Preparing a dog for train/public transportation travel

Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
Inspired by @edzbird 's post on her train trip and pub visit with Coco, I was wondering what advice any of you have for preparing a dog for train travel as one of my goals with Carbon this summer - in fact it will be a sort of summer school 'graduation test' - is to take him on the train to Munich and back (1 hour 45 minutes). And yes, my Brogan put in a lot of train (and metro and bus and plane) hours, but frankly I just tossed him on and hoped for the best - I was very lucky that he took everything in stride!

I'm thinking that a train journey will involve training for:
  • wearing a muzzle (required in German trains but not really enforced)
  • a solid tight heel and 'wait' while boarding the train and navigating crowds in town
  • going up and down escalators (or in a pinch just the stairs or lift)
  • doing an 'under' to position himself to lie under the seat
  • being quiet and staying under the seat for the full journey
  • not reacting to any other dogs along the journey or in the city
  • resisting the urge to hoover everything off the ground at every stage
We're already working on all these except the elevator (which is optional).

Also I'm planning to take some very short (20 mins or so) trips first locally so Munich won't be his first experience. Just in case he decides to run down the aisles eating everyone's lunch. Which is very likely. :LOL:

Any tips/training strategies from others who have train-riding dogs?
 
UncleBob

UncleBob

Administrator
Staff member
Well, when we first took Harv on a train it was a spur of the moment thing with no advance preparation :eek: (he was as a good as gold but no thanks to us!). He has also done coaches, river ferries and passenger boats.

The only thing that gave us/Harv any cause for concern was the very loud whistle (on both the steam train and the passenger boat). He settled fairly quickly but the initial blast did startle him. Just a case of gradual noise desensitization I guess (unless you will be using whistleless trains, of course ;) )
 
edzbird

edzbird

Location
Isle of Man
Not much help from me I'm afraid. Our station is really just a platform in a field where no one else gets on or off. The carriages are teeny compartments with no real room under the seats. Practice keeping your dog off the furniture! Coco is fine on a short journey, but hated a longer one - cranky little steam trains that rock side to side, made him feel awful.
Given that we have to step down through a narrow doorway to get off, door manners are important. I like Coco to get on in front of me, but sit and wait for me to get off first.

I would say definitely work with close walking in crowds. We took Belle on the ferry from Oban to Mull - she was a nightmare in the crowd getting off the boat. But then she was good as gold on the coach where she had to sit at our feet in a very small space.
 
snowbunny

snowbunny

Location
Andorra and Spain
I can't help with most of it, but if there's any chance you'll be standing on a crowded train, I'd probably want the dog to be sat in "middle" so he's less likely to get stepped on.
 
Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
UncleBob said:
unless you will be using whistleless trains, of course ;)
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Not too many whistle-y trains here so we should be good. Plus I honestly think Carbon is sound bomb proof. Last night, for example, we had a crack of thunder that just about gave me heart failure. Carbon did wake up, but just long enough to sit up, look at me and fall back asleep again.

edzbird said:
The carriages are teeny compartments with no real room under the seats. Practice keeping your dog off the furniture!
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Both good points. I hated the old-style closed carriages with Brogan as there was no place for him that didn't take up someone's leg space a bit because he was too big to fit completely under my own legs. Luckily here 95% of the trains are rows of seats and the local train to Munich always has seats on the end which are one per row... perfect for doggie seating as you're assured no one will come and sit next to you and be bothered by a dog. Or you can go into the bicycle carriages which are just big open spaces lined with jump seats. That's the backup option if I can't get Carbon to happily lay underneath a normal seat.

And I'd not thought about the furniture thing, so thanks for that. Of course I can't be sure but I think we'll be ok there. He has a good solid 'off' already and if I keep a close eye on him he shouldn't be able to build up to a flying leap onto the seats. Also performing the 'under' command to get under the seat should counteract thoughts of 'up'. Famous last words, right? :LOL:

edzbird said:
would say definitely work with close walking in crowds.
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Yes, this is a big challenge and he's definitely not ready to be in close quarters in a train yet...I'm thinking of going down the aisle looking for a seat and Carbon nicking everyone's snacks as we go! He's getting LOTS of crowd practice here in Regensburg, especially on the weekends. There is festival of some sort nearly every weekend and anywhere from 2-8 cruise ships in dock at any given time. It's crawling with people and a lot of dogs, too. And though this morning I wanted to whack him over the head with a wet noodle (my esteemed mother's expression), he has drastically improved in crowds to where he can keep a loose leash about 90% and just glide on through. Very proud of him, especially when I think of him and Paul practically breaking my hand on our walk through Salamanca.

snowbunny said:
I'd probably want the dog to be sat in "middle" so he's less likely to get stepped on.
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OOO...this is good, thank you! Yes, this was very helpful with Brogan, especially on the U-Bahn. I will also have to remember to protect Carbon's tail. Not used to a dog with a tail!

Thanks everybody! :giggle:
 
Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
Jelinga said:
My trainer took us on a train, had to climb many steps up to the station, crowded platform and train, but Rourke took it all in his stride. On the way back, we sat near a chap who was drunk (why do these things always happen to me) who engaged us in drunken conversation :D So I wouldn't worry too much @Emily_Babbelhund, just do it :)
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Carbon is far from Rourke level, but I appreciate the encouragement. Though it certainly would be entertaining if I let him loose on a train at this point in time. :LOL:
 
JES72

JES72

Location
SW London UK
Emily_Babbelhund said:
Maybe a tiny flashing light that makes a 'danger! danger!' sound. Carbon's tail just got straightened out again, I'd hate for it to go all wonky again.
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How about a flashing light on both ends, one on his collar and one on his tail. Not sure how you'd attach it though.

I used my best teacher voice to clear space on a crowded train for a blind man and his guide dog to get on, the trains were all messed up and he'd already missed getting onto one. People actually moved down the carriage and gave him a seat and his dog a seat.

Homer's been on a few train trips but they are too noisy for him, he's OK with busses.
 
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