Tips for a long drive home with new puppy?

[R&D'sMom]

With my two Shelties, I made the a 10 hr trip to meet the breeder and pick the puppy up, stayed overnight in a hotel nearby, and drove 10 hrs home the next day.

We are looking at bringing a Collie puppy home over Thanksgiving and once again, I seem to be good at finding a breeder that is about 10 hours from us This time, however, we're looking at traveling from TN to our in-laws in IN for Thanksgiving, making the trip to the breeder in WI either Fri or Saturday (about a 4 hr trip), going back to our in laws to stay until we leave Sunday morning.

Any suggestions for making this a smooth trip? For my Shelties, I had great luck with both of them. The first one came home with just me and my then husband and all went well although he was very reserved during the trip home. The second Sheltie came home and had my first Sheltie as company during the trip and had a great trip home.

I think the longest this new pup will be in the car is when we make the trip from IN to TN. I know to make plenty of stops along the way but I guess my main concern is how leaving the breeder, driving 4 hours to my in laws, staying there a night or two, and then head home on a 7 hour drive will be be on the new pup. I should mention that at my in laws it should just be us 4 adults - shouldn't be an overly rambunctious atmosphere for the new kid :) I guess my biggest concern is the overnight(s) at my in laws - don't want the new kid to cry all night and keep others up. The past two trips this wasn't an issue as both puppies enjoyed being in bed with me and snuggling. At my in laws, the bed in the room we sleep in is a full - barely room for me and hubby! Hmm, I guess I could always sack out on the floor with the dogs

[Calliesmom]

sounds like you have it all under control
if the shelties will be there to keep the pup company- I don't see a problem.

[mbfrench]

I'm with Denise on this one,there should be enough activity with the other pups,you should'nt have a problem.

I had my newest pup driven from Missouri,to NC. He was picked up by the first driver,then stayed over night with her. Continued the trip the next day to Tenn. He was then handed off & driven to NC,when we picked him up 2 days later. We then continued the journey to SC which was another 4+ hours,we stayed overnight and left the next morning.

Now given the fact he was among strangers,he showed no signs of stress,or ill effects from his trip. The stay in NC...now he was totally in the comfort of other dogs,he did not know,nor did he know the people,or surroundings.

I think just stay calm,bring something from the breeder,make sure you have enough food & water from the breeder to carry you thru the whole trip. Fun toys, secure harness or collar for walks & potty times.

[Emmasmom]

Put the pup in bed with you when you are at your inlaws.

[corbinam]

I think you will be surprised at how well your little one does. I went to pick up Lexi 9 hours away. I was prepared to make tons of stops but I was worried because I didn't want to stop anywhere too populated where she might pick up some bacteria (since at that age they don't have all their shots).

I put her in a crate in the backseat and she cried for a few minutes. I turned the crate around and she stopped crying. I didn't hear a peep out of her for 9 hours. I never took her out and she peed as soon as we got home.

[Tagg]

Has the breeder started the crate training process at all? We regularily travelled with babies and seldom had accidents. We made sure they were tolieted before leaving and just started driving. If they woke up and started to scream we would stop, put up an ex pen so they could have a drink and toliet again and then continued on our way.
As for the layover at your in laws, there is no way to predict how much noise the baby will make. If you can get the breeder to do a few overnight cratings before you pick up the baby then you might get away with it. If not, I wish you the best of luck. When I brought Shauna home from Washington I let her sleep in bed with us at the hotel. I had the ex pen set up just outside the door so that we could toliet her during the night if necessary.