Travelling With A Miniature Dachshund Puppy: Top Tips
1. Safety first
2. Plan ahead
3. Arrange regular breaks
4. Boredom busters
What to pack when travelling with a Dachshund puppy
How to help motion sickness in puppies
Travelling by train or bus with your puppy
Travelling outside of Great Britain
FAQs: Travelling With a Dachshund Puppy
Products in this article
Travelling With A Miniature Dachshund Puppy: Top Tips
Travelling can be exciting, but exhausting for your Miniature Dachshund puppy. New routines, unfamiliar smells and noisy environments may overstimulate them. Dachshund puppies are also famously vocal, determined and certain they know best, which can make car journeys a ‘learning experience’ for everyone concerned!
With the right preparation, travelling can become a positive, confidence-building part of your puppy’s development. And open the door to many new adventures.
1. Safety first
UK law states that all occupants of a moving vehicle must be safely restrained.
A sudden stop or collision could send an unrestrained puppy hurtling forward, putting them and everyone else at risk. Dachshunds may be small, but they’re solid little dogs, and their long backs mean it’s especially important to prevent sudden jolts and awkward landings. If your puppy distracts you while you’re driving, you could also face fines and penalty points.
Key safety essentials:
Puppies should travel in a secure crate or carrier.
Alternatively, use a dog seat belt harness attached to a rear-seat seatbelt. Puppies grow quickly, so check the fit regularly.
Never travel with your puppy on your lap - not even for short journeys!
Don’t let your puppy sit in the front passenger seat or front footwell. Airbag activation could cause serious injury, and interfering with the pedals can cause accidents.
Never let your puppy hang their head out the window. It’s dangerous. Flying objects, insects or grit in their eyes, and oncoming vehicles can all cause serious injury.
Never leave your puppy alone in a car in warm weather. Puppies overheat quickly, and even mild outdoor temperatures can become fatal within minutes inside a car.
2. Plan ahead
Your puppy’s first car journey shouldn’t be a long drive on winding roads or a noisy motorway. The goal is to teach your Dachshund puppy that the car is safe, calm and predictable.
Dachshunds are rather determined and keen to vocalise their opinions, so it’s best to avoid pushing things too far too soon.
Preparation tips:
Start with very short trips - even just sitting in a parked car.
Progress to turning the engine on. Keep things positive, with treats and lots of praise.
Then try short, 2–5 minute drives; gradually increase duration as your puppy settles.
Travel early morning or later evening during summer to avoid heat and heavy traffic.
Feed your puppy a light meal at least 1–2 hours before travelling to reduce nausea.
Take your puppy for a short toileting walk before travelling.
Keep the car cool and well ventilated, using the air conditioning or open windows.
Calming supplements or pheromone sprays may help an anxious puppy settle.
3. Arrange regular breaks
Puppies have small bladders and limited patience, so frequent breaks are essential.
As a general rule, young puppies need a break every 30–60 minutes, sometimes more often depending on their age and training.
Before setting off:
Plan your route and decide on safe places to stop.
Carry fresh water and a bowl.
Pack poo bags, wipes and puppy pads.
Until your puppy is fully vaccinated, avoid busy dog areas at service stations. Choose quieter, low-risk spots for toileting.
Always keep your puppy on a lead near roads and car parks. Small dogs are hard to spot, and Dachshunds can be surprisingly fast when something catches their interest (rabbits!).
4. Boredom busters
Puppies, like children, get bored quickly. Dachshund puppies are no exception; clever, curious and very persistent!
Being low to the ground means your dachshund pup may be unable to see out the window from their safe, restrained position, which adds to their frustration.
To keep journeys relaxed:
Bring a familiar blanket
Take a favourite toy for comfort, but avoid toys that encourage bouncing around and barking.
Play calm, soothing music at low volume.
Break up longer journeys with short detours to grassy areas for sniffing and gentle exploration. Mental stimulation can tire puppies as well as exercise.
If your puppy barks a lot, reward calm, quiet moments - even a few seconds at a time.
What to pack when travelling with a Dachshund puppy
Even with careful planning, accidents and setbacks happen. Being prepared reduces everyone’s stress and keeps things calm, even when plans go awry.
A puppy travel kit:
Water and a bowl
Light snacks
Poo bags, puppy pads
Towels, dog wipes
A favourite toy or blanket
Tick remover
Cooling mat or pad in warm weather
Always double-check that your puppy’s microchip details are up to date before travelling.
How to help motion sickness in puppies
Motion sickness is very common in puppies, but it usually improves as their balance system matures.
Reducing the risk:
Start with short trips; gradually increase duration as your puppy becomes more comfortable.
Feed a light meal at least 1–2 hours before travel.
Keep the car cool and well ventilated, with the environment inside as calm as possible - despite traffic jams!
If your puppy continues to struggle, calming pheromone products or supplements may help. For severe or persistent travel sickness, ask your vet about puppy-safe anti-nausea medication.
Travelling by train or bus with your puppy
Travelling by train
Well-behaved puppies can travel on trains on a lead or in a carrier.
You can take up to two pets free of charge.
Travel at quieter times where possible.
Remember that puppies can’t toilet on trains, so journeys need to be short enough to cope comfortably.
Travelling by bus
Many UK buses allow one small dog, but it’s always at the driver’s discretion.
Keep your puppy on a harness and lead or in a carrier, and out of the aisle.
Have a backup plan in case the bus is too busy, or your pup isn’t allowed on.
Travelling outside of Great Britain
Careful planning is essential when travelling with your puppy. As soon as you start to think about travel, contact your vet for advice. They can guide you on vaccinations and timing, parasite prevention, and any country-specific requirements. As regulations vary between destinations, it’s important to check entry requirements well in advance.
1. For travel from Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) to Northern Ireland, your puppy will need to have:
A Northern Ireland pet travel document (PTD).
A Microchip (under UK law, all dogs should be microchipped anyway).
2. If you live in Northern Ireland, you don't need a PTD for travel to and from the UK, but your dog must be microchipped.
3. For travel from Great Britain to the EU, your puppy needs:
A microchip.
Rabies vaccination: Your puppy must be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated.
An Animal Health Certificate: issued by a specially qualified vet and valid for 10 days to enter the EU, and then for for 4 months of onward travel within the EU and re-entry to Great Britain.
Approved tapeworm treatment before returning to the UK.
4. For travel from Northern Ireland to the EU, your puppy needs:
A microchip.
Rabies vaccination: Your puppy must be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated.
A valid EU-issued Pet passport or an EU Health Certificate.
Approved tapeworm treatment before returning to NI.
FAQs: Travelling With a Dachshund Puppy
Q: How old does my puppy need to be before they can travel?
A: Puppies can travel from a young age, as long as journeys are short and calm, and the puppy is safely restrained. Postpone longer trips until your puppy is settled and confident.
Q: How long can a Dachshund puppy travel in a car?
A: Young puppies should only travel for around 30–60 minutes at a time. Intervals can increase gradually as bladder control and confidence improve.
Q: What should I do if my puppy needs a vet while we’re away?
A: The Joii Pet Care app offers 24/7 consultations with UK-registered vets. They’ll help you decide whether your puppy needs urgent in-person care or if the issue can be managed safely at home.
If your puppy needs hands-on veterinary help, search “emergency vet near me” on Google. Even if your nearest practice looks closed, call their number. Most clinics have a voicemail message directing you to the local out-of-hours emergency service.
Join us again next month as we cover everything you need to know about caring for your puppy’s dental health.
