Traveling with 12 week old

[digi4509]

Hi i have a question about traveling with my 12 week old.
I work from home but have to drive to Columbus next week which is about two hours from my house. My bosses said that I can bring her and can't wait to see her, but I am a little nervous about bringing her on that far of a drive at her age. She either stays home crated and my mom and sister will stop in during the day and let her out, or come to Columbus with me.
Does anyone have experience traveling with puppies and think it is a bad or good idea for me to bring her. If it is a bad idea I don't mind being told. I don't want her to be scared or get carsick since she has only been in the car for trips around town.

Thank you

 

[Angie K]

I think it would be fun for both of you. When we picked up our pup at 11wks old she rode home with us and it was almost a 2hr drive. I was all prepared with a small cat carrier I borrowed, Towels wipes etc. She never made it into the carrier. She slept on the towel snuggled next to my son the whole way home. I think if you get her used to the trip now you wont have a problem if you need to take her long distance for any other reason. We actually took ours on a trip to PA when she was 1yr old. All the way from FL to PA she was great, Just slept in the back seat, chewed on her Nylabones and whenever we stopped she would go on a small walk do her business and jump back in and settle for the ride. Have fun on your trip.

 

[ljnash]

I'm sure she will do fine. She will probably sleep the whole time. Don't feed her before a car trip. Sometimes puppies get car sick easily. Cover the seat or crate pad with washable things (towels, etc.) just in case.

 

[coastalgirl]

I took my 13 week old puppy on a 9 hour car ride home and she did great. I know 9 hours sounds bad, but i stopped every couple of hours and let her go to the bathroom and gave her water and stretch and she just slept pretty much the whole way. I hope that helps you.

 

[Melissa18]

When I picked Otis up at 8 weeks, I flew to get him and between the hour trip from his breeder to the airport and the 5.5 hours with me at the airport and flying home, he did great! I also took him everywhere in the car with me from the time I had him home. I think it has helped him with getting used to riding in the car as well as being well behaved in the car! I have taken him several times on trips to my fiance's grandma's house which is 2 hours and 45 min away, and I made the trip twice in one day with him when he was only about 16 weeks old. He is now 6 months old and absolutely LOVES car rides. He rides in the backseat and either sits there and just looks out the window or lays down and goes to sleep. So, I say go ahead and take your baby with you! I'm sure she will enjoy it and do fine.

 

[SashaBaby]

Our 8 month old, Sasha, loves car rides. When we got her at 8-10 weeks old, she rode home from the breeder's place - it was over a two hour car ride and she was just fine. Recently, we moved to Austin, Texas from Pennsylvania and she traveled the ENTIRE way in my backseat - all 1600 miles and three days. I think she was only 5 months when she did that big trip!!

Now, all I have to do is ask, "want to go for a car ride?" and she is ready to go. She even has a doggie seat belt

 

[ISUBoxer]

Long rides

I go to college 8 hours away from my hometown, and Brinks makes the trip with me frequently. He is five months now, and has made the trip there and back twice. He slept about 7 out of the 8 hours there, and when he wasnt he just chewed on a toy I bought him for the ride. I think you should bring your pup with, if it would be so much better for them than being crated the majority of the weekend.

 

[Kiwi_Storm]

When Storm was 12 weeks we took her home to our parents for Christmas. It was a 7 hour drive and she did great. Just make sure she doesn't eat right before you leave and as previously said have toys, towels/wipes etc in the car and make some stops along the way. It also helps to have a long play session prior to leaving so she is tired. She will probably sleep the whole way as Storm did.

 

[None-removed]

I took a 13 hour trip with Bax when he was 17 weeks - everything went fine. We stopped about every 90 minutes for a potty and leg stretch break, and usually had to wake him up when we stopped. For 85% of the trip he slept. Make sure and pack some water, take a toy or two, and something for snacking/teething, put her where she can sleep and I bet you'll get there without incident. To this day, Bax loves to ride, and if we ride for more than an hour, he's out like a light. Once he manipulates himself so that he can feel me and knows that I'm there he sleeps like a baby.

 

[digi4509]

Taking her with me tomorrow

I have decided to take her with me tomorrow everyone at work wants to see her, plus I felt bad leaving her all day long.
I had another question. In one of the posts they said to have her play a little before leaving. There is a nice park nearby that I would love to take her to take her to before I drive back home. What I was wondering is that she is due for her last set of shots next saturday and I was wondering if it would safe to take her becuse there usually are alot of other dogs there.
Or should I wait till after her last set of shots to take her.