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The doghouse

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

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Original poster

Harness or lead for collecting lab pup?

16 replies

autumnlead · 25/10/2020 07:32

We’re collecting our lab puppy next weekend. Excited doesn’t come close!

It’s a 2hr journey to bring her home, we’re planning to have her by my legs in the passenger footwell (with a backup crate in case she doesn’t settle).

I assume we need a collar/harness and lead in case we had to stop unexpectedly to keep her safe? Also to use ‘just in case’ when socialising her? I know she can’t go on the floor until after 2nd jabs.

I’ve read that harnesses are kinder to their necks, but at this stage she won’t be walking as such so would a collar be less strange for her initially? She’ll obviously grow so much too between now and when she starts going on walks.

Thank you!

OP posts:

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 25/10/2020 08:13

I've never used either when collecting a puppy. If you need to stop, put the puppy in the crate (where it is legally meant to be anyway, but our puppies have always come home on laps: no puppy is going to settle in a crate with new people in a strange car after just being separated from the rest of the litter).

Once you're home, start familiarising the puppy with the collar after a few days. On, off, on, off, so it doesn't feel strange. And then add the lead and let it trail around (while you keep an eye so it doesn't get chewed or tangled).

Snackasaurus · 25/10/2020 08:38

When we picked our puppy up, they'd had collars on from the first few days after they'd been born so they could easily be identified. He absolutely hated his lead at first but he he's had it put on a lot of times to go out for a wee in the garden and he's now great at putting his lead on! :-)

TheVanguardSix · 25/10/2020 08:56

no lead.
They hate leads initially, so don't be surprised if your pup hunkers down into 'sack o' potatoes' position the first time you try to go walkies around the garden on lead.
Congratulations and... ahem, photo please!

My little tip: I put the lead in the dog bed with pup (with my eye on pup all the time- don't leave them alone with it, it goes without saying) so that it gets pup's scent. Great for when you're teaching recall. You kneel down, with the lead in your hands, and the pup will be drawn to the scent of the lead when you call his name. Also, when you go to put the lead on, it will have a nice familiar smell. So go ahead and get that lead all covered in pup stink.

vanillandhoney · 25/10/2020 13:54

It’s a 2hr journey to bring her home, we’re planning to have her by my legs in the passenger footwell (with a backup crate in case she doesn’t settle).

Please, please don't do this. It's so dangerous. If you have an accident, you'll be lurched forwards and you could easily crush your puppy to death when you brace yourself.

They need to travel safely - either in a crate or secured on the back seat. Mine travelled in a harness with a seatbelt attached, but we had the seatbelt attachment long enough so he could sit on my lap on a blanket (just in case of accidents).

It's worth noting that if you crash and your puppy isn't secured properly, your insurance may well not pay out. By law they do need to be secured. I know lots of people will tell you that their pup travelled on their lap and it was fine, but remember it's not legal for the dog to travel that way.

StillMedusa · 26/10/2020 00:16

Please don't put your puppy in the footwell! That is totally unsafe (and illegal) and the puppy is unlikely to settle there!
We bought a soft crate for the journey home..I sat in the back with her with my hand inside the crate (zip opened just enough) so I could comfort her without any risk. We used it a few times before she was big enough to go in the boot with a guard. The soft crates are not expensive

SBTLove · 26/10/2020 00:20

By law a dog must be restrained /contained in a car. It’s a bit concerning that you are buying a pup and seem to have done little research for even basic things.

Thisisconfusing · 26/10/2020 00:35

I agree with previous posters - please don’t put a tiny pup in the footwell- it’s dangerous for the pup .! When I collected my last pup I moved the crate into the back seat so he was amongst us in the car rather than the boot. Your pup will be safe and will also feel safer too. We also had a two hour journey back - he was snoring about an hour into the journey . Also consider bringing a towel or blanket to put over the top of the crate Just leaving the front exposed so he can see out . Your pup might feel even more secure. We always used to bring pups home on our laps when I was growing up but they were ten minute journeys and there were no laws about restraining . Incidentally our breeder insists that we have a crate to transport him . Your breeder might not be happy with the travel arrangements you propose either . Good luck with your new addition . It is fair to say that the puppy days are hard work but it’s so worth it in the end . 😃🐾

Orkneys · 26/10/2020 11:08

Oh my lord do not put her in the foot well put her in a Crate securely. If the breeder sees this I imagine she would stop you taking the dog providing she's a good breeder.

Orkneys · 26/10/2020 11:09

@SBTLove

By law a dog must be restrained /contained in a car. It’s a bit concerning that you are buying a pup and seem to have done little research for even basic things.

This

BadDucks · 26/10/2020 11:13

Pup will hate the lead, footwell for 2 hours is dangerous and I dare say you will end up with peeing accidents on the floor. You need a soft crate that you can secure on the back seat and then you can sit in the back to help pup feel safe.

Darklane · 26/10/2020 11:46

Exactly what all the others have said.
Apart from being both dangerous & illegal the footwell just isn’t a comfortable way for a puppy to travel. Without the heater it will be cold & uncomfortable, with the heater it will be too hot & uncomfortable.

unicornpower · 26/10/2020 11:53

Our pup had his puppy collar on when we picked him up, he didn't flinch at the collar but HATED his lead, so we switched him to a harness just whilst we were training and going through the phase where he sat down and refused to walk. Now he's older his collar is just fine but the harness was great for practice!

Like others have said, please make sure you have a crate to put her in as 2hours is a long time for a puppy and you aren't meant to travel with them on your lap or in the footwell.

Original poster

autumnlead · 26/10/2020 12:19

Thanks for all the responses. I got the footwell idea from a puppy book !

I’ll look into the other options suggested. Thanks again.

OP posts:

vanillandhoney · 26/10/2020 14:03

@autumnlead

Thanks for all the responses. I got the footwell idea from a puppy book

I’ll look into the other options suggested. Thanks again.

What the book is "recommending" is illegal and you can be fined by the police if your dog is unrestrained in the car, especially if you get into an accident. Your insurance can even refuse to pay out if they think the dog being loose caused you to be distracted.

Foobydoo · 27/10/2020 09:50

We had a 75 min journey home with our lab pup. He sat on my knee and I put a slip lead on him for extra safety. He was very wriggly and I would have struggled without one. I gave him treats and he slept most of the time.
I used the slip lead to take him out in the garden for toileting and he accepted it quickly. I also took him on the school run daily with the slip lead on and carried him so he would get used to traffic and people.
This worked out for us as he walked fine on his slip lead from his first walk without any issues and the same when we switched to a harness.

Foobydoo · 27/10/2020 09:51

Just to add, I sat in the back with him. DH was driving.

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