First week Home Questions!!!

MikeCP

Hi there,

I'll be bringing my boy, Space, home from Niji Shibas in Rockaway, NJ to Baltimore, MD next week. I've mostly got my plan in place based on things I've read in these forums, learned from meeting other Shiba owners, and read in the "Before and After You Get Your Puppy" books from Ian Dunbar. There are a few lingering questions that I was hoping someone here had some experience to help me out.

Dunbar talks about setting up a "doggy toilet" until the puppy is fully immunized. Some people scoff at the fact that I'll be doing this, but I really don't trust the streets of Baltimore for an unimmunized dog. There are so many dogs in this city I fear that any spot I choose to use as an outdoor toilet would be putting him at risk.

So anyway, I'll be doing this indoor doggy toilet. Has anyone done this? The idea is to put the pups crate in an x-pen with a bowl of water and a kitty litter box with concrete pavings in it (since he will eventually be using the sidewalk as a toilet).

In the initial road trip, how do I go about safely allowing the pup to go? The trip normally would take 4 or so hours, but I'm expecting this trip to be considerably longer, due to various circumstances. Is this an instance when I put his harness on and let the pup do his business every 45 minutes or so at a rest stop? Isn't this a bit risky? He'll be 9 1/2 weeks old and only one shot under his belt.

And how about that time? Should I stop more frequently? Less? The last thing I'd want is my new pup to soil his new crate on the first day!

I know it seems like a silly question, but I'm really trying create the best situation for my boy early on. Thanks!

dlroberts

Hey Mike, congrats on your new addition and kudos for doing so much prep!

I personally didn't use a "doggy toilet", but the concept isn't much different than puppy pads. The big thing will be teaching him that the toilet is the place you want him to go. So make sure you reward him for doing so.

As for bathroom frequency, that will depend on your pup. Will you have him in a crate during the trip? When I brought Joey back to Atlanta from NJ it was a 14 hour drive. I kept him in a cat sized plastic crate in the front seat so he could smell and see me and I could play with him through the door. He was pretty stressed so he didn't eat or drink much at all. I was able to go 3 or so hours between potty breaks. Since I was on the interstate the whole time, I had a very hard time avoiding high traffic dog areas. One thing I did was try to let him potty at gas stations rather than highway rest stops. The one or two times I stopped at a rest stop I made sure to take him to the areas specifically labeled off limits for dogs. Someone recommended to me that I wipe his paws with baby wipes before getting back in the car. I didn't do this, but I can't imagine it would hurt.

Good luck, I can't wait to hear how it goes!

MikeCP

Awesome, great tips there. Maybe i'll pick up some baby wipes.

To answer your question yes, he'll be in his 200 vari crate kennel that I just bought him.

You say that you didn't have to stop very often, but how did you know when it was time to do so? Just guesses? How did you know when he had to go?

tendo85

Good timing, Indy will be riding ~ 3 hours with me this Friday. His crate is already to go. I plan on stopping every hour or so to let him stretch depending on how he is feeling and acting. I'm sure it will stress me out more than him! Good luck Mike

Romi

Congrats on your new puppy!

I had a friend drive from San Francisco to Vegas when picking up her pup. She bought lots of towels. She didn't let the pup go outside because of fear that the puppy might catch something. So she put towels down in the crate and if the puppy went in the crate - she would just change out the towels. It isn't great that the puppy is going in the crate, but I don't think anyone has brought home a puppy that was instantly crate trained, so I don't think it will have too much of an impact. Since your drive isn't too long, your puppy will probably go maybe once or twice.

Usually dogs will start circling and sniffing the floor when they need to potty - that is the biggest sign they need to go. If they are already partially potty training, they might whimper a little before or scratch to get out. When at home, after waking up, play time or eating and drinking, they usually need to go fairly quickly (more so when waking up and after eating). Even now with my adult dogs, waking up and after eating, I take them out immediately and they go immediately!

Hope that helps and Good Luck!

dlroberts

Good question. Joey didn't make a sound the whole trip except for one point where he started nibbling on the crate (out of boredom I assume). I just guessed when he had to go. IIRC, he only went 3 time out of the six or seven opportunities I gave him. He was stressed and not eating or drinking much so I don't think he had the urge all that often.

I wouldn't worry too much. This "long" crated car ride will be an anomaly for him so if he does have an accident its highly unlikely it will become a habit.

Calia

Congrats on soon being able to bring your boy home.

With the "doggy toilet" the only issue I see with that is that it may make housebreaking a bit more difficult, since he would have learned that going inside is ok.

With the car ride home from the breeders, I'd take the risk of him going in the crate as apposed to the risk of getting sick. When we brought Tikaani home (6 hour drive), Tikaani and I stayed in the car the whole time and we only stopped to get gas. Luckily Tom was driving so I could keep an eye on Tikaani. I'd advise to bring someone with you, if you haven't already planned on doing it, as it makes keeping an eye on the pups that much easier. Than you can focus on the road, and the passenger can pet the pups and keep him relaxed.

Don't forget to bring an extra towel, just in case. And I've heard that puppies will sometimes vomit on their first ride home. I haven't experienced it with my two guys, but just be aware that it might happen.

Oh, and you better bring a camera and take lots of pictures of you pups big adventure to a new home. This will probably be the most exciting time you will have with your pups, as it is the start of a beautiful friendship, and not creating lasting memories is a sad thing.

sunyata

When we brought Nola home, it was a 5 hour drive back to our house. Most of it was interstate driving and we only ended up stopping twice. Once was at a Ruby Tuesdays (we stopped because it is a sit down restaurant, and people usually do not bring dogs to sit down eateries) and Nola just sniffed around but did not go. The second time we stopped, it ended up being at a highway rest stop because Nola seemed to really have to go. We carried her behind the building and down a little hill that I figured would have been low doggie traffic. She did her business and I carried her back up to the car. She slept almost the entire ride home (and I was bad, I did not have her in her crate, she was snoozing in my lap the little goofball!).

As for the doggy toilet, personally, I would never use one as it does make house training a bit more difficult. However, I am very lucky that I have a backyard that puppies can use worry-free. I guess you would just need to feel things out and make the best decision for what works for both you and your new pup.

Either way, congrats on your new addition! And please, take LOTS and LOTS of pictures!!!!!!