GOTCHA DAY!!!
This is the day you have been waiting for! You finally get to bring home your new little ball of fluff but this day needs to be prepared for. Here are some things to think about and prepare for. Being prepared will help both of you start off on the right foot for the rest of your lives.
PICK UP INFORMATION
We typically call and set up pick up times when the puppies reach 6-7 weeks of age. You likely won’t know exactly which puppy you are getting yet but at least you will have a date and time of pick up! If your pick up needs to be pushed off we can typically board for $20/day which would start 3 days after the puppy is 8 weeks, this happens more often you think.
We always recommend that you plan on traveling straight home after you pick up your puppy. He won’t have immunity to diseases and the day will already be stressful enough that you shouldn’t be making a lot of stops.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO BRING
Taking a human baby out requires a lot of prep and equipment, a puppy is no different.
If you are traveling from up to 3 hrs away.
- if possible bring a friend or family member
- Crate
- 4-5 old(dog) towels
- bully stick or hoof for chewing
- gallon of water (old milk jugs work well)
- baby wipes
- couple of old produce sacks or doggie poop bags
- a trash bag (in case the puppy gets car sick you can put the soiled towels in)
- collar with tag
-top sheet or shade cloth
If you are traveling from more then 3 hours away also bring
- A plastic crate
- Enough wood pellet or shavings to cover the bottom of the crate
OR
-X pen
- bleach
- spray bottle
Set the crate up before you come, if you are setting the crate up in the back seat use a few towels or a blanket to help level it out. Now layer the bottom with two old towels. One for each half of the crate not on top of one another. This will make for easier clean up if the puppy gets car sick or has to potty. Towels will also give him a bit of traction. Place a bully stick or pig ear in the very back of the crate so he will be encouraged to go all the way in.
Now place a few towels or blanket around the wheel well of the front passenger seat. If you have someone else coming with you great just have another towel ready to go across their lap. If not then place another towel or blanket over the passenger seat being sure to cover the cracks. This will give you the option of either placing the puppy in a crate or letting him ride loose in the front seat. We recommend you go with your gut upon leaving but really think about it if you are alone as you don’t want to be reaching for a puppy while you are driving.
If the windows of your car are not tinted then use the sheet to cover the crate so the puppy does not get to hot.
It is great if you have someone else coming with you and you plan on them holding the puppy on the way home. However some puppies don’t like to be restrained for long periods of time so it is best to have the crate set up just in case.
We definitely prefer crates for traveling for multiple reasons.
- The puppy may cry initially but you know he is secure and safe and you can focus on driving
- The first ride home might be rough but after a puppy learns about crates they typically calm right down and sleep on car rides
- There is nothing worse than a dog who won’t settle when riding in a car, it is unsafe for both humans and dogs.
- if you have to slam on your breaks (welcome to all of LA) your dog could go flying if not in a crate they are much more likely to be injured. If they are in a crate they will just be shifted as opposed to thrown across the car. This has happened to all of us including me so all of mine now ride in crates.
Bring a bowl or bucket for water with you but do put it in the crate. Instead offer him water if/when you stop. The puppy will have had access to water right up until you leave so he should be fine without water until you get home. If you get stuck in a lot of traffic or have a drive longer then three hours go ahead and offer him some water along the way.
If you live less then three hours away it is unlikely that your puppy will need to potty on your way home, however if you are a better safe then sorry type you can go with the additional items as well.
With the over three hour items these both give you an option to potty the puppy with easy clean up. The puppy will not be leash trained and trying to potty him with a leash could expose him to a plethora of disease. Plus he will likely be trying to get away from the leash and not paying attention to the task at hand of going potty. If you have an X-pen and you think the puppy needs to potty you should pull off on the side of the road where no one goes. NOT an exit or stop but just a random chunk of the road where people would not stop. Set up your x-pen and bleach the area inside it, then wait a few minutes and place your puppy inside so he can potty. If you choose option B which is the shaving and a plastic crate, though it is not ideal to have him potty in a crate for future training it is by far better to have one accident in a crate then a puppy who contracts Parvo. The shavings and some baby wipes will make for an easy fast clean up which should be done ASAP.
HITTING THE ROAD
Most puppies cry when hitting the road, this typically lasts about 15-20 mins. Don’t stress and DONT coddle him, he will quiet down. If crying goes on for longer then that make sure he is not in the sun. You could also try making the car cooler, turning on some music, or rolling down a window. If all else fails he may need to potty.
If you are traveling alone and you are in an SUV the pup may cry, bark, and even howl for longer than normal. This is not because of the car ride but rather the cry of a “lost puppy” who thinks he is all alone. So it is best to put the crate in the front or back seats so that you can look at and talk to the puppy putting your figures thought his crate to help sooth him.
CAR SICKNESS
Your puppy will likely get car sick as he has never ridden in a car outside of utero and his inner ear won’t close until he is 6mo. He will either get car sick within the first few miles of leaving my home or within a few miles of yours. It is important to remember that it’s the stopping and going motion that causes car sickness so try to make your transitions as smooth as possible. Also blowing cold air on the puppy will help, just like with people. You can have him ride in the front passenger seat or roll the windows down as you stop and go. There is typically (but not always) a bit of warning as the puppy will likely hork back a few times before actually throwing up. This will NOT be enough time to stop so don’t even try. Blankets, towels and your car for that matter are all washable!
Look in our training sections for more information on general training for car rides and car acclimation.
