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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take a 12 week old puppy camping

64 replies

Inatent · 20/01/2019 21:36

Hi, hoping to get some insight on this. Our pup will be 12 weeks old by the time we have booked to go camping. She has just been born today! So she would be fully vaccinated but not toilet trained. I would need to carry her pretty much everywhere, that's fine. We can easily fit a crate in our huge tent. We are camping in the countryside and will spend days just admiring nature basically. Would it be ok to take her along or would it be too unsettling for her? We have waited a very long time to get a pup and don't want to do anything wrong! We can cancel the camping if needed despite paying but family would be disappointed. Any thoughts on this? Thank you in advance!

OP posts:
Sparrowlegs248 · 20/01/2019 21:38

I'd make arrangemts with the breeder to not have her until after your holiday.

Singlenotsingle · 20/01/2019 21:40

Nottalottas got the right idea. Much less work for everyone, less disruption for the pup and no chance of her getting lost

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 20/01/2019 21:41

Please make arrangements with the breeder. Sounds far too risky to me.

Original poster
Inatent · 20/01/2019 21:42

Sorry she would be 15 weeks old! Not 12! Or we would have asked the breeder to hang on to her.

OP posts:
Starlighting888 · 20/01/2019 21:42

No personally I wouldn’t

Original poster
Inatent · 20/01/2019 21:42

Please can I ask why it would be risky? Thank you!

OP posts:
userschmoozer · 20/01/2019 21:44

As long as you can carry her whenever she needs it, its much better for her to be with you and getting experience of the world.

Floofboopborkandsnoot · 20/01/2019 21:45

Why would you have to carry her everywhere?

userschmoozer · 20/01/2019 21:47

Long walks are too much for small pups.

adaline · 20/01/2019 21:47

She won't be able to walk far at all at that age, she won't be toilet trained and she'll be a bitey, chewy nightmare in a strange place!

Please reconsider - can she go back to breeder while you go away?

Original poster
Inatent · 20/01/2019 21:48

Thank you. Because she is so little you need to be very careful of their joints and mustn't over exercise them is why I put she would need to be carried. She would be fully vaccinated so could run round as well.

OP posts:
Hogtini · 20/01/2019 21:49

I'd go for it. They say to have as many new experiences as possible at that age so why not. Could make or break you mind Grin

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 20/01/2019 21:49

Could be quite over stimulating for her. I would ask the breeder for advice.

If you do decide to take her my friend carried her pup around in a baby sling at first. I kid you not but the pup seemed to like it?! Maybe help to give your arms a rest?!! Depend on the pup. My lab would have eaten his way through a baby sling in 5 minutes flat! Good luck!

Wolfiefan · 20/01/2019 21:50

Far too tiring and unsettling.
Have you had a pup before? What does the breeder think?

Original poster
Inatent · 20/01/2019 21:51

We haven't decided anything yet. My brother is a vet and he just said it would be fine, good socialisation, with us all the time and as long as we are sensible about carrying her felt it was fine. I was more worried about emotionally- would she find it stressful, confusing etc? Maybe I'm overthinking! She is a lab by the way!

OP posts:
Aprilshowersarecomingsoon · 20/01/2019 21:51

You need a ddog pram op!!

Darkbaptism · 20/01/2019 21:52

I wouldn’t, I think it will be quite unsettling for her.

AnxiousMcAnxiousFace · 20/01/2019 21:52

I would. You will all have a lovely time. People wouldn’t tell you not to bring a human baby on holiday at 15 weeks old. You just adapt.

Just carry said puppy when it’s tired and take loads of that odour neutralising spray for tent pee!

Original poster
Inatent · 20/01/2019 21:53

Yes we have had a pup before but many years ago. I haven't asked the breeder as she was only born today. Just wondered really. It's not a big deal as we can cancel, whatever is best for pup.

OP posts:
Original poster
Inatent · 20/01/2019 21:55

Imagine bumping a dog pram with a puppy in it across the countyside! Brilliant! Our last pup we put in a rucksack on the front for socialising, like the idea of a sling!

OP posts:
userschmoozer · 20/01/2019 21:55

She'll love it. Loads of things to sniff and explore, its how wild dogs live, isnt it.

Twooter · 20/01/2019 21:55

At 15 weeks my main concern would’ve keeping her warm overnight. Just make sure you pack up your bedding during the day so she can’t pee on it.

Original poster
Inatent · 20/01/2019 21:57

Thanks! Last time we went, same week last year it was 30 degrees and we sweltered so hopefully it wont be too hot or too cold! Fingers crossed.

OP posts:
Largepiecesofcrookedwood · 20/01/2019 21:57

Only on MN would this be considered a problem. In the real world it won't be a problem if you are prepared to carry her if she's tired, and you're armed with plenty of paper towels.
All these people advocating returning her to the breeder or not picking her up till after the holiday have given no thought to how unsettling that would be for a small puppy. Far better to be out and about with her family (who she will already have been accustomed to for several weeks beforehand) and taking in the sights and sounds of her big new world.

pinkhorse · 20/01/2019 21:57

It would be so stressful for everyone. Surely you wouldn't enjoy your holiday. Can you collect her from the breeder after holiday?

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