Crate or Carry???
 

So when I go get my puppy we have a 2.5 hour drive to get back home. I heard that some people carry their dogs and have heard that you need to crate. I got a crate and a bed liner for it. Will this be less stressful on him or would it be better to hold him during travel ?? seems like it would be safer for him to be in a crate. im new to this tiny breed. ive never had a dog under 95 lbs. when i brought home my pittie it was from a shelter 10 mins up the road so i held him. He was a pretty large puppy!

Yes, put him a crate and safety belt it, just like you would a new skin-kid! Congrats on your new baby!

I remember when we went to pick up Reesie a few years ago. She came in from the out of state breeder by Pet Tran along with several others pups. Nicole is my daughter and bought Reesie, so she was pretty excited when she arrived. She held her on her lap for the 2 hour ride home, and fed her some of the little kibbles. It was the start of the bonding process and we all thought it was important that Reesie knew who her best buddy was going to be. She fell asleep on her lap and I think the whole thing was less stressful than to be shoved into a crate in an unfamiliar environment.

Now, three years later, if I put her carrying case on the floor and open the top she jumps right in and sits there with this proud look on her face, "I'm ready to go Daddy".

I carried Ella on the 2 hr drive home. My boyfriend drove... I think it was good. There was no way I was getting a brand new puppy and not holdin her lol I was just too excited! Just keep it in your lap and hold on to it and I think it'll be safe enough!

if you are going to pick up the puppie by yourself, then you definitely need to use a crate for the puppy.

if someone is picking up the puppy with you, you can hold the puppy if someone else's driving.

the 'safe' thing to do is to use a crate. it is the safe thing, right thing to do. but i held milu when i brought her home, she was sleeping in my lap, it was a good boding experience for us. :aimeeyork

I am like you!!!! My baby should be making the trip home this Sunday. I bought her a pink crate that can be seat buckled in. I would love to hold her on the way home. My husband and I are driving 5 hours to pick her up which means a 5 hour drive home for her. I am not sure if I can leave her in the crate that whole time!!! I want to cuddle her! I know it would be safer per say but if we were in an accident even if the crate is buckled in with her inside she would/could really get slammed around in that thing don't you think??? I am not sure what the right thing to do is and I don't know what I will do. I am torn so I will be watching responses...

the reason you want to keep them in the crate for safety is actually because if you get into an accident. the dogs tend to bolt out of the car because they are scared. and then they can get hurt because they are out on the road running around. (that's why you keep them in the crate when you drive) and also this way, they also won't get thrown out of the car or anything like that because they are inside the crate buckled to the seatbelt.

Thanks!! I had never thought about them bolting!!!! Makes perfect sense. I would hate to have her wandering on a highway! :( I think she will ride in her crate with as many breaks as I can talk my husband into for cuddling!!!

It's so much safer for your baby to be in their crate when you are driving. Pull off from time to time and snuggle if you must.:)

I picked Ginger up by myself. We only had about a 45 minute drive.

Gosh, I fell head over heals in love during the 45 minutes, just from listening to her breathe.

When I got my 2 yorkies, my husband came with me. We actually were planning on getting 1 and came home with 2 because we just couldn't decide! I held them both in the bed/blanket that I had during the 40 minute ride home while my husband drove and everything went great. Most info I read said that day#1 is the one day to "break" the "safe" travel rule so you can have some instant bonding time with your puppy. It's scary for them to be taken away from what they have known, and if you can help provide them comfort by holding them, please do so!! I always have them in a crate when we travel (except the day we took them home) & they love to go for car rides!! If you are going alone, however, you should use a crate for safety - I would suggest that you bring someone with you if at all possible so you can hold your new puppy on your ride home. Congrats on your new little one!!

Now I am really considering a doggie car seat!!! She could be out but would be contained. Attaches to her harness so she couldn't bolt if we were in an accident. She will be traveling to work with me daily so it may be a wise investment. Even in town I would hate to get in an accident and have her thrown.

Thank you all for the input. I am not making the trip alone. My fiance is going with me and he will be driving home so I might just let it slide this one time and let him sleep in my lap where hell feel warm and safe. It would be great bonding time. Probably wont be able to resist by the time that day comes!

Yes, please be sure that you keep your yorkie safe & secure in any vehicle. The first day can be an exception, but after that...it should always be secure in your vehicle. Good luck shopping...there are LOTS of options to choose from!

Let me relay a story that broke our hearts and you decide if you should hold the puppy or put him in a crate for the trip. My son, his wife and two kids were returning home from a visit with us (5 hour drive). They had their toy poodle in a crate, but she wanted some attention and they took her out. She was not used to wearing her harness and leash, so they took that off too and rubbed her neck and belly making her more content. Suddenly, the car slipped off the pavement, rolled several times and finally came to a halt in a grove of trees. Thank God all of them were okay, cuts, scrapes & bruises only. The car was totaled. My son and DIL were busy seeing that the girls were okay and calming them. They saw their little poodle was okay but could not immediately leave the girls to get her put back in the crate. People came to help and the poodle was so frightened she ran from them. Well meaning people just kept chasing her and she was soon nowhere to be found. They called and we drove over to pick them up and help look for their little poodle. Everywhere we went people had seen her running scared just after the accident but not since. We put up signs, sent flyers to every vet in the area, and returned on 3 consecutive days. My son and DIL went a few more times as well. We never did find their precious little poodle. I know they were very sorry for not keeping her in that crate!

do they make puppy seat belts or are they more for larger dogs?