Do you plan on traveling with your Shih Tzu puppy often?
Traveling with your new puppy doesn’t have to be an anxiety-provoking experience. If you properly plan and have a travel plan in place things are bound to go more smoothly. The first thing you will need to consider is what supplies you will need to gather to help your puppy have a comfortable trip.
I suggest the following supplies when traveling by car with a young puppy:
- A soft-sided well-ventilated travel carrier or a car seat for dogs. Make sure the carrier is big enough for your pet to move around and get comfortable.
- A harness that can be attached to a leash or car seat.
- A short leash for bathroom breaks.
- A food bowl for feeding your puppy.
- Puppy food for meal time if it is a lengthy trip. Pack extra food just in case there are any delays.
- Treats to establish a positive rapport.
- A couple of chew toys to keep the puppy engaged.
- A stuffed Kong to prevent low blood sugar.
- A soft blanket to keep the puppy cozy during travel. I send all my Shih Tzu puppy parents home with a blanket that smells like Mom and littermates.
- A travel water bottle or a bowl for water breaks.
- A first aid kit for emergencies. Click here to read more about what I recommend putting in your pet’s first aid kit.
- Puppy wipes in case your puppy has an accident.
- Bags for cleaning up.
- Potty pads for potty breaks.
- Puppy vaccine records from the breeder.
- A collar with identification tags. I microchip all of the puppies in my responsible breeding program as well.
Once you have your supplies ready it is time to come up with a plan of action to get your new puppy safely home. The first thing you will need to brainstorm is where your puppy will be eliminated. Puppies don’t have very large bladders and may not be able to hold it the entire trip. The biggest concern that you will want to avoid is Parvovirus and other pathogens that your puppy could be exposed to during the trip home.
Puppies receive vaccines every 3-4 weeks until they’re approximately 16-18 weeks old. Nobody knows for certain when the puppy will receive full immunity against serious viruses such as Parvovirus. This is why puppies receive more than one shot in the first place. It only takes one vaccine to protect against diseases such as Parvovirus. But, mom’s antibodies from nursing sometimes interfere with the process and prevent the vaccine from being effective. This is why puppies receive a series of shots spaced apart.
Most puppies go to their forever homes before they reach 16-18 weeks. This means proper precautions must be in place to keep the puppy free of disease. I recommend taking your puppy potty every two hours on the trip home. This may seem like a lot but it will hopefully keep the puppy from having an accident.
Furthermore, holding it for too long can lead to urinary tract infections. I suggest seeking out a place where it is unlikely that other dogs that may not be fully vaccinated have stepped foot. Then attach the leash to your puppy’s harness. Place down a few potty pads for your puppy to potty. Make sure to cover enough area with pads so that your puppy’s paws won’t have contact with the ground underneath. The leash will help you keep the puppy on the pads rather than sniffing around where other dogs have been. When your puppy finishes going potty simply wrap up the pads and throw them away.
Now that you have a plan for potty breaks out of the way consider how you will keep your puppy busy. I always suggest that more than one human comes to pick up the puppy. This allows the human who isn’t driving to comfort the puppy if the puppy becomes nervous. I also suggest bringing some chew toys for the road. A stuffed Kong can be a lifesaver on a road trip.
Be sure to pack kibble, treats, water, and the necessary bowls to feed and water your puppy. I always recommend sticking with the kibble your breeder was feeding the puppy until you get home. It isn’t a good idea to change food on a road trip. I always send the puppies in my Shih Tzu breeding program home with a couple of days’ supply of kibble and some of their favorite treats. Also, make sure to ask your breeder how often you should feed the puppy. Below is the feeding schedule I recommend for my Shih Tzu Breeding Program.
Puppy Feeding Schedule
| Age | Toy/small breed |
| 8 weeks | 4 times a day |
| 12 weeks | 3 times per day |
| 16 weeks | 3 times per day |
| 3 months | 3 times per day |
| 6 months | 3 times per day |
| 8-12 months | 2-3 times per day |
If you’re super concerned that your puppy will be anxious on the trip you can always talk to your veterinarian about calming supplements. But, I would only use them as a last resort. If the puppy is too calm he or she may be too groggy to eat or drink which could lead to a low blood sugar spike. Low blood sugar also known as hypoglycemia is much more dangerous in a young puppy than a bit of anxiety.
I would opt for chew toys and interactive toys first. Also, a blanket or a toy that smells like Mom and littermates is a great comforting tool. I send all my puppy parents home with a blanket and toy that smells like mom and littermates. You can also invest in a snuggle puppy for the road trip. The heartbeat is often very comforting to young puppies.
Make sure your puppy is properly restrained in the vehicle while moving. A travel crate is a must for traveling. If you’re not going to use a travel crate then at least have your puppy secure in a dog car seat. Would you leave one of your young children in a moving car without a buckle? I hope not. If you’re in a crash your puppy could be flung from the vehicle and seriously hurt from the forceful impact. Furthermore, your puppy is more likely to run away after a car crash as a survival mechanism. The good old flight response may kick in.
Finally, have fun! How exciting! You’re bringing your new puppy home. Puppies feed off of our emotions. If you’re calm and happy during the car trip hopefully your puppy is less likely to be anxious.
