How to bring him home with the least amount of stress!
 

Hi everyone!

I'll be bringing home my new little one (Beauregard, Beau for short) at the beginning of January, and I am unsure of the best way to get him from the breeder to my house. He will be almost 4 months old.

Here are my options
1) Car - I don't own one, would have to rent
2) Taxi (5 mins) / Train Ride (20 mins) / Taxi (5 mins)

Do you think it would be OK to bring him on a train? and the taxi?

Also, for a travel crate, should I get a soft sided one or a hard case? What ones have you had success with? The breeder expects he will be about 5 - 5 1/2 pounds when he is fully grown.

Thank so much! And isn't he handsome!!

He is beautiful. What a sweet heart. I don't have advice about travel plans. Perhaps a friend with a car could take you. I don't know anything about train travel.

I don't know how it is in Canada, but Amtrak in the States doesn't allow pets on the train. I'd rent a car, or take a taxi, or get a friend to drive you. I have a wire crate that I take when I travel, although ZoE rides in her car seat during trips.

Congratulations on your new puppy. I bet you are really excited to finally bring Beau home.

Aww! What a cutie pie! Congratulations!

We took our car when we got Katie Scarlett and my husband drove so I could be with her. I tried holding her first and that did not work. She vomited several times, but since has acclimated well to the car and loves car rides! So after I cleaned her up, we put her in her carrier. We got a soft carrier as a gift from my Mom and it worked well for us. I put it in the center of the back seat and fastened it to the seat belt. I then sat back there with her. I'm not sure how the train thing would work. We do not have public transit like Amtrak near us so I have no experience with that. If you could, I would have a friend take you so you don't have to drive. That way you can give your full attention to that little cutie on the way home. Good luck!

It would be better for you and the pup if either a friend drive you or you rent a car. That is one beautiful pup......gonna be a gorgeous yorkie.

Good afternoon, and welcome from the UK!! :wavey:

As the others have said - I personally would suggest bringing him home by car - too many people with sniffles + snuffles on a train for your new little gorgeous boy!! :)

Also - we had to get a wire crate (our Harry Houdini :aimeeyork managed to chew his way out of his soft one, much to my horror :eek: !!!) Sally + Harry x

My 2 cents worth, rent a vehicle. There are plenty of inexpensive car rental deals out there. Around here you can rent a U-hall for $19.95! ;-)

Great looking Yorkie. You're going to love it!

I also agree with the rental car idea, I think the taxi/train/taxi would be to stressfull for a new pup being taken out of his home enviroment for the first time. Too many people, noise and activity, not to mention germs...lol!

He is a beautiful pup...and CONGRATS!! You will love having a new yorkie, they quickly become the center of your world!:D

A short Helicopter ride would be my first choice, otherwise, Car with a friend or a Taxi. The ride will be shot and quick either way. Best of luck, and he is a fine looking little guy.

I know the via rail in Nova Scotia does not allow dogs... they have to go in CARGO... which is BAD! please make sure you know the rules for your local train. If your train does not allow does in a carrier with you, then that is not a safe option for a new pup.

I do think that small does can go on the subway if that's what you're talking about, cause my friend lives in toronto and said she say a cute puppy in a carrier on there.

I would go for the car rental if it were me... that's why I went out and bought a car when ours died.... just so that I could safely get Harley to and from places. (yes spoiled dog).

Also for carriers/crates.... Harley has ALOT for one small dog, here are my views for what we have:

- plastic collapsable carrier (walmart) - I use this one for the car. It's a little bigger than he needs, but we also use it for travel to my mom's house, ít connects to his xpen.
- collapsable expen - its a pop up one that folds up the size of a laptop. goes awsome with platic carrier

- Purse - this is his soft sided airline carrier. I fly WestJet with him at least once a year and I believe on westjet and aircanada you are required to have a soft sided carrier, also my purse for him is very pretty and I use it to smuggle him into offices and the drug store if I need to get him somewhere he isn't allowed. My only complaint is that the edges of it don't have enough support, so if I'm on the airplane it squishes down on him a bit.

-Large crate - I also have a large wired crate that has a divider. It's designed for about a 50lb dog :rolleyes: But that is Harley's home he loves it and often redectoates by relocating all the beds and toys in there.

- airline carrier... I noticed at Bark and Fitz (which I believe you also have in toronto) that they have a new airline carrier that is collapsable like my xpen. it is georgous and was only $60... Harley may be getting this one for christmas.


