Puppy transport

Clodagh

Clodagh

Playing chess with pigeons
Joined
17 August 2005
Messages
29,024
Location
Devon
Visit site
Well I am off to the Severn Bridge (or thereabouts) to pick up Ffee on Friday. Luckily (although slightly worryingly - what if they are useless!) a gun on a shoot I pick up on has bought one as well, unseen, entirely on my recommendation. So at least I am getting two and they can keep each other company on the drive.
(He is coming with me, and I am bricking it at the thought of maybe 10 hours in a car with a man I hardly know and who's wife has just left him. Also, embarassingly I can remember the names of all his dogs but not his daughter!o_O).
Anyway - best way to do this. I am taking the pick up as the thought of smelling poo and sick in my Focus is just too revolting. The pick up has a hard top, BTW!
The pups are being bought down from near Aberystwyth, so will have already been travelling for over two hours. They can't be let out to pee anywhere as have only had first jabs. My OH thinks take the big cage in the pick up and shut them in there. I think leave them loose, put a bed in one corner and shavings down. Suggestions or advice?
 
put them both in a crate, puppy pads under some old vet bed-just so they wont rattle around, puppies find travelling hard before they are able to brace themselves well. Fitz threw up all the way back from Wales and we didnt stop either as he didnt walk on a lead then and (then we found out) he wouldnt wee in a strange place if he could help it. So he didnt actually wee until the next day. also, leave the strange man at home :D
 
I really tried to put the man off, I said I already had a friend coming with me and everything. Fair enough though he wants to see the pup and meet the breeder. He is a nice enough guy, I just like my own company. Hopefully he doesn't mind having the radio on!

OK to the crate, it does make sense really, I had this idyllic view of them pottering around...probably not gonna happen! Water or no water?
Do you make a bed section? Or line the cage sides at all?
 
I didnt line the crate sides but we used the van which had a huge divided crate in it as we had to take Quarrie too-so he had a bit bit of vet bed that went up the sides a bit on top of a thin bed. 10 hours in a Berlingo is not recommended for anyone!. I think we offered water but he wouldnt have it until he got home. He's an excellent traveller now so it didnt have a lasting effect on him.
 
You can get canvas covers to fit most crates.
Pottering around in the back of a pick-up is fine unless you have to slam the brakes on, take a tight corner, swerve, etc! Which is all entirely possible on a ten hour round trip.
 
Crate, vet bed. You'll need to offer water as tiny pups dehydrate quite easily. Possibly consider gravy water if you need to tempt them to drink. Don't worry about the mess, just clean it up when you're home (or suggest your passenger does it as a thank you) They'll be happier squeezed into a small space than rattling around.
 
i would use a crate and put a blanket over the top and sides and leave the front clear so they feel safe and you can keep an eye on them. if you are lucky they may sleep most of the way...
 
Crate, definitely, with lots of padding and a cover. We've got a pick up and they really bounce in the back! I never realised quite how much until I had to travel in it for over an hour once! bounced and slid everywhere
It's a single cab then Clodagh , not a double? you can't wedge them in near you?
They will probably sleep most of the way. I traveled nearly 6 hours to get Nickel, all twisty roads and after the first 10 minutes he slept the rest way and weirdly only woke up as we turned down our lane.
Glad you don't have the passenger with you now tho I did laugh that you could only remember his dogs names... classic!:)
 
It takes me about 2 hours to get to the Severn Bridge from Watford. Are you sure it’ll take you that long? Have you done a google driving directions thing?

I’d say crate, puppy pads or whatever, towels maybe? From Hereford, we just had the puppies loose in the boot of the Jeep.
 
AA routemaster says 3 hours (is not actually Severn Bridge, is just the other side). Allow an hour for the M25/M4. The maybe 10 hours is allowing for the M4/M25 on a Friday afternoon to get home again. If you could go anywhere on that road in under an hour I would be delighted.
Now I am on my own I am going in the Focus, I don't like driving the pick up much anyway. So the pongy dears will be right behind my seat! :-)
Thank you all for your replies.
THe crate will be tied down and be quite luxurious.
 
I have got hundreds of photos and hours of video...and at the moment I can't do anything with them. Working on it...
 
OK, I can't do it. I will get on to Cinnamon toast...:-)
I will say, I can see why people have dogs, the boy pup sleeps all the time, the bitch is a go go go girl!
 
Dear lord, I’ve tried 4 times and each time forgot to make it public! Try8ng to f nd off two excited springers. If you want me to make it your friends on Facebook only, C, let me know. Currently it’s public so this lot can see it. They are two gorgeous chunky pups! When is your friend picking up the sibling?
 
Give 'em 10 minutes...? I would prefer it was private but if it is the only way to stop them nagging me! :-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top