Bring an appropriate sized carrier for the new addition to ride home in if you haven't thought of it already. It's VERY common for a puppy to barf or have an accident on the drive to their new home, and that's not something you want on your car or on the folks in the car especially if it's going to be a long drive.
Puppy will also likely feel more comfortable in a carrier rather than loose in the car. Have a soft blanket for the bottom of the carrier and maybe a nice toy or something he can amuse himself with if he doesn't want to sleep. Try to have relative quiet in the car on the ride home as well since too much noise or comotion is likely to add to the pup's stress.
The breeder shouldn't feed the dog the day it travels home. Far better that puppy doesn't eat until they get to their new home than to barf or poop on the way there.
Glad to hear that the vet was kidding. Phew!
Doc is a really cute name! And it seems very appropriate. Names that are appropriate always seem the best.
I gotta tell ya, I think this is a really awesome idea for your daughter. I've suffered from depression and anxiety pretty much my whole life, and having a pet is an absolute god-send! A dog in particular is really good for this because they're needy... they demand attention not just to have their daily needs taken care of but just because they desperately want your attention. Soooooo many times when I just couldn't face getting out of bed it was ONLY the dog that made me do it and motivated me to deal with the day. I can't even count all the times that the dog (whichever dog it was/is at the time) got me through so many REALLY bad times whether long term or just in the moment. No matter how aweful I may feel every day, the dog is the ONE thing that can get me to laugh, and laughter is the one key medicine for anyone plagued with depression.
Oh, another little trick I learned... having different water than the puppy is accustomed to may make him have some stomach problems until he adjusts. Every area has slightly different water, and it very well can effect a puppy or dog adversely. For the first week or two it's a good idea to give him just a half a tablet of chewable Pepto Bismal once a day. After that week or two his system should be adjusted to the different water. I've also heard that adding a capful of real lemon juice to their water can work just as well, but I don't know myself if it does since I've never tried it.
Also, in case it's something you aren't already aware of... if you're going to feed him some other kind of puppy food than the breeder has been feeding him it's best to gradually introduce the new food with whatever stuff he's been accustomed to to give his system time to adjust even if it means having to buy some of the stuff the breeder was using at first. Same thing for the remainder of the dog's life... gradually introduce new food while tapering off the old to avoid any icky stomach problems or loss of appetite.
I'm so excited for you! And don't worry in the event that your daughter doesn't take much to the dog at first. Depression is really weird in that it seems to make you not care about anything - even really good things. Dogs have a mysterious way of worming themselves into your heart, and I have no doubt that even if she might not seem interested at first this puppy will worm his way into her heart, and before you know it they'll have a cemented special bond. I REALLY REALLY think this is going to help your daughter a lot and you'll start to see some positive changes in her. It will be soooo wonderful for you just to see her smile or laugh and actually be interested and motivated in something, and it's sure to be an enormous dose of good medicine for her. It may not happen right away, but I REALLY REALLY believe that it will happen.
Keeping my fingers and toes crossed about the weather and the transfer of the new puppy goes off without a hitch on the big day.
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