Sorry for the long ramble, but good luck with your pup! I always love seeing new Canadians on here. :)

he'll be fine in any of them as long as you are with him.
Teegy was in a car and a cab day 1 and he has never had an issue.
Where are you travelling from? I see you are in my hood

soft sided carrier on go train and I believe via allows them in a carrier. TTC doesn't matter they don't let dogs on during rush hour, but I've never had an issue with the TTC

by the way he is gorgeous and you must join our Toronto meet up group.
Loads of lovely wee pals for your new baby and great folks for you to socialize with too

The Toronto Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie) Meetup Group (East York, ON) - Meetup

Hi Everyone! Thanks for the great responses.

Just for clarification it would be on the GO Train at non peak hrs going east into Toronto - so it won't be too busy (and they allow pets in carriers).

But based on your recommendations I'll look for a friend to drive me or take a cab from Pickering (GULP!).

@deonk1 Thanks so much for those great recommendations, there are SO many to choose from I just had no idea where to start.

@Teegy I signed up!

I got Kaos when he was 10wks old and almost 2lbs. I put him in my uniform shirt and held him for the 15 mins train ride, 25 min ferry, and then 25 min bus ride. He slept through the whole thing. :)

I would definetely rent a car as it will probably be pretty cold in the middle of January in Toronto!!
Best of luck with the new little guy!

Just a thought on having a friend drive you even.

Either way it's most important that until this baby has been evaluated for any paracites or has all his vacs and is on a good heart worm med that prevents from any other worms....keep him in the carrier and don't let him touch anything or anyone touch him.

I'm sure you already have a vet appointment scheduled. Be sure to do fecals.

I don't want to sound negative especially if you are getting him from a great breeder but one of mine came equip loaded with worms that spread to both other dogs and people as well as not being fully vaccinated-thankfully my other dogs were on meds and vaccinated which protected him and them.

We caught the infestation at his initial exam within 48 hours of getting him.

You never know if the person who sat on the seat before you, rented the car before you or if your friend has a dog what they can give your pup or what your pup can give them, so unless this base is covered already be sure you cover it from day one.

I agree, if you can, I would get a friend or family member to drive you. I'm sure you can find someone who would love to come for a ride so they can see your cute, adorable, sweet new pup! And if it is farther away, you can offer them a little gas money or take them out for lunch on your way to picking up your pup (you would be spending that $$ on a taxi anyways!)! Plus, if you go with a friend or family member, you can show off your pup and they can help you with the drive home, in case Beau doesn't like the car ride, you can comfort him while someone else worries about the driving.

If you absolutely cannot get a ride, then I would suggest renting a small car. I know here, you can get one for as little as $25 a day! So that wouldn't be horrible. But the train/bus has too many germs. If you could take a taxi (without having to take the train), then I don't think that would be a bad idea, since it would be just you, Beau and the taxi driver. But def do not do the train. I'd rather play it safe than sorry!

But good luck! Beau is BEAU-tiful! ;) :D

Aww! thats adorable that he was in your shirt! lol, He was probably nice and snuggly warm in there ;):p

Helicopter ride! definitely the way to go! hahahaha jk. not for me! I think I would be more scared than ANY dog to go on a helicopter! EEK!:eek:

To the OP, Definitely I would bring him in a car somehow if you can. Would be a lot cheaper to get a friend to drive you even if you have to pitch in gas money. And like others said, it would be better to have someone else drive that way you can either hold him or keep in close contact with him to keep him comfortable and not feel like he is alone and scared. Remember, these are all going to be new experiences for him so he's going to be scared and confused more than likely. Make sure he goes potty before you begin your trip, and try not to feed him anything or make sure the breeder doesn't feed him anything for at least 30 minutes before you start your journey. Less likely for him to get carsick and throw up that way and also less likely for him to poop in the car:eek: LOL

When we got Dolce, my fiance drove and I kept her in my lap in the backseat the whole time and she just slept the whole car ride. I was lucky that she loved car rides from the very first moment. To this day, as soon as she gets in a car she falls asleep lol! Bentley on the other hand didnt like the car so much. My fiance drove with him as well while I held him. He was very shaky and nervous, but this last time when we took him to the vet he seemed to do better. At least he didnt get sick lol. Anyhow, GOOD LUCK! Your baby is beautiful and so cute! You are going to love the world of yorkies! But be careful! It is VERY HIGHLY ADDICTIVE! hehe