Car Travel Tips for Puppies

Top Tips for Travelling With Your Puppy in the Car

If you’re planning to bring your puppy in the car for the first time or your puppy has already been a passenger but is a bit of a back seat driver, these car travel tips for puppies can help make the journey a safe one. Whether or long or short trip, driving while distracted by your puppy can be dangerous so consider the Adaptil range to calm an excited puppy. A list of stockists can be found here.

1. Teach your puppy to enter and sit calmly while the car is stationary. Keep sessions short. Reward with quiet praise and treats.
2. Encourage them to get into the car with the engine running, again using treats and praise. Once your puppy is happy and calm in the car, start with short trips with each successful trip getting progressively longer.
3. Make them associate the car with pleasant things first, such as going into a park to play.
4. Make regular stops. Just like us, dogs need to stretch their legs and toilet every couple of hours.

More Advice for You & Your Puppy
Some puppies may also feel more reassured in a travel kennel or carrier. Alternatively, use a leash or a harness to attach to the seat belt, to restrain your puppy for safety reasons. This will prevent them from moving around in the vehicle.
Whether in a kennel or not, provide your puppy with a comfortable blanket and toys.
Some puppies can be affected by motion sickness. Try not to feed your puppy for at least 4 hours before travelling (but do not limit water)
Keep the vehicle well ventilated. Never leave your puppy unattended in the car on a warm day.
Use ADAPTIL Junior to reassure your puppy also in the car