How far did you drive to collect your new dog?

[garlicandsapphires]

Just that really, searching for a puppy that's ready to leave at a time that aligns with my big chunk of annual leave.
Is a three hour long journey too long? I'm thinking that it surely is!
Any other thoughts/ tips/ warnings for a first time puppy owner?

For the perfect dog from the perfect breeder, I'd say no, 3 hours is fine with regular breaks.

I drove 1 1/2 hrs and 2 back to pick up my puppy last year. We've just had our 1st year ownerversary!!

God I think I drove about 9 hours or more round trip. Worth it though. I was alone as well. We even both had a short nap together on the way back. I will never forget it.

Seven hours for my youngest. It coincided with me being nearish to the breeder, who I already knew anyway. I flew down once to visit when pup was six weeks old.

Four hours. He was a dream

Doh. Dream traveller, still is.

About two hours or so.

25 mins ish. I’d have happy driven longer on the way back just for the cuddles 🥰. It was just a coincidence that we found a good breeder locally. One of his brothers went all the way from the North West to Cornwall though!

2.5 hours. Drive back she cried until the last 10 minutes when she'd exhausted herself.

All the puppies owners joined an FB group and swapped photos/videos daily for first 12 weeks (that was part of the contract).

We've stayed in touch over the years. It's lovely to see how they are all doing - but we have the best dog

We travelled 300 miles each way - London- Yorkshire

We are going from south coast to Lake District! Because the health tests and puppy socialising /upbringing are the best I can find. So we'll travel. Going twice!

1.5 hours but we would have gone further. I had a pretty thorough grilling by phone from the breeder before we got on the waiting list (18 months).

We visited at 8 weeks to choose from the litter and 10 weeks to confirm and leave his crate.
He came with a toy and a towel from his mum’s bed and was fine on the car journey. He cried maybe 15 minutes for the first couple of nights. Only to be expected.

I drove 4 hours, 8 hour round trip. Figured he was going to be part of my family for 14 years so worth driving to get the right pup. I already knew dad, visited mum and pups twice before pick up and had lots of photos from breeders heard from her every 2 or 3 days when mum was pregnant, and every day once pups were born

We got one locally and one from further away (2.5 hours each way). Agree that it is worth travelling for the right puppy.

We drove 3 hours there, sat with the breeder for an hour or two to meet the dog, ask questions etc and drove 3 hours straight back. Was it worth it? YES! We have the best dog ever.

We were driving there to check the breeder out and were fully willing to go home with out a dog if we felt things were shady. However, we were very happy w the breeder and how the dogs were treated.

It was so worth it and our dog was amazing during the drive back. We would do it again!

10 mins. We rehomed a local dog and 7 years later she’s still fab.

I didn't visit multiple times. It was so far away and the breeders didn't demand it. I'm a seasoned dog owner too, so although I think matching a puppy with a new family is good if they haven't had dogs before, I don't think experienced dog owners need to be matched with a pup. I have had all sorts of dogs, and I have always been the one to change to accommodate the individual pup, introverts and extrovert dogs alike. Getting a dog is a little bit like getting a baby. You simply accept what you get.

I drove 300 miles. Mines a rescue so miles are no issue as far as a rescue dog in desperate need is.