Guide Dogs Puppy Development and Advice Leaflet No. 9 Transport and Transportation 1
Table of contents 3 The introduction of transport and the transportation of guide dog puppies 3 Car travel 6 Bus travel 8 Train travel 2
The introduction of transport and the transportation of guide dog puppies In order for guide dog owners to fully enjoy the independence and mobility a guide dog can provide, it is essential that working guide dogs can confidently travel on or in a wide range of vehicles. If a dog is unable to travel, its owner s independent mobility will be limited to locations within walking distance. As a result, developing our dogs abilities to travel on public and private transport remains a priority for everyone concerned with the development of Guide Dogs puppies and dogs. In addition to being capable of travelling in vehicles, it is essential that our dogs behaviours are at a high standard, to ensure that all guide dog owners continue to be permitted access to essential public services such as buses, trains, planes and taxis. By the end of puppy walking it is our aim that all puppies will have learned to behave appropriately whilst travelling on or in cars, buses and trains. By appropriately, we mean remaining clean, quiet and relaxed during journeys of up to forty minutes on these forms of transport. Puppies will not be expected to initially travel for a period of forty minutes, this will be a gradual process. In order to achieve this aim our puppies must have adequate opportunities to get used to car, bus and train travel. However achieving this aim takes a great deal of time, patience and consistency and will require not only regular exposure to travel and vehicles, but also the correct approach to ensure positive association and the development of correct behaviours. The following information has been put together to assist you; however please contact your supervisor if you have any questions or if you experience any difficulties when using vehicles or travelling. Car travel A working guide dog is likely to experience car travel on a frequent and regular basis. Although guide dog owners do not drive themselves, access to cars will be available from family, friends or public services such as taxis; as a result it is essential that your puppy be correctly introduced to not only the vehicle but also the sensation of travelling in a car. Considerations to take when travelling Before taking your puppy, of any age, for a car journey it is important to consider the following points: Remember that each journey a puppy takes will have an effect on how positive an association the puppy develops with travelling. Therefore, it is essential that the vehicle is driven with consideration to the wellbeing and comfort of the puppy on board. This may require thought when selecting which route to take. The comfort of the puppy will also need to be considered. Relief opportunities, feeding routines, bedding and travelling time will all have an influence on the puppy s comfort. The safety of all occupants of the vehicle must be a priority. Ensure that the vehicle is in good working order and has no faults. Check that the puppy has enough room to get in and out of the vehicle and that the surrounding area is safe from traffic and free from dangerous objects and hazardous waste.before travelling it is important to identify and 3
prepare the equipment that you may require; this will include the puppy s collar and ID discs, the equipment for securing the puppy, water and water bowl, lead, bedding, appropriate dog toys and cleaning equipment. In addition please ensure that your puppy s coat is removed during all car journeys. If the puppy is to be left in the vehicle for any length of time, consideration should be given to the weather conditions. Adequate ventilation and parking in shady areas is necessary if the weather is warm. If there is any concern about the weather conditions (either cold or hot) the puppy should not be left in the vehicle. The security of the vehicle must be considered if the puppy is left unattended, and suitable provision should be made regarding prevention of damage to the vehicle by a puppy e.g. caging, safety harness use. Where in the car should your puppy travel? When considering this point it is essential that the safety of the puppy, driver and other occupants are considered. The arrangements for travel are likely to change depending on the type of vehicle and the age and size of the puppy. The methods for securing the puppy are: Within a puppy carrier on either the front passenger or rear seats, provided the carrier is secured with the seat belt. This method can only be used for puppies up to twelve weeks of age. In the rear of an estate or hatch back vehicle fitted with appropriate, secure caging or a fitted dog guard. On a back seat of a vehicle wearing a car harness secured by the seat belt. If it is deemed appropriate for a puppy to wear a car harness it must be supplied by Guide Dogs and fitted initially by your supervisor. In the passenger s foot well under the control of the passenger. This method is only permitted if the driver is accompanied by a responsible passenger. Airbags must not be disabled when transporting puppies