Do dogs get used to going on trains?

[TuesdayWhistler]

I took my dog on the train today, only a short trip of about 20 minutes.
He didn't like it. He quivered and tried to hide. I sat on the floor with him and stroked him, but it didn't seem to help much.

Is this pretty normal? Should I persevere or stick to local no train needed walks? Should I let him just quiver and hide or try to get him on my knee or looking out the window etc?

Not a dog owner but if it was the noise would one of those headbands groomers use for blow drying help?

They can, you just have to take it slow. I took my dog to the train platform without getting on the train, just feeding treats and chilling to get her used to it all. That took about 5 trips before she was comfortable.

Then we did short 5 minute journeys between two stops. I rewarded her the whole time with treats and kept it short and sweet. Then we went one stop further. And another, etc.

all in all it took a few months of persistent training and desensitisation so get her used to the train. But we still do max 30 minutes.

It’s really noisy for them and the movement is odd. Sounds like your dog was just really scared.

If you’re dead set on going on the train then you can always contact a trainer who can give you some tips and even come with you on the journey to assess your dogs reaction.

@Singleandproud maybe. I'll have a look at them. Thanks.

@Coffee23 one of the reasons I thought I'd take him is because he's been coming to the station to drop DD off when she gets the train. He doesn't seem to mind being on the platform, watching the train, but being on it is very different.
There's nothing I have to get the train for iyswim. I just thought it'd be nice for him to have walks in different places. Where we live there's fields and parks etc, but he's been to them all hundreds of times now, I don't drive so thought train would be an option.

My dog who his no longer here bless him HATED the train. I tried and tried. He was small enough to sit in my lap. I had perfect paw shaped bruises on my legs from where he had dug in and held on. I never figured it out he was fine in the car / busses, even boats nuts trains were a no.

Yes, you have to take it very slowly. My dog is fantastic on public transport and immediately gets under my seat and lies down. I normally don't hear a peep out of him until the end of the journey whether we are on for 10 minutes or 3 hours. I've sat next to people on trains who had no idea I had a dog until we got off.

I would say 20 minutes is too long for his first journey. I started him off with just standing on the platforms and watching the trains and rewarding. We did this several times. Then one stop. Several times. Then two. And just built it up from there really. I do have fairly strict expectations for him on public transport- he is expected to get under the seat and not make noise, not to try and get on the seats or try and interact with anyone so I rewarded that behaviour heavily when he got on trains (although I trained that behaviour before even getting on a train for the first time). I think that helps because he knows exactly what he is expected to do as soon as we get on a train or bus.

I work with guide dog puppies and it's all done very slowly.

We start as you did by taking them to the station, then by watching the trains, then by getting on and straight back off (lots of treats and encouragement along the way) then by doing the shortest journey possible, with a stuffed bone or kong to occupy them. We then build it up from there.