Owner Fears the Worst as Dog Goes on First Car Ride, Relieved at the Truth

Most pending dog parents can hardly contain their excitement as they prepare to collect their incoming pups. Many often worry about how their new pet will handle the sometimes long car journey home.

That's how one woman felt when she went to collect her 8-week-old flatcoated retriever puppy in January. To her surprise, Margot, who is now 19 weeks old, snoozed the entire ride home. Margot's owner, Molly (@mollyandmargot), chronicled their first journey together in a newly viral TikTok post that has led to plenty of laughter online.

"Margot is really clever and knows loads of tricks! She is everyone's best friend and thinks that everyone wants to play with her which can make walks hard," Molly told Newsweek.

"Her temperament is surprisingly calm for a puppy as you can probably tell from the photos on TikTok! We actually picked the craziest puppy in the litter; as everyone says, if you go for a sleepy one, they are crazy at home, so we hoped for the opposite effect, and it worked," she added.

The viral video, which has been viewed more than 873,000 times since it was first shared to TikTok on March 15, captured how peacefully Margot slept in a travel basket on the 3-hour-long journey home.

Molly had adopted the pup from a working farm where she had lived "in a barn on sawdust."

"I think that the warm comfy bed knocked her out," she said.

How to Help Your Dog Settle In

Nell Ostermeier, a licensed veterinarian and spokesperson for Figo Pet Insurance from Illinois, told Newsweek that the first three days a new owner spends with their pet is "the adjustment period."

"During that time, [the] owners' focus should be on noticing the dog's preferences and in creating a safe space for them so that they can acclimate," Ostermeier said.

"Creating a transition plan and making sure that the dog's basic needs will be met before you bring them home is key to a successful transition. If there is more than one person in your household, you should hold a meeting and establish guidelines around your approach to the new dog. Consistency helps a new dog to settle in, they feel more secure because they know what to expect from each member of the family."

"Acquiring the items that are needed to meet the basic dog needs of food, shelter, exercise and enrichment is important as well. Putting these basics together ahead of time can help set up for a smooth transition," she added.

Ostermeier says that a "comfortable bed" should be included in the list of basic dog needs that new owners need to draw up before bringing their new family member home.

How to Help Dogs Travel Comfortably

While owners may feel daunted by the prospect of their new pet traveling home with them by car, Animal Trust says that the quicker dogs get used to riding in cars, the easier it'll be for them to travel in the future.

"Travelling in a vehicle can be distressing for your pet along with the motion causing them to be sick," the non-profit veterinary company writes online.

"To help your pet get used to being in the car, it's best to introduce them to this as early as possible as part of their socialization training."

"Exposing them at a young age to this environment will desensitize their uncertainty and get them used to the motion. It's best for your dog to be able to see out of a window when travelling, or if your pet is prone to motion sickness, allow them to face forward," Animal Trust adds.

However, it's important to note that travel socialization should be built up, if possible, starting with short distances and extending to longer distance car journeys over time.

"Treats can help make these new experiences positive and reinforce your pet that they have behaved well," the veterinary company says.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.