This is the day you have been waiting for! You finally get to bring home your new little ball of fluff but this day needs to be prepared for. Here are some things to think about and prepare for. Being prepared will help both of you start off on the right foot for the rest of your lives.
PICK UP INFORMATION
We typically call and set up pick up times when the puppies reach 6-7 weeks of age. You likely won’t know exactly which puppy you are getting yet but at least you will have a date and time of pick up! If your pick up needs to be pushed off we can typically board for $20/day which would start 3 days after the puppy is 8 weeks, this happens more often you think.
We always recommend that you plan on traveling straight home after you pick up your puppy. He won’t have immunity to diseases and the day will already be stressful enough that you shouldn’t be making a lot of stops.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO BRING
Taking a human baby out requires a lot of prep and equipment, a puppy is no different.
If you are traveling from up to 3 hrs away.
- if possible bring a friend or family member
- Crate
- 4-5 old(dog) towels
- bully stick or hoof for chewing
- gallon of water (old milk jugs work well)
- baby wipes
- couple of old produce sacks or doggie poop bags
- a trash bag (in case the puppy gets car sick you can put the soiled towels in)
- collar with tag
-top sheet or shade cloth
If you are traveling from more then 3 hours away also bring
- A plastic crate
- Enough wood pellet or shavings to cover the bottom of the crate
OR
-X pen
- bleach
- spray bottle
Set the crate up before you come, if you are setting the crate up in the back seat use a few towels or a blanket to help level it out. Now layer the bottom with two old towels. One for each half of the crate not on top of one another. This will make for easier clean up if the puppy gets car sick or has to potty. Towels will also give him a bit of traction. Place a bully stick or pig ear in the very back of the crate so he will be encouraged to go all the way in.
Now place a few towels or blanket around the wheel well of the front passenger seat. If you have someone else coming with you great just have another towel ready to go across their lap. If not then place another towel or blanket over the passenger seat being sure to cover the cracks. This will give you the option of either placing the puppy in a crate or letting him ride loose in the front seat. We recommend you go with your gut upon leaving but really think about it if you are alone as you don’t want to be reaching for a puppy while you are driving.
If the windows of your car are not tinted then use the sheet to cover the crate so the puppy does not get to hot.
It is great if you have someone else coming with you and you plan on them holding the puppy on the way home. However some puppies don’t like to be restrained for long periods of time so it is best to have the crate set up just in case.
We definitely prefer crates for traveling for multiple reasons.
- The puppy may cry initially but you know he is secure and safe and you can focus on driving
- The first ride home might be rough but after a puppy learns about crates they typically calm right down and sleep on car rides
- There is nothing worse than a dog who won’t settle when riding in a car, it is unsafe for both humans and dogs.
- if you have to slam on your breaks (welcome to all of LA) your dog could go flying if not in a crate they are much more likely to be injured. If they are in a crate they will just be shifted as opposed to thrown across the car. This has happened to all of us including me so all of mine now ride in crates.
Bring a bowl or bucket for water with you but do put it in the crate. Instead offer him water if/when you stop. The puppy will have had access to water right up until you leave so he should be fine without water until you get home. If you get stuck in a lot of traffic or have a drive longer then three hours go ahead and offer him some water along the way.
If you live less then three hours away it is unlikely that your puppy will need to potty on your way home, however if you are a better safe then sorry type you can go with the additional items as well.
With the over three hour items these both give you an option to potty the puppy with easy clean up. The puppy will not be leash trained and trying to potty him with a leash could expose him to a plethora of disease. Plus he will likely be trying to get away from the leash and not paying attention to the task at hand of going potty. If you have an X-pen and you think the puppy needs to potty you should pull off on the side of the road where no one goes. NOT an exit or stop but just a random chunk of the road where people would not stop. Set up your x-pen and bleach the area inside it, then wait a few minutes and place your puppy inside so he can potty. If you choose option B which is the shaving and a plastic crate, though it is not ideal to have him potty in a crate for future training it is by far better to have one accident in a crate then a puppy who contracts Parvo. The shavings and some baby wipes will make for an easy fast clean up which should be done ASAP.
HITTING THE ROAD
Most puppies cry when hitting the road, this typically lasts about 15-20 mins. Don’t stress and DONT coddle him, he will quiet down. If crying goes on for longer then that make sure he is not in the sun. You could also try making the car cooler, turning on some music, or rolling down a window. If all else fails he may need to potty.
If you are traveling alone and you are in an SUV the pup may cry, bark, and even howl for longer than normal. This is not because of the car ride but rather the cry of a “lost puppy” who thinks he is all alone. So it is best to put the crate in the front or back seats so that you can look at and talk to the puppy putting your figures thought his crate to help sooth him.
CAR SICKNESS
Your puppy will likely get car sick as he has never ridden in a car outside of utero and his inner ear won’t close until he is 6mo. He will either get car sick within the first few miles of leaving my home or within a few miles of yours. It is important to remember that it’s the stopping and going motion that causes car sickness so try to make your transitions as smooth as possible. Also blowing cold air on the puppy will help, just like with people. You can have him ride in the front passenger seat or roll the windows down as you stop and go. There is typically (but not always) a bit of warning as the puppy will likely hork back a few times before actually throwing up. This will NOT be enough time to stop so don’t even try. Blankets, towels and your car for that matter are all washable!
Look in our training sections for more information on general training for car rides and car acclimation.