I will be bringing my pup home July 2. We have a 5 hour drive + back because of Wisconsin Construction Zone season and 4th of July traffic coming and going from the Twin Cities.

My breeder isn't feeding or watering my pup in case of car sickness. My vet agrees with this to a point. She stated that if after about an hour the pup isn't gagging or vomitting or having excessive drooling to water it.. just a little bit. Do this about every hour and a half on the way home as long as he isn't getting sick.

She also said to try this Calming Collar. Over the counter brand is called Comfort Zone. It is a synthetic pheramone that smells the same as what "Mom" creates when she is nursing the pups to calm them down so they can eat. It comes in a collar, plug in, and spray form.

I am thinking of using the collar on the way home to calm him down so he doesn't get so wound up he makes himself literally sick. Heres the link so you can see what I am talking about for the collar.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3307+11260+21581&pcatid=21581

Has anyone used any of stuff on their dogs/puppies? Any other tips on settling him in the house (I have two kids 2 and 3 years old both girls are pretty mellow but this is going to be a change from his mom and sister.) or even on the car ride home?

We are planning on putting him a travel crate lined with a pup piddle pad. I am NOT using this as a piddle pad just as something to soak of vomit if he gets sick. He will be pottied every 1 1/2 - 2 hours on the way home to stretch his legs (and mine) .

Any other tips would be great. We aren't feeding him because the car ride is so long and I don't want to chance his tummy getting upset.

Thanks

Mary

I don't have any experience with the collars, but it sounds like a reasonable idea.

However, I'd plan on stopping every hour for an 8 week old pup, rather than 1.5-2 hours. Given that you'll be restricting water, it may be a bit on the cautious side, but with a pup that young, that's my rule of thumb for potty breaks on the road.

JMO...

leih

congrats on the new pup, is that the pix of him? I haven't had a reason to try the D.A.P. yet either, but would be open to it. My only concern would be if a pup will peacefully accept the collar or has the breeder placed collars on them already? And possible chewing on the liner in the crate.

Some other posts I have read suggested sending something from your home to the breeder ahead of time so he can become familiar with that scent.

I brought home my 8 week old Shepherd pup in March. It was a 14 1/2 hour drive home. She had no car sickness at all. Actually, I have never had a dog with car sickness.

We stopped ever hour-2 hours and played and ran around a bit.

The thing that really helped is that I marker trained her with the crate AT the breeders before we left. She went in and came out, ran around, put her paws up on, took food off, closed and opened the door. By the time we were done the crate was awesome. I did cover her crate while we drove, she didn't sleep much but she was quiet. I used kongs stuffed with boiled chicken gizzards and hearts to keep her occupied.

If you are concerned, you could ask the breeder to buy a cheap blanket or towel and put it in with the litter. This way you can take the blanket home with you and use it to cover the crate while you drive.

Personally, I would recommend using the spray in the crate, on the dogs blanket, places you want the dog to feel comfortable, etc. over using on of the collars. It is just easier to use and I feel you get more of your moneys worth out of the spray as it lasts more than 1 month. Also, it can't hurt to do this idea, but every dog is effected by it differently and usually the more stressed or worked up an animal is, the longer it will take to have an effect in the dog. I have to say that Niomi's idea is brilliant about marker training to get the pup used to the crate, plus the dog will probably be tired with that little bit of mental stimulation. I never thought of doing something like that.

I've never had to drive to pick up a puppy as either the breeder came to me or I just went to the airport which I have two major ones within 15-20 minutes of me. But I must say that I have always sent a t-shirt which I slept in for a few days for my new pup. I have found that it gives the pup a sense of recognition when we meet for the first time in a major airport. I think there are all different ways to work on helping your pup adjust and they all work. Good luck on your new pup.

-Lamarr

Thanks for the advice everyone!
I have no idea how to marker train, but I know Ed covers a bit of it in 8 weeks to 8 months Dvd. Just need to get it back from the in-laws. Father in laws gf wanted to borrow it for her pup thats about 5 months old and still peeing in the house. (They use piddle pads in the house as piddle pads enough said)

But I will definitly be looking into Marker Training. Is there a place that anyone recommends to start? I have seen ALOT of posts about it, but since I have absolutly no idea where to start anyone have any pointers?? Hubby and I think we will look into getting the spray, and I will definitly be making my potty breaks shorter.

Probably going to still use the liner in the inside of the crate but I will be sitting in the back with him to keep an eye on what he's doing. I also stuck a puppy kong in there. For marker training if I am afraid he's going to be car sick what can I use as a reward?? He from the sounds of it seems to be food driven.

Thanks

Mary

If the breeder didn´t have collars on the puppies than it might take a while for the pup to get used to it and starting in a moment so stressful might not be what I would do if I had an option. I had a litter of 5 and some that just stood out from the crowd, didn´t always have a ribbon on. HERE you can clearly see who they were (one isn´t on the picture) since the collars out on just two days before have grown hair because the pups scrached them all the time. I trimmed the hair on the collars day after that The others who had been wearing ribbons were perfectly fine.

Has the breeder taken the pups for car rides? I am not sure if car sickness is always learned or is it born in but I started to take them for car rides as soon as they were old enough (it was winter so too cold for tiny pups) and none have had a problem. If the puppy has good exerience with shorter rides, it will probably help to endure the long ride home with strangers (what you are to him at this point). It would probably help to try and avoid new things at the time of going to a new home as it is stressful enough as it is. At least this is what I think.

Janna-
Breeder takes them to the vet for 4 and 6 week wormings then 7.5 weeks for just the distemper. Otherwise no car rides but at the age of 6 weeks they start putting them in a crate each day for a little bit together at first then apart after that till we pick him up so he is used to a crate.

We decided against the dpa. going to just keep a cloth with moms scent on it near him.

Thanks for the info though!

mary