How to Prepare for Your First Trip with a Puppy

Puppy parenthood has kicked off at full speed in our household. Within just one week of adopting Sully—our nine-week-old Portuguese Water Dog—we’ve already taught him to sit and lie down, settle into his kennel and carrier, and ring a bell to let us know he needs to go outside. These early accomplishments may seem small, but they’re the foundation of a much larger training journey. Sully still needs to learn not to bite hands or clothing, interact politely with other dogs and people, and avoid eating every random object he finds on the ground.

Despite the challenges, spending this past week bonding with Sully has been incredibly rewarding. Although it’s been exhausting, each day reveals more of Sully’s unique personality, and we’re building a strong connection that will serve us well in the future.

Our immediate focus has been preparing him for an airplane trip to Seattle, where we’ll visit my wife’s parents for Christmas. To make the flight less stressful, we’ve worked on getting Sully comfortable in his carrier and helping him stay calm while we walk with it. He’ll need to remain inside for about four hours, so having him feel safe and relaxed in that space is essential. In the beginning, Sully found it difficult to climb in voluntarily and refrain from biting the carrier—no surprise given his love of chewing everything from hands to couch cushions. Through patience, repetition, and positive reinforcement (including plenty of spontaneous treats), he’s now at the point where he willingly hops in, settles down, and remains quiet. He’s even learned to stay put when we unzip the carrier, hoping for that well-earned treat. This steady progress has turned the carrier into his cozy sanctuary and given us confidence that the upcoming trip will be smoother because of the time we invested in preparation.

This lesson with Sully underscores a universal truth: if we want to be successful in life, we must prepare. It’s rare to enter a new situation completely confident and at ease without laying some groundwork. Whether you’re starting a new job, running a 5K, or taking on another unfamiliar endeavor, proper preparation can reduce stress, increase adaptability, and lessen the likelihood of mistakes or injury.

So, here’s a challenge: if there’s something on your horizon that makes you anxious, begin by taking even the smallest step toward getting ready for it. Don’t wait until you find the “perfect” way to prepare—just start. For example, if you’re starting a new job, pick out your first-day outfit, set your alarm for your anticipated wake-up time (even on the weekend), or mentally rehearse how you’d like the day to unfold. As you continue to prepare, you’ll gain confidence, which in turn helps you navigate the actual experience more smoothly.



Ultimately, preparation isn’t just about feeling ready—it’s about building the resilience and courage to adapt when the unexpected happens. By investing time and effort upfront, you empower yourself to face life’s challenges with steady confidence and the ability to grow stronger through each new experience.