauma of rehoming) and a stinky blanket that nobody's going to let their pup sleep on in its new home!

Jeangenie:> A well-reared puppy eats a lot of food, and it's unlikely to be a 'tiny amount' even if it's been a while since the pup last ate

A well reared Puppy does indeed eat a lot of food however, when you are a responsible Breeder, you arrange collection very early moring, do not feed breakfast and only allow water.  Re a freely moving Puppy.  If my advice was followed, stopping every hour (which has been dismissed previously), there should be no build up of excrement etc and what do you think the advice I gave regarding wipes was for?  Re stink.  If you cannot stand a little bit of STINK, don't buy a Puppy - there will be a lot more to come Mrs Clinical!

>when you are a responsible Breeder, you arrange collection very early moring, do not feed breakfast and only allow water.

On the contrary, as a good breeder I would never do that. The regime you're suggesting means that you expect a puppy who's been sleep for many hours overnight to travel peacefully when it's very hungry, just adding to the stress of the whole rehoming ordeal. When new owners are coming a long way they will arrive when they arrive; shortly before lunch is a good time, when the pup has had a good feed after its night's sleep, and a morning spent playing with its mum and remaining siblings, so that it's more likely to go to sleep on its journey.

> If you cannot stand a little bit of STINK, don't buy a Puppy - there will be a lot more to come Mrs Clinical!

Well-reared and cared-for puppies don't stink, either with the breeder or in their new home! And they should never need to be washed either. Clean premises mean clean, healthy puppies.

Jeangenie:As a good breeder you would never do that!
It's not up to the New Owner its up to the Breeder when the Puppy is collected and when said is travelling from Scotland, Milton Keyenes, North Yorkshire or Newcastle for their Puppy, they stay over somewhere local the night before and advised to stop every hour on their journey back. 
If you knew anything about dog behavior other than that of Vet Expertise, you would realise that exciting a Puppy before a long journey is NOT the thing to do! 
Well reared Puppies do not stink on collection however again. your lack of understanding that a Puppy will possibly stink at the end of their journey home shows your mis representation of reality...did you or did you not say a Puppy will throw a lot of sickness if fed before travelling? Something doesn't add up here.

I did a very similar thing to furriefriends - I wore an old T-shirt every night in bed for about a week before I visited River’s breeder when he was 5 weeks. I left that shirt with the pups so my smell was familiar to Riv when I picked him up to go home.

I think we picked him up just after lunch, 2 hour journey. He travelled in a crate on my knee (tiny dog, tiny crate) with a piece of vet bed that smelled of mum and siblings, we didn’t stop, and after a few minutes of whining initially he just slept and was ready to explore when we got home.

Jeangenie:>
Well-reared and cared-for puppies don't stink, either with the breeder or in their new home! And they should never need to be washed either. Clean premises mean clean, healthy puppies.

Indeed clean premises mean clean healthy puppies. It's a 'no brainer'.  However as a Vet promoting animal welfare, you should be supportive of reputable Breeders and their practices rather than raising questions about whether a Puppy may make a mess, smell or stink on their journey to their new home...antibacterial wipes are wonderful things - something I have been advised to use by other Forum Members on Puppies during COVID if handled by outsiders.  Antbacterial wipes are a great alternative to bathing, not that I suggested stressing a Puppy by bathing. Only you raised it as a point leaning toward your opinion,

As an aside if u need to wipe dogs down fpr.any reason rather than using antibacterial.wipes which contain chemicals unsuitable.for Ingestion shouldn't that happen i would.suggest leucillin .
Its anti viral as well as anti bacterial and antifungal unlike most wipes.

Many  groomers use it too especially now

https://www.leucillin.co.uk/blog/Frequently-Asked-Questions#googtrans(en|en)

>If you knew anything about dog behavior other than that of Vet Expertise, you would realise that exciting a Puppy before a long journey is NOT the thing to do!

LOL! Allowing puppies to play and become sleepy is quite the opposite of "exciting" it! What is more likely to keep it awake and stressing is being hungry and not tired.

> your lack of understanding that a Puppy will possibly stink at the end of their journey home shows your mis representation of reality..

