new new puppy and the school run

[mckenzie]

We 'might' be getting a puppy early next week (i'm not sure who I'm kidding by saying 'might', me or the DCs!)
Three days a week I leave for school with DD by 7.45 and have a minimum 30 minute round trip (traffic dependent). DH usually leaves about 8.15 and DS not long after.

Should I leave the new puppy at home in his crate while I am gone or should I take him with me do you think? I don't have to get out of the car at the school.

You could do both (as long as he is't horribly car sick like our DPup was) take him so he gets used to the car; leave him so he gets used to being left. 30 mins is a great period if time to start with IMO.

If you take him, I'd be tempted to get him out at the other end so he can get a bit of socialisation in as well. The more they see in the first few months the better!

I'd take him with you on a couple of days, it will help get him used to car journeys. The other days treat it as a crate training opportunity at home.

if you get him out, hold him in your arms until he's had all his jabs and can go on the floor.

thanks guys.

So special crate for boot of car to be added to shopping list yes?
Could that be the same crate that DH would use on the odd occasion he takes puppy to work with him?
And I heard today that i should buy a small crate now and plan on buying a bigger one once he's grown. Would you agree?

Yes, it could be the same crate if you only use it for school run and won't need it on the days your DH takes puppy to work. If you want to familiarise them with different crates just transfer the blankets so it smells the same.

We had a smaller one for the car so our dog didn't rattle around in the boot as a puppy but she's always had the full size Lab one for at home. She did grow quickly though, so it would have been a false economy to buy a 'puppy size' one for home. I believe they can get confused with house training if their crate is too big, however, so it does depend on the size of the dog and how quickly they grow.

Thanks Leopard.

We have a lab size (42" I think) crate at home.

As we knew he would grow quickly (and we sometimes had friends dog in car too) we never got a smaller crate for the car but got a Ford dog guard and a good boot liner. First time we took him in the car he was sick, pee'd then poo'd all in the space of 5 minutes while I was driving on the motorway and couldn't stop, he then rolled about in it all - journey from hell!