in this way. For possible alternative options for travelling a puppy within a car please discuss with your supervisor. First car journeys between 6 and 12 weeks of age When initially introducing your puppy to the car and a journey, it is essential that your puppy perceives this experience in a positive way. These first journeys will shape your puppy s association with vehicles and travel. Take plenty of time to ensure this is an enjoyable experience and one your puppy would like to repeat. Make sure that your puppy has relieved itself before the journey and also has the option to do so immediately after it has travelled. The need to relieve can be prompted by the motion of travel and spending in the car may result in a negative association as well as more work for you! Ideally first journeys should be carried out during your puppy s sleepy times to ensure that your puppy is relaxed during first introductions. Try to keep the journeys short, up to fifteen minutes is sufficient, as this will reduce the chances of motion sickness and thus any negative association with the vehicle occurring.if possible carry out these short trips on a daily basis 4
and try to ensure you select a route which gives a smooth ride. Although difficult due to regular feeding times, it is important not to travel until at least one hour after feeding, in order to reduce the chances of sickness occurring with puppies. To further develop a positive association with the journey it may help your puppy if you drive to a positive destination. This may be a friend s house or any environment in which the puppy will receive desired attention. While your puppy is small enough for you to carry, and unable to get into the car itself, we would ask that you lift your puppy into the car. When you lift remember to use the manual handling techniques you received training on and refer to your manual handling guidelines in section two. Contact your supervisor for advice if required. 13 16 weeks of age With the initial positive association developed, the next stage is to maintain this association and widen the puppy s travelling experiences, as well as developing basic obedience responses and behaviours during journey times. Provided your puppy has been relaxed and settled during previous journeys and has not shown travel sickness, it is time to further develop your puppy s travelling experiences. Increasing journey times will achieve this, although it is suggested that trips do not exceed two hours where possible. When extending trip times remember to ensure relief opportunities are given before and immediately after journeys; in addition relief and access to water should be provided every two hours as a minimum on longer trips. As your puppy s confidence and size grows, you may also need to introduce more obedience routines. Your puppy may attempt to jump in or out of the boot area itself, so introduce the wait command to prevent this. Ideally your puppy should remain quiet, settled and relaxed during journeys, If you have any concerns please contact your supervisor for advice. 16 weeks of age and onwards At 16 weeks (and provided your puppy remains relaxed, calm, quiet and without any sickness when travelling), journey times can be extended to any length, provided twohourly relief and water stops are given. Guidelines for car harness use: Car harnesses are used to ensure the safety of yourself, your puppy and other passengers during car travel. Because the use of this equipment can have an impact on a dog s acceptance of the harness it will eventually wear when working as a guide dog, it is essential that it is used appropriately. Please note that a car harness must not be used for any other purpose than securing your puppy in a vehicle. 5
Bus travel Bus travel remains one of the most accessible and cost effective forms of transport for many guide dog owners. However, buses do provide a number of challenges to owners and guide dogs because from a dog s perspective they can appear noisy, uncomfortable, dirty, smelly and overcrowded. As a result it remains essential that from an early age our puppies develop a positive first impression and association with this specific type of transport. Introduction When using this form of transport, guide dogs and guide dog puppies are very much in the public eye, and as a result members of the public need to be considered. With only limited space on a bus it is essential that our dogs have a good standard of behaviour, so as not to cause inconvenience or danger to others. As a result we strive to achieve the following aims by the end of the puppy walking period: A puppy should be able to board and alight from a bus in a controlled manner. A puppy should stay seated or lie down when travelling and remain calm, quiet and relaxed, without scavenging or attention seeking, on journeys of up to 40 minutes. Because of its importance, introduction to bus travel is usually tailored to meet the needs of each individual puppy, taking into consideration breed and temperament. As a result your supervisor will advise you on the most suitable time to start. However before any bus journey it is essential to ensure the following: that the puppy has relieved itself that the puppy