Below I’ve listed a couple of essentials items you will need to have for bringing your puppy home:

• Puppy pads
  • Old towel/blanket
  • Crate or harness and seatbelt adaptor
  • Small travel bowl
  • Water bottle
  • Wet wipes
  • Poo bags
  • Small toy

I know you may want to cuddle and hold your puppy for the car journey home but we must think of the puppies safety first, Rule 57 of the Highway Code states: When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars. Failure to do so could cost you up to £5,000 worth of fines!

Making car travel more comfortable for your pet:

Before leaving to collect your puppy I would recommend getting the car set up, a crate in the back with puppy pads (incase of any accidents), a little bed or blanket and toy will help make the whole experience comfortable, secure and cuddly for your puppy. Having a little box or bag with all the items listed above will make the journey easier for you, having everything on hand incase you need it.
Some puppies have no problem travelling in the car and others will at first hate it.

• We don’t feed our puppies the morning of the day they are going just incase they get car sickness. Its always best to feed them after a car journey, this gives the puppy's a chance to digest their food.

• Take a break. If you’re taking your pet on a longer journey, make sure they have a chance to have a drink of water. Especially if it’s a warm day or if you notice your puppy is dribbling a lot and panting heavily.

• Keep them cool. Be aware of your puppies temperature, because they covered in hair they get warm easily, to help with this you can put the air conditioning on or open a window little to keep them cool.

• Don’t your puppy in the car. Puppies and dogs can’t cool themselves down the same way we can, and the last thing you want to happen is your puppy overheating. Winding down the window and parking the car in the shade is not enough to keep them cool.

• By starting young. Puppies who are used to travelling in the car from a young age are much more likely to be relaxed and happy during car trips. This is part of ‘socialisation’. Introduce them to the car as early as you can. Start out with introducing them to the parked car and getting them used to sitting in it with you, then start making short trips. Build up to longer journeys, but make sure they usually end in something fun like getting a treat or a walk. Make these experiences as positive as possible, with lots of treats and fun days out.