It’s pretty standard for many puppies to take a trip to the vet in the days leading up to send home. This will require both a duration crate experience, and a car ride. Here are some tips to help puppies have a good experience in the car.

If possible work with puppies in the car before ever taking them for a drive.Place a crate in a car and use that as one of your Fine Dining locations (weather permitting of course).Take puppies for short drives from an early age. While a puppy is having Fine Dining have someone start the vehicle and let it idle while the puppy is eating or chewing. (Never leave puppies in running vehicles unattended, and NEVER leave vehicles running in a building or garage) Place clean footing down in the back of a SUV or other vehicle with a large flat area, and sit with puppies there and let then play and explore for a while, then take them back inside. After a couple times do this with the engine running (vehicle outside of course). For travel days here are some tips to make the most of classical conditioning. Avoid over crowding puppies in crates. If your litter, or puppies, are large it’s better to make two trips than to cramp puppies. Put down several layers of pee pads, or if there is enough room a small litter box. I use pee pads and if a puppy throws up, or relieves itself, we stop and quickly pull out the soiled layer. If your puppies will not fight over them, put extremely high value chews in the crates. This is about the only time I use raw meaty ribs (frozen) and this makes going in the car VERY memorable for my puppies. I put down two HUGE ribs per puppy so bickering is super duper rare. Obviously, if your puppies would fight over chews either crate them individually, or don’t use high value chews in the car. Make note of any puppy who gets car sick, or drools. Talk to your vet about dispensing Cerenia, Benadryl, or Meclizine, for the drive home with the new family, especially if the drive is very long. So the puppy is not at risk of vomiting and being car sick on the drive to it’s new home. Of course always discuss meds like this with your veterinarian. Keep the car cool, this can help with nausea. Play soothing music and use your soothing scents.Experiment with covered versus uncovered. Some puppies travel better one way or the other. Prepare your puppy buyers before pick up day for the drive home, send a list of supplies, and other guidance, so everyone has a smooth depart.

Practical and Pragmatic: Vet Visits and etc

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