It will if it's been left standing or lying in its vomit or poo in a crate. Cuddled securely on a towel-covered lap it's less likely to suffer from motion sickness anyway, and if it does then the sicky towel can be easily exchanged for a clean one, and the puppy arrives at its new home clean and sweet-smelling.

>did you or did you not say a Puppy will throw a lot of sickness if fed before travelling? Something doesn't add up here.

No I didn't say that.

> t will if it's been left standing or lying in its vomit or poo in a crate. Cuddled securely on a towel-covered lap it's less likely to suffer from motion sickness

Most people read a post through before responding. Did I or did I not say stopping every hour would be my advice thus cleaning
as you go.

Who told you that?  Motion sickness occurs whether cuddled on a lap or not!  The clue is in the description - motion sickness .

At the other end of the scale re hungry and not tired...are you familiar with motion inducing sleep in a human infant or not - a Puppy is an infant - same applies with a Puppy and when that Puppy gets to the end of it's journey home, a meal given by the new owners will be their first positive experience with the new family, enchancing the bonding process!

Text books are one thing - practical experience is another....

Jeangenie:>> did you or did you not say a Puppy will throw a lot of sickness if fed before travelling? Something doesn't add up here.<br />No I didn't say that.

Yes you did...in relation to travelling, you said a puppy vomits more than a little when sick if well cared for. (no doubt implying that a badly cared for Puppy doesn't.)

My point was that a Puppy who's tummy was not full before travelling would vomit little other than fluid.

Just remind me - does vomiting not induce dehydration?

Does it therefor make sense to offer water every hour of a journey in order to prevent dehydration?

I would transport in a crate, i do advise this for puppy owners to have. Changes of blankets, baby wipes and kitchen roll.
I wouldn't stop at all for that journey.

suejaw:> <br />I wouldn't stop at all for that journey

If it was an hour or just over, I would agree however, when my Puppies have been long awaited, new owners have visited at least twice (in normal circumstances), have travelled hundreds of miles on those occassions and made that same journey for collection, I am not going to advise driving hundreds of miles back with a Puppy of mine without stopping every hour or so!

Quite simply, you can argue black is white even if it is purple and I will not recommend NOT stopping on route every hour or so to check the Puppy's condition, cleaning requirements, water requirements, minimal feeding in some cases and human reassurance... TOTAL CRUELTY and if anyone else believes anything less is acceptable, then shame on you.

You wouldn't agree if it was a human baby surely?  That's how I view my Puppies.

>

Quite simply, you can argue black is white even if it is purple and I will not recommend NOT stopping on route every hour or so to check the Puppy's condition, cleaning requirements, water requirements, minimal feeding in some cases and human reassurance... TOTAL CRUELTY and if anyone else believes anything less is acceptable, then shame on you.>

Surely though if pup is on the lap or besides someone in the back, it removes the  need to stop every hour and check on them, as you are able to monitor them continuously. You could in theory have a rest stop at 11am and pup throws up or toilets in crate at 11:01 just as you are leaving services say, you wouldnt be aware of this until your next stop an hour later. Of course this is hypothetical but I have always preferred bringing pup home in my arms. It's also a lovely time to bond with the new addition.
Each to thier own though.

springador64: > <br />Surely though if pup is on the lap or besides someone in the back, it removes the  need to stop every hour

My view is not to have a Puppy on a strangers lap (which an entirely new owner is). Let them be in a place with familiar smells ie blanket, own toy, whatever - they as little animals are not used to being held tight, cuddled up in a blanket or being grounded on a moving pair of legs.

Seatbelts were seen as irrelevant before legislation and I think animal safety should be legislative too!

Sorry, but if the worst happens, eveyone human or animal should be safe.

This is my advice in a crated situation which I advise all New Owners on collection of a Puppy.

If an individual collecting from a different Breeder wants to take the chance, that's there choice and their right - that's not up for debate.

Just pointing out that no Puppy would leave my kennels unless crated.

It depends on the puppy, but I’d imagine that body contact with a stranger would be much more reassuring than not having anyone at all.

