Puppy Advice: Travelling

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Bringing your new puppy home is an exciting time for all involved. The first few months of life for a puppy are key to shaping their brain and future. This vital window begins to close at 16 weeks old, so it is essential we start teaching them from the very beginning.

We recommend reward-based training as puppies respond well to this method and avoids using harsh techniques.

It is incredibly rewarding training your puppy, but it can quickly become overwhelming especially when searching for advice, it can often lead to being incorrectly informed.

Here are some simple tips and advice we believe will help your puppy succeed in the big, wide world!

Blythman and Partners recommend every puppy enrols onto a training course provided by a recognised dog trainer/ behaviourist.

Please ask for more information.

Travelling

In most situations, a puppies first experience of travelling by car is being taken away from their mother and placed in an unfamiliar environment. This can be quite overwhelming and therefore important to introduce travelling slowly whilst creating positive associations. This can be done initially by feeding tasty treats whilst in a static car or allowing them to enjoy a stuffed kong.

It is important your puppy is safe whilst travelling – using a crate or dog barrier is advised. If this is not possible and your puppy will be travelling on the seat of the car, a secured seat belt harness must be worn. A harness can take time getting used to so allow your puppy the appropriate time to desensitise before a real journey.

Short/ frequent journeys are a great way of allowing your puppy time to desensitise to the movement and sounds of the car. Lots of praise and rewards should be given when travelling quietly and calmly.

Some puppies may develop travel sickness. If all the above does not work, please speak to your vet.

Please note there are many ways to train your puppy. If you are ever in doubt or have specific issues, please seek professional advice.