The Drive Home
Never let your puppy run loose in your car
It only takes a minute for a puppy to get lost—always make sure your pup is on a leash!
Safe and Sound at Home :)
Yay! You found the perfect puppy. Now all you have to do is get him home. Whether you are going a short distance, or farther away, a crate is absolutely the safest way to transport a dog. We know it’s very tempting to let your puppy sit in your lap but he should actually never be loose in the car—whether in your lap or anywhere else. Not only is he a potential distraction for you, but an accident can easily be lethal to an unsecured dog. From day one, he needs to gets used to either being crated in the car or buckled in with a dog seat belt. Again, crating is always the safest.
If you are going a short distance all you will need is a crate lined with a wee-wee pad and perhaps a soft toy for puppy to snuggle. The crate should be big enough for puppy to sit, lie down and turn around, but not so large that he can be flung against the sides in the case of an accident. If you are able, it’s a great idea to have a friend come and keep your puppy company in the backseat. Make sure the puppy’s crate faces them so he can see he’s not alone. The safest place to keep the crate is down low, behind the passenger side seat on the floor. If your puppy is a larger breed and the crate will not fit on the floor, make sure it is either secured with a seatbelt or safety straps.
If you don’t have someone who can take the ride home with you, talk to your puppy often, so he doesn’t get scared or feel abandoned. The ride home can be stressful for a puppy and now is not the time to try to train him to be quiet in the crate.
Temperature is another important consideration. In the winter it’s easy to think the car has to be super warm. In truth, puppies get hot easier than humans, so the car only needs to be about 71 degrees or so. That’s a good temperature for summertime too--just like you don’t want your puppy getting overheated, you don’t want him catching a chill. Also, please don’t leave your puppy in the car while you stop at the store. He is small and scared and will definitely feel abandoned, which is not what you want him to associate with his first car ride! (As a quick side note, keep in mind on future rides that you never want to leave your dog in the car without the temperature being regulated. It doesn’t have to be crazy hot out for your car to heat up to an unsafe temperature. The inside of a vehicle parked in mild 70 degree weather can reach 100 degrees in just 20 minutes, even with the windows cracked.)
Back to the ride home! If your puppy begins excessively panting and drooling, he’s likely suffering from motion sickness. If it’s not extremely hot/cold out, roll down windows on both sides so he can get a cross breeze going through. Check on him whenever you stop to ensure he hasn’t thrown up. If he does throw up, don’t panic, just pull over and clean him up. It’s good to have some paper towels and baby wipes with you for this very reason.
If you are going a long distance, you’ll also want to have a leash, collar, some treats and a bowl for food and water. It can be tempting to drive nonstop in an effort to get home more quickly. However, unless you are driving through the night, it’s important to stop every couple of hours so your puppy can stretch his paws. Speaking of which, your puppy will have his first sets of vaccinations but will likely be too young to be fully vaccinated. Because of this, you absolutely do not want him walking where a ton of other dogs have walked. Avoid rest areas and try to find somewhere a bit more secluded to let him out. And even if you are only letting him out for a few minutes, he should never be allowed to run loose! Puppies are like toddlers and can get into trouble or disappear in the blink of an eye, so always make sure your puppy is safely secured with a leash and collar.
We hope all these tips were helpful. It sounds like a lot to remember, but it will be second nature before you know it! If you have any other questions or concerns, remember you can always reach us on our cell phones—they are on your contracts.
When you arrive, make sure to let your puppy stretch his paws in the grass and get some fresh air before bringing him inside to see his new home. Now the only thing left to do is settle in and hang out with your new best friend!