Travelling on buses with big dogs on board

[bunsen]

Okay, maybe not many of you use public transport anymore but I don't drive so I use the buses regular.
A couple of weeks ago I was on a bus coming home from town and a big rottweiler got on with its two owners who didn't have full control of the animal, it was leaping around on the bus seat, obviously excited at his journey. I wish to point out that I have nothing against the breed, I grew up with English bull terriers myself. I would never dream of taking a powerful dog like that on a bus if you know its going to leap around and not settle. I got off the bus straight away as I didn't trust the dog owners with the dog round my baby. I called the depot and they said that the bus driver did nothing against the companys policy, but I believe that if there is a baby on the bus then the bus driver should make the dog owner go upstairs or refuse travel.
What do you think? Did I overreact? I know that you encounter dogs in parks and on the street and not all of them will be well behaved or the type to have around babies, but you can walk away, on a bus you are in close proximity to the animal and don't have a choice apart from to get off and walk home.
I'd just like your two pence worth, if you would
Ta
Bunsen

I was on a ferry and a large rottweiller was walking his owner. Dd who was 4 yo at the time said hello and waved and it went for her. The owner a big bloke, thankfully, manged to restrain it. It's head was about 4 inches from her face by the time it was pulled back. We went to the other end of the ferry. I don't like excitable dogs round children I'm afraid.

I'm surprised they allow dogs (other than guide dogs) on buses full stop tbh.

Do you think I would be a busy body to try and get the policy changed so that dogs are not allowed when a baby is on board unless the mother says its okay? Or maybe the dog must be sat upstairs, excluding guide dogs.

I dont trust any dogs round kids no matter how placid they seem

I think only guide dogs should be allowed on buses

I think you would be a busybody to make such a request. Someone could easily need to travel by bus with their dog if they are going somewhere for the day. It would be cruel to the dog to leave it at home on own for hours on end.Not everyone drives and they shouldn't be precluded from travelling on public transport with their dog. Of course the dog should be under control and the dog in the op sounds like it wasn't but that is no reason to start introducing yet more anti-dog rules. It is also worth pointing out that when you take a puppy to training it is recommended that you work through a list to socialise the dog properly and this includes use of public transport.

dogs have to travel upstairs in london and at driver's discretion, i always assumed this was to keep dog/children apart. perhaps your bus driver was scared of rott or owners it doesn't sound right to me and i have done a lot of bussing with dog.

Yes Idlemum, I don't want to exclude dog owners from pub transport but don't like the idea of sitting next to a rottweiler on bus with baby. I will write to them to say they should go upstairs unless its a guide dog as that could be tricky for blind people to navigate the stairs.

we dont have a car and travel on the buses regularly we take our dog on all the time and my daughter who owns a rottie also travels on the bus with her big dog and her babies both dog and kids under control at all times. I feel that an uncontrolled dog shouldnt be allowed on the bus but not all dogs behave like that, our drivers always ask if the dog is well behaved and wont let on dogs that would cause a problem

tbh i wouldnt worry about travellijng opn a bus with a baby either in my arms or in a buggy. but having a 4 year old is slightly obsessed with dogs would worry me more.