How do I prepare for a long road trip with my new 10-week-old puppy?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is safe for her to make the trip. I would just make frequent stops so she can stretch her legs and go to the bathroom. I wouldn’t feed her during the trip in case she gets car sick. Kisses to your new pup!

Thank you for submitting your question. Yes, it is ok to take young puppies on a long car ride. I would do some practice drives beforehand though to help them become acclimated to the car. You want to ensure that they will not experience any motion sickness. On the day of the drive, be sure to provide them with plenty of water. They will need bathroom breaks every 2-3 hours. A head of time, practice teaching them to urinate and defecate on the surfaces that will be readily available on your drive (grass, concrete, etc). Finally bring toys or any comfort objects along for the drive. I hope this information helps!

You should give home a lot of exercise on each day before the trip if possible. A tried dog has less energy for anxiety. Here is a helpful link about traveling with a pet in general: https://www.petcoach.co/article/dog-travel-safety-tips/ You may want to call your veterinarian to ask about anti-vomiting medication just in case. Some puppies will be prone to car sickness. You may also want to make sure he is up to date on vaccines and ask if he needs any flea or heartworm prevention. You may also want to stuff treats into a kong and then seal it with peanut butter. This may help to entertain him. You may also invest a 1 or 2 new toys that he may be excited about since they are new. Also make sure to offer him water regularly. Best of luck!

Congratulations on your new puppy! I've been in this situation as well, driving several hours home from a breeder's house with a new pup who needs to pee :) Your puppy will almost certainly need to go to the bathroom at some point during the trip - so yes, you'll need to stop somewhere. As long as he has started his vaccine series, his risk of contracting parvo or other diseases is really quite low as the vaccines are very effective... so you should use common sense and not put him in high-risk situations, but there's no reason that he can't walk in the grass for a few minutes to potty. I do normally recommend avoiding rest areas and other places that large numbers of people walk their dogs - instead, stop at a fast food restaurant or a gas station a mile or two from the highway, since this should be a much lower-traffic area in terms of strange dogs. And yes, I would recommend a crate for the car ride, for safety. Put a soft blanket and a toy or two from the breeder's, if she has one that she can send so that he has something that smells familiar.

I don't recommend to give a new puppy something for car sickness as Lady is very young and she may not have issues with car sickness. It will help to make sure she is not given any vaccines or dewormers within 24 hours of her trip. Keep her in your lap in the back seat or have her carrier easily accessible. Try to take a towel or something with the scent of her mother. Hopefully you will have a quiet trip back home. Congratulations and best of luck!

A collar and leash would be a great idea! But know that it takes time for puppies to get used to a leash - I just want her to be safe! A small carrier if you do not plan to hold the puppy the whole trip. Usually the breeder will tell you what kind of food that Ginger has been on so you can purchase some ahead of time. If you want to switch the food, gradually mix them together to transition her to the new food over 2-4 weeks. Ask for any records of shots or dewormers that the breeder has given so you can take them to Ginger's first vet appointment. I recommend a checkup with a vet within the first few days to test Ginger for intestinal parasites and any obvious congenital problems (like a heart murmur or abdominal hernia). Some puppies can become car sick, but it should wear off within a few hours of being home. She may also miss her litter mates and be sad for a few days. Here area couple PetCoach articles to get you started! https://www.petcoach.co/article/puppy-proofing-checklist-preparing-your-home-for-a-new-puppy https://www.petcoach.co/article/puppy-101-everything-you-need-to-consider

In my opinion it is not a very good idea. The main reason is that your puppy has not been vaccinated yet and at the age of 8-10weeks puppies become susceptible for many infections (including parvovirus). Viruses, such as parvovirus, can be passed on puppies even without direct contact with infected dogs. The virus can be transmitted for example via schoes dirty in soil, cloths, could be picked up in carparks etc.