Hello, I was hoping someone on here can give me some advice for riding in the car with their husky for long periods of time. I am picking up my Siberian the 28th and am worried the 4 hour car ride will be stressful and make her antsy for being confined in a car for that long :/ Do you give them a toy or a bone to keep them busy? If so which one seems to work well and will last about four hours?? I have looked at calming aids sold at pet smart and petco but I'm not sure if they work? I also read that some people give their dogs benadryl but that makes me uncomfortable just reading about dosage. Thanks!

Jane, you did say she would be around 3-4 months old, right? I would bring her crate and collar and leash, you'll probably have to stop at least once for a potty break. I would get a cow ear, bigger than a pig and chewier, just make sure made in America, or South America, or Canada. Bring water, and perhaps something you don't mind possible destruction of yours with your scent, old t-shirt, so she can get the bonding started.

Renee

Hi, Renee. She will actually be just about 5 months old. I have a collar & leash along with a portable water bottle drinker for dogs, I can't fit a crate in my car because its so dang tiny I plan to just sit in the back with her

Also my mom live right in the middle of where we're picking her up and where I live so I will be stopping there for potty breaks! Lol

Chances are she will probably sleep much of the ride once you get on the road. She might be antsy and excitable at first but if you're back there with her she will probably doze off after a bit.

I really hope so lol. When I got Memphis he slept pretty much the whole way back he was even snoring. He was only 8 weeks at the time

Kenzi was around 3 years when I got her and even she slept most of the 3 hour drive home. I think the excitement of new people and riding just zaps it out of them at any age.

well good to know maybe I'm worrying for nothing!

Well, my first thought when I read the topic was "Something like this ..."

But I see you've gotten some more serious (and better) answers.

I think most dogs will either want to watch the scenery or drowse off - I have one of each. Just watch for signs of "Mom, I think I need to go ...." and be prepared to make a couple of minute stop (hopefully not on a freeway).

We are going to get some pictures of the trip, right????

Haha I'll definitely take pictures of the journey!

I highly recommend a dog hammock - they are waterproof (think car sick, vomit, pee emergency...) and a harness with a tether that can be attached to either seatbelts or child carseat anchors (either on the rear deck or under the rear seats - check your car manual.) Keeps puppy out of the front seat, distracting the driver, also, prevents escaping when car doors are opened. Son did not heed this advice and ended up sprinting down the main street of strange town, tackling Archer on somebodies front lawn

Also - on gas stops: Ami got into the bucket of window wash fluid - fortunately, it was only the "mildly toxic" kind and he only had the barest sip before I noticed - there are some highly toxic formulations out there so my advice is, take dog for potty away from the gas pumps!

Ami sleeps while in motions, is bundle of energy on pee stops (Hughie told me they like to read the "pee-mail" on travel stops. Oh so true

Oh thanks! I will for sure look into getting one of those (especially when I get a new car eventually) lol good advice no wash fluid for the puppy XD I really want to get a custom fit harness for her eventually I looked on alpine outfitters, probably get a adjustable one. For now I'll just tie her leash to the car seat anchor(just in case..)

GravityM wrote:

Oh thanks! I will for sure look into getting one of those (especially when I get a new car eventually) lol good advice no wash fluid for the puppy XD I really want to get a custom fit harness for her eventually I looked on alpine outfitters, probably get a adjustable one. For now I'll just tie her leash to the car seat anchor(just in case..)

If she is anchored to a neck collar and you have an accident of any force, she will be severely hurt This harness may still be available:

https://www.itsahuskything.com/t13622-for-sale-ruffwear-web-master-harness-size-small-30-free-shipping?highlight=ruffwear+harness

Or the one I got is really inexpensive - kurgo tru fit. I got it from I think, auto anything.

Well for now I'll go buy a cheap harness from a pet store until I know her measurements, thanks!

It also occurs to me - when I brought Archer over from my son's house at 16 weeks of age, I actually used my cat crate (it's large, as cat crates go)...however, a month later, there was no stuffing him in the cat crate Maybe you can borrow a small car crate?

We had a 3-4 hour drive when we brought Bode home at 11 weeks. Probably not the safest option, but I just had him in my lap the whole time while the fiancé drove (it was quite the battle on who would get to hold the new puppy!). He was pretty content the whole time. I think we only stopped once at a gas station for a potty break. He peed and then off we were again and he was snoozing.

Well I don't know anyone with a cat crate, ill just sit with her the ride home and hopefully she will pass out until then (fingers crossed)

I have a zip line thing-o-mo-jigger in my car that we hook Okami up to.

The only car ride that was really long, we went to Ohio to visit a friend of mine. Like a 6 hour drive. Okami was like 6 months old at the time maybe 8...

We just stopped at a rest stop every 2 hours to let her pee, have some water and walk around for a little bit to help out with any antsy stuff.

For the ride home though when we first got her, I used a cat crate. Picked one up at a pet store for like 20 bucks.

Wow thats cheap, I'll have to let her run around at my moms house for a bit so she survives the other 2 hours in the car lol.The breeder warned me that she is VERY high energy so I'm still debating to try out some calming aid chews...

Ours are travel veterans!They have both logged thousands of miles,mostly in the truck but a lot in nancys grand cherokee.They travel with us to horse events and just camping almost every w/e during the summer months.I took the entire rearseat out of the f-250 and made a carpet panel for the bcak of the cab,then built a plywood deck to fit the floor and make it level.This was carpeted too.I built a ramp that hooks ito the door jamb and then slides under the deck. This was for robin, she doesnt jump into vehicles with her plastic acl!They have a water dish and travel with thier 10' leads on. Most of the time they just sleep or look out the side windows.We stop every 2-3 hrs for a short walk and potty break.We have gone 400+ miles a day like this and they are great! The 2 stalls in the trailer are thiers,they have beds and dishes and we clip thier leads to the high line eye just outside the escape door, so they can go in or out as we choose.At night they sleep in the stall,we leave the walk thru stall door and the bathroom door open so they can see and hear us in the liveing quarters,but they are not allowed in the LQ.All we have to do is yell "road trip" and they are at the truck,ready to go!

Wow that's awesome! I wish I could customize my car just for the dogs lol. I hope that both dogs can enjoy rides like yours

You must keep in mind that we are "old" and they are our "children",however we did have a 1979 olds 98 regency 4 dr that I did the exact same thing to. Back then we had 2 boys aged 2 & 3 and a german shepard ! When we got the 83 f 250 in 83 to haul the slide in camper and boat,I did the same to the rear area of it. In 85 we progressed to a motor home,so everyone,2kids,2 dogs,2 cats rode where they wanted to!