What To Bring When Bringing Your Puppy Home In The Car!
You are about to pick up your puppy but you have no idea of what to bring when bringing your puppy home in the car!
When bringing your puppy home in the car for the first time you should bring a dog seat cover, an empty folder for their birth certificate etc., a collar and leash, a dog seat belt, a dog car harness, a soft dog travel crate, a collapsible dog travel bowl, an old towel or puppy pads, a blanket, some soft toys, some treats and a container to take a sample of their kibble home.
Continue reading for explanations of why you should bring each of those items as well as dog product suggestions for new dog owners…
Table of Contents
1. Dog Seat Cover/Hammock
If you are to invest in any dog accessories for your car, you have to get a dog seat cover or dog car hammock. Not only will it be super helpful for bringing your puppy home in the car for the first time but you will also get lots of good use out of it over the lifetime of your dog.
A dog seat cover or hammock is simply a piece of strong and durable fabric designed to cover your car’s upholstery to protect it from scratches, shedding hair and dirt. Not only will it keep your car clean but it will also give your dog a layer of protection while travelling in the car as it will contain him/her in a small area. As most hammock design dog seat covers have a section of fabric that loops over the front headrests, it also forms a barrier protecting your dog from flying forward into the front section of the car in the instance of a crash.
There are two main designs either being a half seat dog hammock or a full back seat version. Both work very similarly however with a half size dog seat you can have some passengers in the back of your car.
These Dog Seat Covers Are Great Options…
1. Kurgo Half Seat Dog Hammock Car Seat Cover
Find Out The Current Price On Amazon Here
2. Dirtbag™ Dog Seat Cover
Find Out The Current Price On Muttropolis Here
2. Empty Folder To Store Dog Records
When you are going to pick up your new puppy from the breeder, you will be given lots of important documentation and information about your dog. That is why it is so important to bring a new empty folder that will be dedicated to your dog records for the car trip. Most breeders will give you a birth certificate, a certification of micro chipping, information about the breed, information about your puppy’s parents, tips for taking care of your new dog and much more.
You can keep this dog dedicated folder for future reference when going to the vet and also to store other information such as vet bills and pet insurance information.
3. Collar & Leash
As you leave the dog breeder’s home, you will probably have to take a short walk with your new puppy to your car. While you could carry your dog to your car, getting a small collar and leash for use as a puppy is a good idea to get them use to the feeling of wearing one as soon as possible. Most breeders put a ribbon around all of their puppy’s necks for identification purposes so the transition to a collar should not be too difficult for your pup.
Check Out These Cute Collar & Leashes That You Could Get For Your Puppy…
1. Frisco Red Boho Dog Collar
Find Out The Current Price On Chewy Here
2. Clear Crystals on Silver Leather Dog Collar
Find Out The Current Price On Muttropolis Here
3. Frisco Leopard Print Polyester Dog Leash
Find Out The Current Price On Chewy Here
Read Also: The 25 Cutest Dog Collars – Your Dog Needs One Of These!
4. Dog Seat Belt
A dog seat belt is one method of restraining your dog in the car for safety. While there are at least 7 ways to restrain your dog in the car, a dog seat belt is one the simplest options and works well for growing puppies. (The other option I recommend for the bringing your puppy home is to use a soft dog travel crate but I cover that in more detail below).
Just like a human seat belt, a dog seat belt has a buckle that clips in however on the other end is an attachment that can be put onto your dog’s harness. Never attach a dog seat belt to a collar as it can choke your dog if you put the brakes on too hard or got into an accident.
If you want a long term solution for restraining your dog in the car, I would recommend a dog seat belt as it can be used as your dog grows. The only thing to watch out for when you dog is a puppy is if he/she starts chewing the dog seat belt. That is the situation where you might need to buy a new one.
This Dog Seat Belt From Chewy Is Good Value…
Find Out The Current Price On Chewy Here
Read Also: 7 Ways To Restrain A Dog In The Car (Options For All Breeds)
5. Dog Car Harness
As I briefly mentioned above, you should never attach a dog seat belt to your dog’s collar but rather attach it to a D-ring located on the back of your dog’s harness. This is a safety precaution to prevent strangling and choking.
You can use any dog harness with a dog seat belt but it is also good to know that there are specifically designed dog car harnesses. These harness are generally safer and more comfortable for wearing in the car in comparison to a dog harness meant for walking/running.
This Dog Car Harness Comes With A Dog Seat Belt…
Find Out The Current Price On PetMate Here
6. Soft Dog Travel Crate
An alternative method for keeping your puppy safe during the car ride home is to use a soft dog travel crate. This method is more suited to tiny or small dog breeds and requires training from a young age. However some owners of larger dog breeds like to use a dog travel crate while their dog is a puppy for an extra level of safety. The only downside to this method is that you need to keep on upgrading the size of the crate or buy a really large one to start with. The positive is that it gets your dog crate trained from an early age, making Vet trips much easier.
If You Are Looking For A Dog Travel Crate I Highly Recommend The Gen7Pets One Below…
Find Out The Current Price On PetMate Here
7. Collapsible Dog Travel Bowl
Another item you should bring for the car trip home with a new puppy is a collapsible dog travel bowl. These bowls are generally made of silicon and fold flat making them great for storage in your car’s glove box or in your bag. Simply fill it up with water from a bottle and offer it to your puppy on the way home to avoid dehydration.
This Is What Most Collapsible Dog Travel Bowls Look Like…
Find Out The Current Price On Chewy Here
8. Old Towel or Puppy Pads
Puppies have small bladders and sometimes can’t hold in an accident. That is why I recommend that you bring an old towel or puppy pads with you as an extra layer on top of a dog car seat hammock or place it on the floor of a travel crate.
Amazon Basics Dog and Puppy Leak-proof 5-Layer Potty Training Pads with Quick-dry Surface
Find Out The Current Price On Amazon Here
9. Blanket
Going home in a car can be quite a frightening experience for young dogs. A blanket that has been rubbed over their mother or brothers and sisters to get their scent can be a source of comfort during the drive home. It can also imitate the warmth of sleeping and snuggling with their siblings.
You Can Find Really Cute Paw Print & Bone Dog Blankets On Amazon…
Find Out The Current Price On Amazon Here
10. Dog Treats
A small bag of treats is another great thing to bring with you on the car ride home with a new puppy. If you have a passenger sitting on the back seat next to your new puppy, they can start training your dog or just keep them entertained with the treats.
11. Plush Toy
Puppies love toys! To make the experience of coming home as positive as possible you should definitely give your new pup one or two new toys. It will keep them distracted from anxiety about leaving their family and also entertained in the car.
These Are Some Really Cool Plush Toys You Can Get Your Puppy…
1. Gucchewi Bone Dog Toy
Find Out The Current Price On Muttropolis Here
2. Koko Chewnel Dog Toy Bundle
Find Out the Current Price On Muttropolis Here
3. Chewy Vuitton Handbag Dog Toy
Find Out The Current Price On Muttropolis Here
12. A Container For A Sample Of Puppy Food
Finally, you should pack a plastic container in your car before picking up your new puppy. This container will be used to collect a small sample of the kibble your puppy is currently eating at the breeder. In this way you can slowly ween your pup off his old food onto your preferred brand of kibble to avoid an upset stomach.
Alternatively you can ask the breeder what the brand of kibble your puppy is eating and then buy it to continue feeding it to your dog. You should be asking the breeder questions about diet and other similar questions anyway.
Further Reading
What's Your Reaction?
Marvelous, what a weblog it is! This website provides valuable facts to us, keep it up.