Emails to the new puppy owner -- Internet Bernese Mountain Dog Consortium's PandaSite

Emails to the new puppy owner (Part 3 of 8)

By Mary-Ann Bowman

The time has dragged by like it did when we were children and counting the days until our birthday but finally the big day has arrived — Puppy is coming home! Depending on the distance and our availability, our new puppy will travel by car or plane — busses and trains are not usually an option and the new puppy is much too young to hitchhike! Airlines have strict guidelines for travel and should be consulted so that there are no surprises at the airport.

The puppy will be familiar with a crate, as travel of any kind is safest for all when the puppy is confined. There will be plenty of opportunity for cuddle time with the puppy so skip lap time at 75 mph when the driver could be distracted and/or the puppy could become a fast moving missile through the windshield. The back seat is the safest place for the puppy to travel, especially in a car with an air bag in the front passenger seat. Although the puppy may sound pathetic in the crate for the ride home, she will live through the experience and so will you.

The crate should be big enough for the puppy to stand up and move around in — but not so big that the puppy might get tossed around in the event of a sudden stop. The bottom of the crate needs to be covered with absorbent material which is then covered with something that allows "grip" or else the poor puppy will be sliding from one end to the other with the motion of the car. Newspaper covered with a piece of fleece is a good choice, and we will be providing you with a piece from their whelping box.

When you pick up the puppy, bring a container for collecting and storing water from us so that the puppy is drinking familiar water on the trip. At least two wide bottomed bowls should be on the trip (if longer than an hour or so) but there is no need to put bowls in the crate for car travel — the puppy can be offered water during potty breaks. You will want to have the food that the puppy is used to eating with you on the trip, although it will probably not be necessary to feed her. However, if your car breaks down you do not want to be shopping for dog food at the local 7-11 — strange food and a stressed puppy does not make for a good combination!

Even puppies who have travel experience may get sick so it is best to be prepared for all possibilities. The meal before travel should be a light one — and take place at least a couple hours prior to the trip. Try and arrange your travel during the time of day when the puppy is usually napping. Although the puppy may ignore it, something to chew on can also go in the crate.

It is very important to have a collar and ID tag on the puppy — even a temporary ID tag is fine. Some larger pet supply stores now have "do it yourself" ID tag machines that are fast and cheap. Since you are not at home to receive calls about a lost puppy, consider having both your number and my number on the travel ID tag. The puppies will be microchipped but that does not replace the need for an ID tag.

Make sure and have extras of whatever is in the crate — newspapers, fleece, crate pad — because it may need to be changed, even on short rides. If it does, you will want plastic bags to hold the soiled material — bring several bags as you may be in the middle of no where with no garbage can in sight and need to separate what will be tossed and what will be washed. Paper towels are a must — one never knows what might need wiping up — and a box of disposable baby wipes is also a good idea for clean up. Small bags for "scooping poop" during potty breaks are also a necessity. Towels and extra water for clean-up can't hurt — like a good Boy Scout, travel with a puppy requires us to Be Prepared so think about what might happen on travels with puppy and plan accordingly.

Let the puppy be your guide for travel stops. Expect fussing when the puppy is first put in the crate but she should settle down and take a nap — when she wakes up, find a place and stop for a potty break. Do not stop in rest areas or other places where you think dogs might frequent — find an isolated spot if you can to help prevent exposure to potential disease. Keep the puppy on a leash at these stops — one never knows what could frighten a puppy and they can move fast. Potty breaks should be short and to the point — once business is done, it is back in the car and on the way. Minimize the amount of exposure to people and the ground when traveling with the puppy just to be safe and to minimize stress to the puppy.

The goal of travel between our house and your home is to get there as fast as you can with the least amount of stress and exposure to potential diseases as possible — and no speeding tickets. Prepare what the humans need to travel without unnecessary stops — carry food, water and whatever else is needed to be comfortable on the trip. If possible, do not travel alone so that the puppy is not left unattended in the car when bathroom breaks are necessary and so there is a back-up person if something out of the ordinary happens. Be very careful of temperature when traveling with a young puppy.

Arrival at the new home should take place, if possible, at a time that allows the puppy to explore and settle in before bedtime. Skip the Welcome Home party — the new environment will be enough stimulation for the puppy for a few days. The new puppy will be better off without run of the house for a while — use baby gates and closed doors to keep the new space manageable for the puppy and owner. Upon arrival, puppy should have the chance to hang out in the yard under supervision until she potties, and then come into a room or two of the house for exploring and eventually, a light meal. Don't forget to let me know about the safe arrival of the puppy to her new home — although I will enjoy the freedom and opportunity for sleep that comes when the puppies leave, weeks of caring for a litter of puppies creates a lot of strong feelings for each one and I will appreciate knowing that all is well.

Hopefully the new owner is prepared for life with a new puppy, and has gathered supplies and readied the house. A home should be puppy proofed (another e-mail) so that she is protected from dangers like electrical cords, easily accessible trash cans, table runners that can be pulled off, and items that might be chewed and swallowed by the new land shark. Supplies that should be on hand include plenty of paper towels, some type of enzyme product for cleaning potty "accidents," chew toys, familiar food and water, wide bottomed bowls, and a crate.

Remember that the puppy has lived in a happy, secure world for eight weeks and the travel to her new home is going to be stressful. The puppy will likely adjust quickly, but you can help minimize the stress on the puppy by being prepared, avoiding unnecessary stops, and by allowing the puppy to settle in without a lot of fanfare upon her arrival home. You might want to NOT tell people about the new puppy until she has been home for a few days to give her a chance to get used to things.

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