Puppy Virgin...3 questions

[ThreeOnOne]

We are getting our first family puppy in a week!
Just a couple of (silly) questions on day to day practicalities for more seasoned dog-owners -

1. I understand the puppy can't really be left alone for any real length of time til it's a bit bigger. I can manage most things by taking her with me but how do you manage things like a trip to the supermarket or kids' swimming lessons where clearly dogs aren't allowed?

1. The car. I will need to take the puppy out and about in the car. While she's still little, I was thinking about having her in the front passenger seat where I can see her. Any recommendation on dog restraints?? I don't really want her in the boot in a crate while she's small. Am I being silly? Is this the best option?

1. We will be having her vaccinated (I know not everyone on this forum does). BUT in the interim before she has all the standard vaccines, I still haven't got my head round this whole 'keep puppy off the floor' thing. I understand the risks/reasons and I'm unsure what to do...and this is why: We live in a very rural area so no risk of unvaccinated dogs in our garden but there are plenty foxes, occasional badgers and whilst i've never seen the, there must be rats and mice too. So...should I still be letting the puppy out in the garden?? I am hoping o toilet train her out there...so will have to I suppose. Isn't the risk from things like Lepto just as bad in my country garden as in more public areas??

I guess it depends on the breed... when my miniature dachshund came home before Xmas I invested in a special bag from Amazon. It fits on the front seat, is held in place by a seat belt, and has an attachable restraint inside to keep puppy safe.
Because it also had a long shoulder strap it also worked as a carry bag to take puppy with me on school run/to shops etc. The lid zipped up but with holey breathable panels for puppy to see out but not escape... and i found if i put a cosy fleecy hot water bottle in with him he would instantly fall asleep and noone even realised he was there. Got a bit heavy when on long walks, but certainly made it easy to take him with us to children's piano lessons and the like... he slept sometimes in there long after we got home, I think the warmth and the rocking motion as I walked used to send him into an instant deep sleep!!
But it was handy to have one device that did car AND general carrying as it cut costs down. Does depend on the size of your dog though... can't imagine carting a big puppy around like that!

Thanks BassAce! I suppose I could sneak her around in a trolley if she was in a special bag. That's didn't occur to me. She's a cockerpoo....so not very big just now. I saw some of the Amazon bags...maybe I should look again.

1. You need to build up the time the puppy can be left alone and I would start them getting used to that from day 1 using a baby gate etc for a few mins. Lots of threads on here about that so you can look at everyone's different opinions on how best to get your puppy used to being alone. I didn't go shopping for several weeks because that would have taken me out of the house for far to long so I did home delivery. As for swimming lessons then need more information on that to advise as to length and how long you will have had the puppy.

1. I used a soft crate secured by seatbelt until my puppy was big enough to go in the boot.

1. I live rurally with foxes, deers etc but decided the risk was low in my garden as it's fenced off (and we kept the gate closed at all times to encourage the deer to go elsewhere). You could fence off a small section of the garden if you are really worried.

Like BassAce I have a very small dog (Pomeranian) and I got a puppy sling to carry her around in and use a bag like one described above in the car. She does really well in the bag and usually just goes to sleep in the car.

For after school activities I used to briefly leave the pup in the (in her bag) car for taking and collecting and sit with her in the car (with her in my lap) the rest of the time. I appreciate this only works with older children though.

The Lepto vacation was the final one my pup had. The vet it was fine to let her on the ground before she had it, she just needed to be kept away from any standing water.

Vaccination not vacation 🙄

1. I would happily pop out for an hour or less... if you can time it with puppies nap time.
2. personally, I always have the dogs in a crate in the boot. It really is the safest place.
3. pre vaccination will not only require you to avoid certain other animals, but also any stagnant, muddy, dirty water.

The boot is only the safest place if you drive a hatchback. I think the RSPCA might have something to say if I put my dog in the boot of my fiat 500.

1. We managed by always having someone stay with the dog - either at home or (in the case of supermarket) walk about outside the shop with him to meet loads of people, then go and sit in the car and wait. Agree that for some puppies being left for less than an hour while hey are asleep also works. Mine would always wake up as soon as we made a move towards the door so he came with.

1. I had a crate on the back seat diagonally opposite from the driver position. For the first few trips someone sat in the back next to it but then he was fine so long as he could see me. When he got too big for the crate I moved him into boot where I have a guard gate up - he was then big enough to see me over the seat backs - and tethered to the car by a long, bungee tether, just in case he jumps out when I open the boot door.

1. Lepto is pretty rare and never putting her on the garden floor is going to risk all kinds of behavioural problems with toileting, fear etc. It's a much bigger risk to her future health/happiness than lepto. Avoid standing water and keep her off the ground in public spaces and she'll be fine.

With the car travel, don't put them up front on the passenger seat. It can be too much of a distraction for both of you! Travelling at 60mph while a puppy is straining at their harness to get on your lap isn't great. Use either the back seat or the boot from the off. The pup will need to get used to either. There's some tips about the "Houndway Code" on the Dogs Trust website here:
www.dogstrust.org.uk/news-events/news/48-of-uk-dog-owners-could-be-breaking-the-law

Thank you so so much for your comments everyone!
You are making me re-think a lot...and it makes total sense to put the puppy in the car wherever it will ultimately have to go.

Thank you all for that.

1. Build up separation gradually over a few weeks, or longer if the dog is stressed. The key thing is to always go back in when the dog is quiet, so you reinforce calm behaviour, not whining, barking, scratching at the door etc. Give them something safe to do while you are out of the room (e.g. afilled Kong) and time your return while they're still happily doing that thing. It's about building positive associations, rather than a spiral in which they hate you leaving and feel they have to go nuts to make you come back.

1. If a crate in the boot is the long term plan, do it from the start. Put a padded mat in to make it comfy and so they don't slide around as you drive. Also a heat pad can be nice for young pups. Do short journeys that end somewhere good for a walk - positive associations again.

1. Not sure, sorry! Vet can advise.