Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Travelling home with new pup

10 replies

Solo2 · 03/03/2011 17:44

We'll have a 2 hr car journey home (me driving and only adult in car) when we collect our golden retriever puppy within the next few weeks. I've been advised to have the puppy on the knee of one of the DCs in the back of the car for the journey home or the footwell at the back - plus towels of course!

However, am I right in thinking that it's illegal to travel with a dog that's not restrained - ie in a carrier? But I can't imagine putting a little puppy who's just left everything he's ever known in a wire carrier for 2 hrs as his first experience of us and leaving home.

What should we do that's going to be best for the puppy and safe for everyone?

OP posts:
laosvher · 03/03/2011 17:48

Have no ideas of the legalities, just put him in the boot with a nice toy
and perhaps give him some water beforehand

scurryfunge · 03/03/2011 17:50

It is not illegal to have an unrestrained dog but you have to think of it as a missile in the event of a collision.

minimu1 · 03/03/2011 18:49

Is there no way another adult can accompany you on the journey? It will be highly traumatic for the puppy and they are generally a little happier on the lap of an adult covered with a towel of course! Also the puppy can whine and be wriggly which would be distracting for you as a driver

Jaynerae · 03/03/2011 20:45

We had our puppy in a plastic crate, on the back seat in between DC's and used seatbelt to secure the carrier. DC's could talk to pup and fuss her through door but everyone was safe.
Is that an option in your car?

BluddyMoFo · 03/03/2011 20:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

scurryfunge · 03/03/2011 20:56

When laosvher said boot, I took it to mean in the back of an estate (please let that be what she meant Sad).

Even so, I would still have a puppy in the back seat.

BluddyMoFo · 03/03/2011 21:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

memphis83 · 04/03/2011 10:09

just picked up our puppy yesterday and i had him in a cat carried enough room for him to stretch out, he slept the whole way home and it was a 3 hour journey as i got lost!!! Blush

Original poster
Solo2 · 04/03/2011 11:03

I wonder if he'd fit in one of our cat carriers and could be put there if he became too restless on one of my DCs knees? There isn't another adult to come with us unfortunately.

The carrier could fit between DCs seats if I take out the child safety seat and let them sit on ordinary seats, as they're almost tall enough now I think....

If he sleeps, it'll be fine. If he wriggles and leaps around and is sick, poos, wees and cries and bites, it'll be difficult.

I left an old T shirt at the breeders the other week so that our puppy should have this - smelling of his doggy family - all the way home and at nights etc.

OP posts:
midori1999 · 04/03/2011 11:59

An 8 week old Golden pup should fit in a large cat carrier, just make sure it is well ventialated. I would put him in there to start with tbh, I think he'll be too wriggly for a child, even an older one, to hold safely. It'll be ideal if you've left something with the breeder than will smell of the litter that he can have in the carrier with him and the DC will be able to talk to him, plus you can have the radio/music on in the car.

My ideal would be to have an adult with puppy on their lap, but if you can't do that then I think the cat carrier is the next best thing.

Good luck! We need loads of photos please!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page