Tips for transporting second dog home

[Scandicat]

We have one dog who is 3 and we are bringing home a puppy in a couple of weeks. I've been trying to work out the logistics of picking up dpup who is about a three hour drive from home and how to fit that around Ddog. My provisional thought is that DH will stay home with Ddog. I will drive to pick up Dpup with DCs. They are 13 and 10. I don't think they are old enough to be responsible for a puppy while I drive so I will put her in a travel crate and seat belt it in between them in the back so she will have their company for comfort but will be safe. I can then introduce her to Ddog outside of home before bringing her inside.

Does anyone have any thoughts about this? I would rather have had her on my lap with DH driving - did this for a similar length journey with Ddog and that worked perfectly but this time that would mean Ddog also being in the car and i've read that isn't a good idea.

Alternative would be to leave Ddog with family and introduce them at family's house, then do the last bit of the drive home with them both in the car - that would be an hour. But I've also read it's less traumatic for puppy to go straight to new home.

I would really appreciate any views/what has and hasn't worked for you. Thanks!

[Sprig1]

Why don't you all go. I would take the whole family, including your dog. Put the pup in a crate for the drive home, loose pups aren't safe. Then you can stop off on the journey home and your dog can meet the pup on neutral territory. That is what we did and it worked well for us.