Travelling with 6 month old lab - advice please

B

BackstreetSym

Active Member
Joined
15 May 2012
Messages
38
Visit site
I wish we didn't have to, but for unavoidable reasons, my OH and I have to visit my parents (6 hrs away) for 4 nights. We have a calm, obedient (and adorable) 6 month old lab. I really, really don't want to put him in kennels, and can't get a dog-sitter for that period, so will have to take him with. Also, 4 nights away from him would be horrid!

Anyway, I thought I would ask you knowledgeable and helpful peeps if you have any tips and advice, both for the journey and while we are away.

We have a 4x4 with a dog guard and, although he's not a great fan of car journeys, he's pretty good. Obviously, we will schedule ample stops along the way and carry plenty of water. He is still having 3 feeds a day, too.

He is crated overnight at home - loves his crate and often takes himself in there to rest during the day (when he's not curled up asleep on the sofa with one of us in the evening). The only feasible place for his crate at my parents would be in the conservatory, which is too cold (compared to his nice Aga heated kitchen at home), so I am planning to take his bedding and have him sleep in our room while we are away. At home, he's happy in his crate and will patiently wait for us in the morning without complaint (even if we sleep in til 7:30am!!).

He's never been away from home before, so any suggestions you have to make this less stressful for him would be massively appreciated.

Glass of wine and share of my Dairy Milk on offer...
 
Firstly, chill! :) Glass of wine for yourself......dogs can be amazingly adaptable so long as we give them no cause for concern and tell them that this is the way it is!!

If you can, feed and exercise well before starting out. If you decide to start out at some ungodly hour in order to avoid the traffic then lead walk him to give him the opportunity to toilet and use the 'Driving with Dogs' website http://www.drivingwithdogs.co.uk/ which will tell you where there are great stop off places en route close to any and every motorway junction. Try to arrive in daylight to give him time to suss out the garden and where everything is. Keep feeding as normal, don;t make a fuss and carry on as normal! If he is used to sleeping in a crate then try and find room to take it with you so that he can be in it in your bedroom or wherever....obvioyusly, take known bedding and a few toys as well as normal food supply.
 
gunnergundog said:
Firstly, chill! :) Glass of wine for yourself......dogs can be amazingly adaptable so long as we give them no cause for concern and tell them that this is the way it is!!

.
Click to expand...

Thank you, I will! Don't need to be offered twice ;-)

And thanks for the advice. Will check out driving with dogs - did not know about that one. Will take his crate (although I doubt it will fit in the tiny guest room).
 
If you really can't fit in the crate then try and make him a den underneath the dressing table, in the bottom of the wardrobe, even underneath the bed.....you'ld be amazed where I've squeezed in some pups/adolescents in the past!:D

Once you've done it the once, then you can think about going on self-catering hols and taking the pup with you and introducing him to a whole new world! Enjoy!
 
Great advice from GunnerGundog...particularly about the wine!

We travelled from Cheshire to Burgie horse trials(past Inverness)with a 12week old retriever and had no problems. We planned frequent pit stops and as a result I think we enjoyed the jouney more than usual.

Can you arrange to borrow a smaller crate for the duration of your trip? If pup is going to stay in your room you could leave the crate door open if you're worried about it being smaller than usual.

Have a good time.
 
My dog has overnighted and weekended away in my car, other people's cars, dog trailers, sheds, wherever and we always have great adventures - great advice from Gunnergundog, chill out and make it a nice break for him :) if he travels well and sleeps through I am sure it will be fine. I don't tend to stop too often TBH, I'd rather travel three hours straight with a good run on either side than keeping stopping and starting etc but each to their own.
 
Good advice from Gunnergundog, pups are amazingly adaptable. One of Evie's litter travelled to Spain at 12 weeks. Journey from me to Gloucestershire and a few nights stay there, where she slept in her crate very happily. Then car journey from Gloucestershire to Portsmouth, over 24 hours on a ferry (where she was in the cabin with her new owners, exercised in dog exercise area) then 7 hours the other end from the port to her new home. She apparently travelled beautifully, made use of all the wee stops and settled down in her crate at her new home without a murmur. :)
 
BackstreetSym said:
I wish we didn't have to, but for unavoidable reasons, my OH and I have to visit my parents (6 hrs away) for 4 nights. We have a calm, obedient (and adorable) 6 month old lab. I really, really don't want to put him in kennels, and can't get a dog-sitter for that period, so will have to take him with. Also, 4 nights away from him would be horrid!

Anyway, I thought I would ask you knowledgeable and helpful peeps if you have any tips and advice, both for the journey and while we are away.

We have a 4x4 with a dog guard and, although he's not a great fan of car journeys, he's pretty good. Obviously, we will schedule ample stops along the way and carry plenty of water. He is still having 3 feeds a day, too.

He is crated overnight at home - loves his crate and often takes himself in there to rest during the day (when he's not curled up asleep on the sofa with one of us in the evening). The only feasible place for his crate at my parents would be in the conservatory, which is too cold (compared to his nice Aga heated kitchen at home), so I am planning to take his bedding and have him sleep in our room while we are away. At home, he's happy in his crate and will patiently wait for us in the morning without complaint (even if we sleep in til 7:30am!!).

He's never been away from home before, so any suggestions you have to make this less stressful for him would be massively appreciated.

Glass of wine and share of my Dairy Milk on offer...
Click to expand...

Where abouts will you be travelling to MurphysMinder? Alll the different ferry operators have different pet policies.I've been travelling with my German Shephard Mondi many years, Dover-Calais with P&O and SeaFrance (back in the day!) and they had to stay in the car for the whole duration and I wasnt aloud to go down and see him at the car deck. The plus side was that it was a very short journey. When I travelled with LD Lines on Portmsouth-Le Havre they were ok with me keeping my (then - pup!) with me at the public areas in a RSPCA approved crate. We where aloud pretty much everywhere except the cafes,restaurants etc.Here's some info on the site I usually book through http://www.ferrysavers.co.uk/faq.htm you can just send them an email even without having made a booking.
 
I dont think OP is travelling overseas, just a fairly long journey here in the UK. The pup I mentioned has already made the trip to Spain, and all went well.
In the past I have travelled to both N. Ireland and Jersey with dogs on the ferry. In both cases the dogs stayed in the vehicle, depending on the crew we were sometimes allowed to go and check from a distance on the Jersey ferry that all was quiet with the dogs, which it always was. :)

Just seen your second post, no worries, that information may well be useful to someone else. :)
 
I'm another one who drags my dogs from pillar to post! :) Both of them went on holiday at less than a year the first time, they've been to my in-laws etc. and not had a problem. They're not even particularly well behaved or chilled. :D

As above, try not to stress. As long as he's with you, has his familiar crate/bedding and food etc he'll just see it as a big adventure.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top