New puppy basics
How do I make my puppy's first car ride home less stressful?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Bring a second person so one of you can hold or secure the puppy while the other drives, use a carrier or crate lined with a blanket that smells like the litter if possible, and keep the drive as short and smooth as you can. Cover an open crate with a light cloth if the puppy seems overwhelmed by passing scenery.
Travel with backup
A puppy riding alone in a crate on the back seat for the first time, with no familiar face, tends to cry more than one who can see a person nearby. If you can, bring a second passenger to sit beside a secured carrier and offer a calm hand rather than driving solo.
Bring something that smells like home
Ask the breeder or shelter for a small blanket or toy the litter has been sleeping on. That scent inside the carrier does more to settle a puppy on a 30 minute drive than anything you can buy new for the trip.
Watch for motion sickness, not just nerves
Drooling, lip licking and repeated swallowing in the car usually point to car sickness rather than fear alone, and it is common in young puppies whose balance is still developing. If it happens on every trip past a few months old, mention it at the first vet visit.
Key takeaways
- A second passenger to sit with the puppy usually beats driving alone with a crying puppy in the back.
- A blanket or toy from the litter carries a familiar scent that helps settle a puppy in the car.
- Drooling and repeated swallowing on drives points to motion sickness rather than simple nerves.