Collecting puppy, long drive home.... help?
Discussion
On Sunday morning I will be driving from London to Wales to collect our Golden Retriever puppy. Puppy is 12 weeks old, I'm a little worried given the length of the journey home (about 4.5hrs)... Any tips / ideas?
I'm assuming stops every so often, but is there a formula?
Anything else to watch out for?
We have a mesh and soft sided carry crate, and puppy blankets / teething toys - anything else needed? I was planning to put the crate on the back seat and have my daughter along with me, is this sensible? or would covered over in the boot (so asleep / night time) a better option?
I'm assuming stops every so often, but is there a formula?
Anything else to watch out for?
We have a mesh and soft sided carry crate, and puppy blankets / teething toys - anything else needed? I was planning to put the crate on the back seat and have my daughter along with me, is this sensible? or would covered over in the boot (so asleep / night time) a better option?
Stongle, I reckon you have already worked out the best way to do it.
Similar experience - in the 2000s my son and I travelled from Dorset to Kings Lynn (five hours each way) to pick up a 7-week-old bulldog puppy, and drove all the way back with him in the back of a Ford Puma, on that self-same day. The dog was for my son, so I drove the whole way, my son sitting alongside, turning round very regularly to reassure the little chap, to stroke him, and occasionally get his fingers nipped..
We used a large plastic crate placed in the back seat, lined with suitable 'material' to use in case of hygiene accidents, and made a couple of stops for him to spent copious pennies.
Yes, of course, there was at least one 'accident' in the car, but it all went surprisingly well.
Go for it ! If your new puppy is suitably calm (and - though I don't recall whether this is wise, suitably sedated), you should be fine.
Similar experience - in the 2000s my son and I travelled from Dorset to Kings Lynn (five hours each way) to pick up a 7-week-old bulldog puppy, and drove all the way back with him in the back of a Ford Puma, on that self-same day. The dog was for my son, so I drove the whole way, my son sitting alongside, turning round very regularly to reassure the little chap, to stroke him, and occasionally get his fingers nipped..
We used a large plastic crate placed in the back seat, lined with suitable 'material' to use in case of hygiene accidents, and made a couple of stops for him to spent copious pennies.
Yes, of course, there was at least one 'accident' in the car, but it all went surprisingly well.
Go for it ! If your new puppy is suitably calm (and - though I don't recall whether this is wise, suitably sedated), you should be fine.
We've collected 2 pups - my 2p's worth
Try and get a blanket with mum's scent...it's soothing to the pupper.
Probably best to have someone with the pup, rather than leaving it on its own.
Oh and It will get distressed at some point and more than likely be sick/s
t. Crack a window open for some fresh air (for the dog) and also to get rid of the smell... 
And PICS ! Need Pics !
Try and get a blanket with mum's scent...it's soothing to the pupper.
Probably best to have someone with the pup, rather than leaving it on its own.
Oh and It will get distressed at some point and more than likely be sick/s
t. Crack a window open for some fresh air (for the dog) and also to get rid of the smell... And PICS ! Need Pics !
As above, I do not believe you can travel into Wales for this reason.
We collected our 8 week old Border Collie puppy this Sunday just gone. Pup was on a working farm in North Wales, we're down south. She agreed to meet us (and others) in Ludlow as she was able to travel further due to an exemption of delivering working dogs.
As for what to do, we were told about stting, being sick, whining, frightened so my wife and I left the kids with MIL and my wife sat in the back of the van on a seat with pup. He had an initial crazy 30 mins of lots of kisses with my wife.
Then slept for the remaining 2.5h home! We totally lucked in!
And the next position
We collected our 8 week old Border Collie puppy this Sunday just gone. Pup was on a working farm in North Wales, we're down south. She agreed to meet us (and others) in Ludlow as she was able to travel further due to an exemption of delivering working dogs.