has not been fed within one hour of the intended journey that you as the handler have all of the necessary equipment, including travel permit, spending bag, treats, ID, flash, and lead that you check timetables, allowing sufficient time for your journey, so to avoid rushing this important exercise that you plan your route, to ensure the journey meets your puppy s needs Introduction to buses and first journeys The first introduction should, if possible, not involve a journey. It is preferable for you to carry your young puppy on to a stationary bus so that it experiences the sights, sounds and smells, while being held comfortably in your arms, with no journey to endure. When you are confident that a bus holds no fear for your puppy you can progress to a short journey; one stop is usually enough for a first time. Plan these first short trips carefully, avoiding experiences which may give your puppy a fright. Avoid busy periods, sitting near the bus s heaters or introduction during wet or adverse weather conditions. Lastly, remember to adopt a confident and relaxed manner as this will have a positive influence on how your puppy perceives the situation. 6
If you are at all concerned about your puppy s reaction to the bus at this stage, please contact your supervisor for advice and, more importantly, do not repeat the exercise as this may compound the problem until you have received an input from your supervisor. Continued development of bus travel With your puppy now successfully introduced to the bus, the next stage is to maintain this positive association while providing additional bus travel experiences. These experiences should ideally include travel on different types of bus, and varying lengths of journeys which are gradually increased to up to forty minutes. In addition it is essential to ensure that your puppy s behaviour when on the bus remains appropriate, well mannered and relaxed. The following advice may help you to achieve this: Equipment Before using the bus remember to ready the equipment you will need; this will include not only the lead, collar, ID and puppy flash that you regularly use, but also the bus pass or permit to travel, reward treats, toys and chews and, of course, cleaning up equipment! Puppy comfort For the comfort of your puppy, remember to allow an opportunity for relief prior to travel and make sure that feeding has not taken place at least an hour beforehand. Also please ensure that the puppy coat is removed for journeys of ten minutes or more. Boarding and alighting a bus To avoid any fear responses developing, please ensure that your puppy is well away from the kerb edge as the bus approaches its stop. Noisy airbrakes can cause a young puppy a great deal of concern, as can the noise and movement of doors when they open. Allow people to get off the bus before asking your puppy to board, this will avoid your puppy being trodden on, or tripping up others. For those puppies who are a little unsure initially, you may wish to use a toy or treat as a lure to encourage them to jump on. When getting off the bus, ensure that your puppy takes its time. Do not leave your seat until the bus has stopped. Keep clear of doors as they open and ensure you control your puppy s attempts to leave the bus. For those less confident puppies, use a lure in the form of a treat or toy to help then alight. Where to sit on a bus Obviously this may be determined by others using the bus, however where possible choose a seat which has enough room for you and the puppy. Every bus is different and your puppy s size may also be a determining factor. Try to avoid your puppy blocking an aisle; ideally your puppy should sit or lay down in the floor space in front of you. This may take time to establish, so never force your puppy into this space. Consider also the position of the heaters on the bus and any other features which may cause your puppy concern. Always remain on the lower deck when using double decker buses as dogs are forbidden to use the upper deck. Ideally your puppy should remain, clean, calm, quiet and relaxed throughout the journey, in either a sitting or lying position on the floor. For further advice please contact your supervisor, and do not repeat the exercise until you have received the advice from your supervisor. 7
Train travel As with bus travel, trains provide our service users with crucial transportation. Trains are used to provide independent mobility over wider distances and may support employment, health and social needs. As a result the majority of working guide dogs will use a train at one time or another. As a result we strive to achieve the following aims by the end of the puppy walking period: A puppy should be able to board and alight from a train in a controlled manner. A puppy should stay seated or lie down when travelling and remain calm, quiet and relaxed, without scavenging or attention seeking, on journeys of up to forty minutes. This should be seen as a gradual process and a final aim. As with bus travel, trains do provide a number of challenges to owners and guide dogs because from a dog s perspective they can appear noisy, uncomfortable, dirty, smelly and overcrowded. The risk that the platform drop poses to clients