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Bringing Home a Puppy

Posted by Clare Bristow

It pays to be organized when you are bringing home a puppy from the breeder; if you are bringing home a shelter dog, they're more likely to be used to traveling in cars, but the following suggestions are still relevant.

You will want to make the journey as stress free as possible for your puppy - he is leaving his litter-mates, mother and home, so not only will he find being separated from them stressful but he will have to contend with new sounds and people too.

Ask the breeder if you can collect your puppy at the time he usually has a nap, he should be more relaxed at this time and may sleep all the way home!

Whatever time you collect him pray for a trouble free ride home, but plan for a trip where your puppy howls, is sick and has a bad case of diarrhoea.

Depending on the length of the journey, plan to have these supplies with you:

• old towels;
• water;
• plastic bags;
• a soft toy or Snuggle Puppy; and
• a collar with your puppy's name and contact number on it (and put it on him before you set off home).

For the journey home I'd suggest wrapping your puppy in a blanket and holding him in your arms and talk to him soothingly all the way home. I know it breaks all the rules of traveling with your dog in a car, but at this time I think your puppy needs to feel safe and bond with you. It goes without saying that you should not do this if you are driving the car - ask someone else to drive and you sit in the back with your puppy.

If you are not happy doing this, or if you are on your own, invest in a travel crate and make it as snuggly as possible with a pillow and old towels. Fasten the crate securely in the car and talk to him on the way home and/or play soothing music - if he can see you too, then this will make him feel less stressed.

If you have a nightmare journey home, try and stay calm, and just clean up the best you can. Do not get cross with your puppy because it will only make him more stressed, and it will not be a good start to your new relationship. You've got many weeks of weeing, pooping and frustrating puppy behavior ahead of you, so this is good practice for staying calm despite the frustration you feel inside!

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