As for what to do, we were told about s
tting, being sick, whining, frightened so my wife and I left the kids with MIL and my wife sat in the back of the van on a seat with pup. He had an initial crazy 30 mins of lots of kisses with my wife.Then slept for the remaining 2.5h home! We totally lucked in!
And the next position
stongle said:
Thanks for replies thus far. Re the Corona stuff, its already been well researched and a plan in place. DEFRA have guidance on the issues of what is and isnt permissable. Its all been arranged accordingly.
Will post up the pics when she's (safely) home.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/ridiculous-bizarre-excuses-offered-people-18210510Will post up the pics when she's (safely) home.
Excellent a thread about collecting a puppy (and its welfare is already derailed).
Advice has been taken by us and the official breeder and its already been checked, agreed and within the guidelines for both England and Wales.
Please keep regulatory arbitrage to NPE (which is why our journey is over 100miles longer than a straight shot).
Advice has been taken by us and the official breeder and its already been checked, agreed and within the guidelines for both England and Wales.
Please keep regulatory arbitrage to NPE (which is why our journey is over 100miles longer than a straight shot).
Edited by stongle on Thursday 18th June 20:34
We had to do a similar length trip at the weekend to pick up our puppy, just over 3 hours on the way back.
We had him in a open top dog travel seat with sides, a comfortable blanket and a few toys to play with.
My partner was in the back with him keeping him entertained and we stopped for wee and water brakes every hour.
He was a good as gold, got himself comfortable and slept a lot of the way back.
We had him in a open top dog travel seat with sides, a comfortable blanket and a few toys to play with.
My partner was in the back with him keeping him entertained and we stopped for wee and water brakes every hour.
He was a good as gold, got himself comfortable and slept a lot of the way back.
Edited by andye30m3 on Thursday 18th June 21:35
stongle said:
Excellent a thread about collecting a puppy (and its welfare is already derailed).
Advice has been taken by us and the official breeder and its already been checked, agreed and within the guidelines for both England and Wales.
Please keep regulatory arbitrage to NPE (which is why our journey is over 100miles longer than a straight shot).
I think most posts are well meant?Advice has been taken by us and the official breeder and its already been checked, agreed and within the guidelines for both England and Wales.
Please keep regulatory arbitrage to NPE (which is why our journey is over 100miles longer than a straight shot).
Edited by stongle on Thursday 18th June 20:34
Not sure of anyone else has mentioned it, but I would suggest for that sort of distance make regular stops, not the frequency for humans but the frequency for a puppy who may never have been in a car and may be very distressed.
I'd suggest you should stop at least every hour and probably more.
A 4 hour journey is a very long way with a crying puppy (ask me how I know).
Some dogs like cars, some never really get over the dislike and stress constantly. I hope you get one who likes it.
I'd suggest you should stop at least every hour and probably more.
A 4 hour journey is a very long way with a crying puppy (ask me how I know).
Some dogs like cars, some never really get over the dislike and stress constantly. I hope you get one who likes it.
stongle said:
Excellent a thread about collecting a puppy (and its welfare is already derailed).
Advice has been taken by us and the official breeder and its already been checked, agreed and within the guidelines for both England and Wales.
Please keep regulatory arbitrage to NPE (which is why our journey is over 100miles longer than a straight shot).
What an odd response. You didn't acknowledge the challenges around travelling from England into Wales in the OP which are very real. I would say that subsequent responses are all trying to be helpful to you. My own reply was based on my own experience last weekend.Advice has been taken by us and the official breeder and its already been checked, agreed and within the guidelines for both England and Wales.
Please keep regulatory arbitrage to NPE (which is why our journey is over 100miles longer than a straight shot).
Edited by stongle on Thursday 18th June 20:34
Origin Unknown said:
What an odd response. You didn't acknowledge the challenges around travelling from England into Wales in the OP which are very real. I would say that subsequent responses are all trying to be helpful to you. My own reply was based on my own experience last weekend.
