Traveling Tips for Puppies

As you can see by the items shown in the slideshow there are things you will need when going to pick up your puppy. These are items I carry in a large storage Ziploc bag in my car ALWAYS with the exception of the crate, ex-pen and water.

Over the years I have placed many puppies into many different homes. I prepare my puppy owners with a list, WHY because most likely you will need one or all of the items. Puppies are much like a infant, they potty, the throw up, they get thirsty, hungry and the one thing they do more then anything when traveling, is drool. It is not uncommon for a puppy to get carsick. Most times they have maybe traveled once or twice to the veterinarian and that’s it. Unless you have an exceptional breeder who takes their puppies on rides then your puppy may be used to traveling. Air transport is a whole different story.

It’s hard for me to say what each breeder does. I’ll tell you all my puppies are used to being in a crate and ex-pen when they leave here(see picture below). They grow up using a crate as their den or sleeping area. This instills there will be no fear when they get placed in one in a moving vehicle. That is step 1, bedding in the way of a sheepskin goes into the bottom of each crate, then I attach an ex-pen to the crate and lay newspaper only on one part of the area. This teaches a puppy to potty away from his den, the crate. The other part gets more bedding, toys, safe toys and water/food. Step 1 makes housebreaking a breeze.

This is about travel so let me get back to that.The crate is # 1. Riding with a puppy in your lap is unsafe, besides with him/her being so nervous they are bound to throw up or drool all over you. This is where the clean up items come into play. Don’t let your new baby stay all dirty, this is a bad first lesson. Pull over and clean up. Set the ex-pen up on a grassy area(it take seconds to set up) place you puppy with a collar on, in there while you clean the crate from the mess. Use the gallon of water you brought just for clean ups. Ah you’ll need those paper towels and trash bags also. Does it stink, use the X-0 or air freshener. Place fresh bedding in and you are set to go on the crate once again. Now the puppy, sit the puppy in a safe area on a clean puppy pad, make sure a collar and leash are ON and the puppy is secure. Wipe off any vomit, poop, drool with the paper towels, let’s clean this baby up. Waterless shampoo rubbed into the dirty area and then rubbed dry with a clean towel, clean hiney messes with the baby wipes(mmm there are three more items being used). Hopefully you have gotten over the stress of this and your new baby and yourself are clean. You can now once again be on your way. I rarely offer food or bottled water while driving unless it is a very long trip. Remember to clean up any fecal matter in the ex-pen that’s where the baggies come into play. Take all garbage with you unless there are trash cans to use. Be a responsible dog owner.

Once home I again would set an ex pen up outside on a grassy area to allow the puppy to potty. Make a puppy safe spot in your home and allow your baby to settle in.

Good Luck and if you have any questions call, email me, comment here. I’ll be sure to answer as many questions as I can.