How to Transport a Puppy in a Car

Where the puppy should ride

The ASPCA calls a crate or carrier the safest way for a dog to ride, as long as it is well ventilated, secured so it will not shift in a sudden stop, and big enough for the dog to stand, sit, lie down and turn around. VCA Animal Hospitals says small dogs belong in a carrier, and larger dogs in a harness or a crate secured on the back seat or in the rear of an SUV or van.

Holding a puppy on your lap feels kind, but it leaves the puppy unprotected and can crowd the driver. Pick a crate you can strap down, and keep it on the back seat or in the cargo area. A dog travel crate that folds flat is handy if you are moving between homes, and a collapsible soft crate such as this large soft crate with mesh windows or the extra-large version can suit a bigger puppy as it grows.

Step 1: Make the crate familiar first

Step 1: Let the puppy meet the crate at home. VCA suggests keeping the carrier open and inviting and feeding meals inside it, so the puppy links it with good things before the car ever moves. Add a blanket or an old T-shirt that smells like you, which the AKC and VCA both list as a comfort for car rides.

The AKC also advises introducing restraint gear during training, before the first real drive. If your puppy is new to crates, our guide to crate training a puppy walks through it. A puppy that already naps happily in the crate will usually handle a drive much better than one meeting it for the first time on trip day.

Step 2: Build up with short rides

Step 2: Practice before any long trip. VCA recommends sitting in the parked car with the engine running, then backing out of the driveway and returning, then driving around the block, and building up gradually to 20 to 30 minutes, which can take days or weeks. Praise your puppy and offer treats, and if the puppy looks anxious, stop and try again another day.

Make the first outings fun, not just vet visits. The AKC suggests balancing stressful trips with enjoyable destinations such as a quiet park, and bringing a special toy that only comes out in the car. A frightening first ride can create lasting travel anxiety, so a slow, rewarding start pays off later.

Step 3: Plan meals, exercise and potty stops

Step 3: Time the trip around your puppy's stomach and bladder. The AKC suggests exercising your dog for about 20 minutes before leaving, and the ASPCA advises giving only a light meal three to four hours before departure and avoiding feeding in a moving car. The advice on skipping food varies between sources, and very young puppies cannot always go without meals, so ask your vet how to handle breakfast on travel day.

Plan regular stops, with the leash clipped on before you open the door, because even calm dogs can bolt in unfamiliar places. Offer water at each stop and take the puppy to a quiet patch of grass. Because a puppy may not have finished its vaccines, ask your vet which public rest areas are safe to use.

Step 4: Handle car sickness

Car sickness is common in puppies. VCA and the AKC both say it happens because the inner-ear structures that control balance are still developing, and VCA notes many puppies outgrow it by about a year old. Signs include drooling, whining, lip licking, pacing and vomiting.

To help, keep the car cool and quiet, crack the windows a few inches, and give your puppy a forward view if it rides loose in a harness, since the AKC suggests the middle of the back seat. If your puppy seems about to vomit, stop and let it walk for a moment. More ideas are in our dog car sickness guide.

Pack, stop and ask your vet

Pack bottled water from home, a bowl, waste bags, cleanup supplies, a spare towel and your puppy's records. VCA also suggests a collar tag that cannot slip off, plus a temporary tag with your destination address and phone number. Never leave the puppy alone in the car, because the ASPCA warns heatstroke can develop quickly even with the windows open.

Call your vet if your puppy vomits repeatedly, will not drink, seems limp or sleepy after the ride, or has diarrhea. Only a vet can say whether a medicine for nausea or anxiety is right for a young puppy. For more help choosing a crate, see our travel crate buying guide, or browse the dog travel crates collection and dog seat belts and car harnesses for older puppies.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.