Long train journey with new puppy

buzzyzoe

I’m hopefully going to be picking a puppy up in a couple of months. We will have a fairly long train journey (around 3 hours) and I wondered if anyone had any suggestions to make it easier for the pup. My plan so far is a soft travelling crate, lined with puppy pads and blankets.

I will have wipes and disinfectant, plus a change of trousers for me in case of accidents (from the pup, not me!) I’ll take pup to the toilet every hour or so and put puppy pads down on the floor in case he doesn’t want to wee in the travel crate, and will have a travel water bottle for him to drink from. I was thinking of bringing some treats in case he seems hungry.

Has anyone else done anything similar and have any tips? My list so far of things I will need is:
- Covered soft crate
- Puppy pads
- Blanket
- Wipes
- Disinfectant
- Spare trousers
- Travel water bottle
- Treats
- Collar
- Lead

TIA!

onwards&upwards

How are you going to take toilet breaks? Will you be swapping trains?

tehone

Go off peak
Schedule in a break of journey along the way at a train station just to get some fresh air
Book advance (Split tickets if doing above) and travel in 1st class

Mojisola

Can you send a towel or small blanket to the breeder for him/her to put in with the !!!!! and litter a few days before you collect your pup? Having something to cuddle up to that's full of familiar smells will be reassuring for the little one.

buzzyzoe

onwards&upwards wrote: »

How are you going to take toilet breaks? Will you be swapping trains?

No I wasn't planning to, just line his crate with puppy pads and also take him to the train toilet every hour or so and put puppy pads down for him to go on there, in case he doesn't want to go in his crate. It's an option but from other people who have done the same thing, it sounds like that actually may be more difficult than just staying on the train.

buzzyzoe

tehone wrote: »

Go off peak
Schedule in a break of journey along the way at a train station just to get some fresh air
Book advance (Split tickets if doing above) and travel in 1st class

Thanks, it will be during the day on a weekday so hopefully the train shouldn't be too busy! Maybe it is worth stopping off for some fresh air, a couple of people who've done the same thing said that would be harder but I can definitely have the option and decide based on how pup is doing halfway through the journey

buzzyzoe

Mojisola wrote: »

Can you send a towel or small blanket to the breeder for him/her to put in with the !!!!! and litter a few days before you collect your pup? Having something to cuddle up to that's full of familiar smells will be reassuring for the little one.

This is something the breeder will be providing so I will definitely have that in the crate with the pup, hopefully it will help to reassure him

gingercordial

buzzyzoe wrote: »

No I wasn't planning to, just line his crate with puppy pads and also take him to the train toilet every hour or so and put puppy pads down for him to go on there, in case he doesn't want to go in his crate.

He may not want to/be able to go if the floor is moving, as that will be really unusual and unnerving for him on top of the noise of the train and weird chemical smells of the toilet.

Soot2006

3-4 hours he'll be best off in the crate or cuddles up under a jumper with you. At that age their pee isn't very exciting anyway and they don't always notice when they need to go anyway ... He'll be fine, just ensure he doesn't get too scared and let him know he's safe x

onwards&upwards

buzzyzoe wrote: »

No I wasn't planning to, just line his crate with puppy pads and also take him to the train toilet every hour or so and put puppy pads down for him to go on there, in case he doesn't want to go in his crate. It's an option but from other people who have done the same thing, it sounds like that actually may be more difficult than just staying on the train.

Wow, no you can’t do that! Think of the other train passengers and where would you put soiled pads or full poo bags?

You’ll have to allow for at least 1 break where you get off the train and walk around with the pup, ideally 2.

unforeseen

Have you actually read the rules for dogs on trains?

A lot of what you are thinking about doing is not allowed.

They must be in a carrier or on a lead, no exceptions for puppies
Not allowed on seats even in a carrier. I would think that cuddling him would come under that as well as the whole intention is for the dog to not be in any situation where its urine can end up on a seat.

Plus others.