It is time to make preparations at home for your new precious bundle! Food bowl, water bowl, bed, toys, and crate! Think about the car ride home and what you will need in the car, and how to handle your puppy in the car. Your puppy has just left siblings, mom, and me so let’s make this ride home as stress free as possible. I think comforting your puppy is the most important thing here. Be sure you have wet wipes, paper towels, a couple of blankets, water bowl, and treats.
I recommend holding your puppy on your lap while someone else drives home. You holding your puppy will comfort him/her greatly, anxiety won’t be as bad, and he won’t associate bad behavior or anxiousness with riding in a car in the future. Your puppy may still get nausea, and have car sickness from the motion of riding, so have your wet wipes and paper towels handy, and also if possible a small trash bag. Stop for bathroom breaks often and in an area where there hasn’t been a lot of other dogs, for example a church parking lot. Talk to the puppy in a soothing voice and rub him gently, this will go a long way in easing his anxiety and being scared.
