Public transport training for puppy

[Dedodedo]

Hi all, just looking for some tips to help out with training my puppy (7 months female lab) for getting onto buses/trains. I don't have a car at the moment so mainly use public transport to get around, I started pup early around 14 weeks with doing short bus journeys once she was allowed out after vacs,she was fine then, well behaved,not nervous etc, we don't always go on transport that much as lots of parks in walking distance etc so it's not every week or all that often but I wanted her to be used to it from early on for when I do need to take her on bus to vets or just to give variety to our walks visit a different park or area short bus ride away or couple of stops on train. Recently she has been very nervous to get on when before she always just hopped on with me no problem. I don't know the best way to improve this, she is ok once on and will just sit down,doesn't seem nervous etc,is quite calm. It's the getting on she will hold back on the lead and I will be trying to encourage her up,she's obviously a lot bigger now and I feel so embarrassed as everyone is watching! Which I don't think helps at all that I feel a bit anxious and embarrassed I'm probably giving a vibe off to her. I've tried to have really good treats of sausage or chicken to kind of lure her on, she would normally be very interested in these but she is more focused of the bus/nervous she isn't too interested in the treat. I obviously can't hold the bus up too long trying to cajole her on but it would really enhance our time If she got on happily again as we could explore new areas and different parks, is there any tips anyone can think off, I've been nervous recently to try again getting on a bus as I just feel very embarrassed when she refuses to get on but I want to change this, and I think once she's done a few successful journeys it will become normal,she's a confident friendly pup, I want to try a few journeys this week even if we just ride a few stops as it's the getting on which is the major obstacle. She also is reluctant to get into cars too when friends/family have taken us places and she's got sick a few times after car journey,which I read motion sickness is quite common in younger dogs and something they mostly grow out of? Thankyou

Bump?!

I don't have a ton of advice but whilst nobody else has commented, I thought I would offer some advice. I go on public transport regularly (at least once a week) with my dog. Do you think she's worried by the noise or the movement of the bus when she's on it? It's pretty common for adolescent dogs to go through a fear stage.

I would try to build her confidence again. I would bring her to a bus stop (ideally one well used) and rewarding her just for a bus going past or stopping, but don't get on it. At first she might be too worried to eat until after the bus goes past and that's fine. But eventually she should be able to eat and pay attention to you when the bus is there. When she's comfortable with that, I would get on the bus and then straight back off, again rewarding her. And then go one stop and reward. And continue to build it up like that. Use really high value rewards that you only use for travelling.

If you can, I would try to go on public transport more often and have a routine that you do every time. I take mine on at least once a week and he knows that he gets a small food reward for getting on the bus/train and a small reward for settling under the seat. He then remains settled until we get off.

Motion sickness is very normal, yes, particularly if you don't drive (I assume you don't?). Mine is 10 now and was very travel sick as a youngster, simply because he never really went in cars/buses/trains as I also don't drive. He got over it with short, frequent journeys. I genuinely can't remember the last time he was sick and he's been on train journeys of 2 + hours.

Is it a bus that lowers when it stops, as that could affect her inner ear temporarily. I think you’d know it if she really hated going on the bus.

Thanks, no it doesn't lower, were on outskirts of London so public transport good here. It's the getting on which I think is the main scary bit for her,she was ok with it beforehand so more recently she will refuse to budge and walk on with me, I do drive but no car at the moment and can't afford to buy car for foreseeable plus because the buses are good here I don't really need a car at the moment but I'd still like to be able to take her,maybe I had too much of a gap and I should be taking her at least weekly so it doesn't go stagnant in-between, I am going to choose quiet route which Is the first stop and see how we get on and try to build from there,I'm just really aware of there not going to wait for me if she is refusing to budge! And will try the sitting by the bus stop but not getting on and rewarding aswell. Most times she has been in a car she has vomited and they were only 15/20 minute journeys but it's only been once a month or so it's not something we do a lot, thanks though for suggestions