I already replied, at 17.43 yesterday saying thanks for the advice AND we had already taken the Corona situation on board. However, people still continued to post on that very issue. It was not meant to offend, so thanks for taking the time to post BUT corona in the forum tends to bring way too much noise and opinion.This is a professional breeder so entitled to leave the area for work, hence we are meeting on the border (similar to what you did). This is what the breeder told us and ties up with info from Kennel Club and other sources. I was hoping to avoid a potential protracted engagement on the rights and wrongs of govt policy (so apologies again if I projected my fear this would rerun the 36 debates ongoing in NPE).
I really am more concerned with the dogs welfare and happiness on a long drive home - I had made provision for lots of stops, but will add more blankets for the crate. Originally I also thought a few exercise stops would be a good idea, but reading that exercise should be limited to 5mins per month old. Which would only be 15mins in this case. Stops will more likely be fresh air and play.
One other issue, as I maybe over thinking it. If the humans were to eat and drink on way home, anything to avoid? I can survive on coffee, but don't want the smell of it to drive the doggy bananas....
Edited by stongle on Friday 19th June 13:52
Our breeder didn't give the pups their morning meal to keep an empty stomach. Not sure if that's good practice but it was effective. In truth, we got one who was great on the 3 hours journey home. Took him out in his crate in the van two days later and he was sick everywhere!
Good luck!
I've traveled from Russia with dogs in the past, I stop every 3 to 4 hours for toilet breaks, stretch of the legs etc. Id use a proper crate instead of the soft ones much better ventilation and much safer. All my trips have been fine following them steps.
Bring plenty of baby wipes and kitchen roll and of course water and a dish. If you think the pups hot and it won't drink, syringe a bit of water in to the mouth.
Good luck with the trip.
Bring plenty of baby wipes and kitchen roll and of course water and a dish. If you think the pups hot and it won't drink, syringe a bit of water in to the mouth.
Good luck with the trip.
Good luck! It will be a challenging journey listening to the pup cry for that long. It's always heartbreaking.
So take tissues, for you not the dog! Think everything what has been covered above but definitely water, bowl, blanket (rub it on the mum to capture her scent), chewable and soft toys. Maybe a cardboard box to keep the pup in with its blanket beside passengers.
Don't worry about the 5 min limit on exercise for the journey home. Let the pup stretch its legs and explore the new surroundings. It will be good for its social skills. Obviously this is dependant on whether it has had its vaccines. If not, carry it around.
So take tissues, for you not the dog! Think everything what has been covered above but definitely water, bowl, blanket (rub it on the mum to capture her scent), chewable and soft toys. Maybe a cardboard box to keep the pup in with its blanket beside passengers.
Don't worry about the 5 min limit on exercise for the journey home. Let the pup stretch its legs and explore the new surroundings. It will be good for its social skills. Obviously this is dependant on whether it has had its vaccines. If not, carry it around.
Well many thanks for all the advice (Corona advice too - it got me a nice drive through the Cotswolds).
570ish miles complete. Mission accomplished. I was going to add some sarcy comment about "what are you lot on about, easiest journey ever" (dog and daughter slept most of the way home), until I st you not the dog puked up the minute we turned onto our drive way!!!!! 260miles home without incident, blows chunks on drive way.
Breeder said dog would sleep and go for it, so we did. Just gave her water on the journey when she woke up an hour from home).
So here's sone pics. First up os just the cleaning supplies mentioned by you all:
And her she is:
570ish miles complete. Mission accomplished. I was going to add some sarcy comment about "what are you lot on about, easiest journey ever" (dog and daughter slept most of the way home), until I s
t you not the dog puked up the minute we turned onto our drive way!!!!! 260miles home without incident, blows chunks on drive way.Breeder said dog would sleep and go for it, so we did. Just gave her water on the journey when she woke up an hour from home).
So here's sone pics. First up os just the cleaning supplies mentioned by you all:
And her she is:
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