Having a tiny dog (and a tiny crate) I sat with the crate on my lap, putting my fingers through the bars to reassure him. When he settled he laid as close to me as he could and he basically slept the whole journey after that.

I had saved several potential stopping points on google maps where we could give him a comfort break, but it turned out to be unnecessary. If he’d woken we would have stopped (because tiny dogs also equals very tiny bladder), but I wasn’t going to disturb him, and he stayed asleep until we got home.

Silverleaf79:  > Having a tiny dog (and a tiny crate) Journey home on collection day,  Really glad it was a good experience with a crate.

My chosen breed are classed as large and have large bladders too.  They are between 9 & 10 weeks old when they go to their new homes and I can assure you, no Puppy Pad or Kitchen Roll (even one sheet!) will stop YOU needing a change of clothing if they wee on your lap.

No Puppy under 10 weeks (the youngest both jabs will have been given) should have a 'comfort break'. as that would mean letting them onto the ground pre immunity to risk of disease.  The first jab only gives 85% cover against these diseases.

I totally understand the feeling of wanting to cuddle up and protect your new addition but sometimes the consequencies can be horrendous.

Just giving a little food for thought....

>You wouldn't agree if it was a human baby surely?  That's how I view my Puppies.

I wouldn't break a journey every hour to wake, feed and change a sleeping baby when it didn't need it!

Absolutely jeangenie. Let sleeping babies sleep:)

>My point was that a Puppy who's tummy was not full before travelling would vomit little other than fluid.

If you read what I wrote, I said that collection shortly before lunch is a good time; that means the puppy's tummy is not full - but neither has it been fasted for 12 hours overnight so isn't particularly hungry.

>Just remind me - does vomiting not induce dehydration? Does it therefor make sense to offer water every hour of a journey in order to prevent dehydration?

If vomiting is repeated over a 24-hour period or longer, then there's a risk of dehydration. However drinking water during a journey is likely to induce vomiting if the pup suffers from motion sickness!

> Motion sickness occurs whether cuddled on a lap or not!  The clue is in the description - motion sickness

Cuddled on a lap the pup is held more securely and is therefore protected from a lot of the motion (in the same way that the law says that farm animals must be packed tightly together to prevent the motion of the transporter causing loose animals to lose their balance and injure themselves). The more the pup is free to be thrown about at corners or braking, the more stressful the journey and the more likely it is to be sick.

Dogs or any animals for that matter must be restrained in a vehicle or you could invalidate your insurance if in an accident and face a hefty fine too.

Jeangenie:> I wouldn't break a journey every hour to wake, feed and change a sleeping baby when it didn't need it!

When was it suggested you wake. feed & change the puppy every hour?  I'd like to think stopping the car and checking would be the
obvious thing to do. It's not a huge inconvenience or is it?  Nothing would be too inconvenient for me with a precious little life on board.

. Any good owner driving home should  be checking on the pup . It would be better if 2 people are available in the car. One as driver one to.check on pup
Obviously it depends on your vehicle but in mine I would have someone in the back who.can easily check how pup is in the crate. If.pup needs to be cleaned up etc the driver can then pull over as and when in safety .no need for  a rigid timetable. That famous . common sense should apply.after all the breeder has decided these people are suitable to have their pup ,going home is only one part of.that suitability
Same would apply if pup was on someone's lap

With my human babies it was always go prepared and deal.with what needed doing as it happened

Jeangenie:> <br />Cuddled on a lap the pup is held more securely and is therefore protected from a lot of the motion

> However drinking water during a journey is likely to induce vomiting if the pup suffers from motion sickness!

I have 2 infant Grandsons one of which is prone to travel sickness and irrespective of being tightly strapped in to his car seat will feel poorly,

If his Mum ever thought I would travel without letting him have a drink or remove him from his safety harness and sat him on my lap during a car journey I'd be banned from taking him anywhere and and quite rightly deemed totally irresponsible.

The op has loads of information now and will make the best choice for them and their puppy for this journey and futures ones. Everyone has given their views and reasons is it not time to stop ?

lol mine came home inside my jacket on the train! couple of hours travelling. slept most of journey.  (I did have a huge rucksack of cleaning products/pee pads/spare top/water etc)