Travelling a puppy

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Belmont

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Very excited to be picking up a pup at the weekend. He's been bred by my aunt and uncle, unfortunately 8 hours from us but we'll stay for a long weekend and travel him home on the Sunday. My partner is keen to leave early on the sunday (6ish) so we can hopefully beat any traffic and be home early afternoon to settle him before bed time. My concern is that the pup will want breakfast (I think they're fed breakfast about 7.30am), so don't want him to miss that, but also don't want to rush off after his feed and risk him getting travel sick.
I have a friend who collected a pup a few months ago who was 4hrs away, but they didn't feed him so he travelled on an empty stomach - 8hours though seems too long for him to go without.
How's best to do it please?
 
Hmm I did think that but means disturbing his littermates out of their routine. Maybe I'm overthinking it!
 
I wouldn’t worry about disturbing his litter mates they will cope as they aren’t going anywhere. I would only give yours a small feed though and might be an idea to get some puppy pads so he can wee in the car if he needs to and maybe some water for the journey as it’s so long .. don’t forget we will need lots of pics, what is he?
 
I’d not feed him, or give a tiny tiny meal an hour before. Then a tiny tiny snack, very wet, when you stop for a break (if you do). Line the crate with many puppy pads and towels and if he’s sick you can bag the dirty ones up.
 
Clodagh said:
I’d not feed him, or give a tiny tiny meal an hour before. Then a tiny tiny snack, very wet, when you stop for a break (if you do).
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This. I travelled my last puppy in a cat carrier, facing forwards, beside me, strapped into the front seat, it was two hours home but I didn't stop and she was fine, no sickness and never has been, and held herself toilet wise (I think they all had a small meal about three hours before leaving). For a journey of that length, you'll need to stop anyway so I would throw in a couple of stops.
 
I'd feed just a very light little meal about an hour before you're due to leave, and then let pup out to "do the necessary's" before you go.

As long as he's warm and cosy he'll be fine. I'd travel him in a crate with a blanket or something from where he's been, so he'll settle. Cover over the crate with a blanket so he has his own little den.

Can understand your anxieties, I'd be just the same (my pup was only 20 mins away but I was still frantic!). Am sure everything will be fine.
 
I wouldn’t feed at all and get your early start. I’d offer water when you stop for comfort breaks but no food.
Both my GSD pups did a 6 hour trip in one go with one break, no food prior to travel and there was no sickness.
Good luck with your journey. What breed is your pup?
 
Please don’t starve a young puppy for that length of time. If he’s not eaten since the evening before that could be up to 18hrs without food which is dangerously long at that age.

Would agree with feeding him a small meal about an hour before you go (could this be done somewhere away from rest of litter if you’re not wanting to disrupt them?). Definitely offer water when you stop and could potentially offer a small snack (but tbh if he’s had breakfast then can probably wait for next meal until you get home). Agree with plenty of puppy pads and a bag to dispose of them in!
 
When we collected my friends puppy it was a 3 hour journey and the breeder had given him a big breakfast ☹️. He travelled on my lap and during the first half hour threw up, poor thing. He then slept all the way home . When I collected one of mine she was in a cat carrier strapped to the front seat as I was alone and she was fine..my last lurcher was in a crate in the back next to my other 2 and he shouted for the first 15 mins and then slept for the next 2 hours , they are all different ,
 
My pups have been leaving for their new homes over the past week. No journeys longer than 3 hours though. Pup that is leaving today is bring collected at 12 so I’m going to give the pups a light lunch at 10.30.. she will be in a small crate on the back seat next to her new owner as they are coming by taxi.
 
Just an update - he travelled like a pro! It was 9 hours door to door with several stops. He was sick early on but wasn't bothered, then slept near enough the whole way. He's been an angel since we got home too, sleeps through the night and asks to go in the garden when he needs to :)
 

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Belmont said:
Just an update - he travelled like a pro! It was 9 hours door to door with several stops. He was sick early on but wasn't bothered, then slept near enough the whole way. He's been an angel since we got home too, sleeps through the night and asks to go in the garden when he needs to :)
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Lucky you, mine only had 30 minutes to go and screamed the entire time sans a 5 minute nap in the middle before screaming again for the rest! 😂
Seriously though, what a scrumptious flumpy pluppy you've got there <3
 
Absolutely gorgeous Belmont. Glad all went well on the journey and since.
The last puppy I collected was 4 hrs away and I was on my own, a Flatcoated retriever. She travelled in a small cosy crate strapped to the back seat. I decided to just drive, she sang for the first hour and a half then went to sleep. No sickness or pee and happy as Larry when she arrived, keen to play with the others in the garden.
It’s always a relief when it’s over , isn’t it! 😁❤️🐾
 
Chiffy said:
Absolutely gorgeous Belmont. Glad all went well on the journey and since.
The last puppy I collected was 4 hrs away and I was on my own, a Flatcoated retriever. She travelled in a small cosy crate strapped to the back seat. I decided to just drive, she sang for the first hour and a half then went to sleep. No sickness or pee and happy as Larry when she arrived, keen to play with the others in the garden.
It’s always a relief when it’s over , isn’t it! 😁❤️🐾
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My first choice was actually a flat coat, I fell in love with one years ago when I was on holiday in France as a child. Partner however wanted a collie, so we settled on a golden! 😅 Glad yours settled after the journey. Can't beat a retriever!
 
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