also needs to be considered. As a result, it remains essential that from an early age our puppies develop a positive first impression and association with this specific type of transport, so that they can work with confidence and behave well in the public eye. Trains are very noisy and as a result can seem extremely threatening to a young puppy. Your supervisor will advise you as to the most suitable time for you to introduce your puppy to trains and train travel. The considerations include not only the puppy s breed, temperament and age, but also the types of stations and trains which you may have access to. Once you have received guidance from your supervisor, the following information may help you. Initial introduction to trains and stations Before attempting to travel on a train, it is important to get your puppy used to stations and also to trains from a safe, non-threatening distance. To do this take your puppy to a quiet station (where possible) where it can watch several trains, over a ten to twenty minute period and gradually get used to the noises which they make. To minimise the risk of causing concern, try to avoid busy commuting periods and also be aware of fast or through trains which may race through the station. During your time at the station, keep well away from the platform edge and ensure your puppy has a good time, playing with toys, chews or enjoying your company, and allow the puppy time to sit and watch the trains. When your puppy is happy and relaxed on the platform, with trains coming into and leaving the station, you can progress to the next stage, taking your puppy on and off a stationary train, without travelling. However if any adverse reactions are noted contact your supervisor for advice before returning to the station. Introduction to train travel When your puppy is happy and relaxed on stations, platforms and stationary trains, you can progress to the next stage which is tackling train travel; the aim being to build journey times to around forty minutes. Ideally a short initial journey may be beneficial for your puppy and this may require inventive planning to ensure you can get home! Before attempting a journey ensure that you have all the necessary equipment including your permit to travel, lead, collar, ID disc, puppy flash, treats, toys, and spending bags. Lastly check train timetables and ensure that you have time to complete a journey without rushing. 8
Puppy comfort For the comfort of your puppy, remember to allow an opportunity for relief prior to travel and make sure that feeding has not taken place at least an hour beforehand. Also please ensure that the puppy coat is removed for journeys of ten minutes or more. Boarding and alighting a train To avoid any fear responses developing, please ensure that your puppy is well away from the platform edge as the train pulls up and stops. Allow people to get off the train before asking your puppy to board; this will avoid your puppy being trodden on, or tripping up others. Your puppy may be able to get on the train unaided, however this will depend on your puppy s confidence levels, and the size and the width of the gap between the train and platform. During boarding try to encourage your puppy to look up rather than down into the gap; you can use a lure in the form of toys or treats. When getting off the train ensure your puppy takes its time. Do not leave your seat until the train has stopped. Keep clear of doors as they open and make sure you control your puppy s attempts to leave the train until you are ready. You may find it beneficial to step off slightly ahead of your puppy initially to prevent being pulled from the train as your puppy clears the gap. For those less confident types use a lure in the form of a treat or toy to help them alight. If you are at all concerned about your puppy s reaction to the train at this stage, please contact your supervisor for advice and, more importantly, do not repeat the exercise as this may compound the problem until you have received an input from your supervisor. Where to sit on a train Obviously this may be determined by others using the train; however where possible choose a seat which has enough room for you and the puppy and is fairly close to a door, preferably a different one to the one you boarded through. Try to avoid your puppy blocking an aisle, ideally your puppy should sit or lay down in the floor space in front of you. Consider also the position of the heaters on the train and any other features which may cause your puppy concern. Ideally your puppy should remain clean, calm, quiet and relaxed throughout the journey, in either a sitting or lying position on the floor. If you are at all concerned about your puppy s reaction to the train at this stage, please contact your supervisor for advice and, more importantly, do not repeat the exercise as this may compound the problem until you have received an input from your supervisor. These points must be followed at all times to support the agreed training process within the puppy walking department of Guide Dogs. Copyright 2014 A charity registered in England and Wales (209617) and Scotland (SC038979) 09/14 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. 9