Taking my dog on the bus

The Bus driver on a travel west midlands bus stopped me yesterday and asked what dog is that i told and he said all Terriers have to be muzzled on public transport now.is he just talking crap or is there a new rule ?(no one as said it before)

From searches i've done, it really is up to the driver as to whether your dog can or can't travel, most wouldn't know which dogs are on the dangerous dog list so probably tell people this as a matter of caution so they can be back at the depot on time for a bacon sarnie

This from Arriva public transport:

Animals

Accompanied dogs and other small animals that will not be a danger or nuisance to other passengers or staff are allowed to travel on our services at the absolute discretion of the driver who may decide where on the bus the animal is to be carried. Any animal carried must remain under control and not be allowed to travel on seats. If you bring any animal onto a bus, you will be held responsible for any damage, loss or injury arising from its presence on the bus. Certain types of dogs are legally required to be muzzled and will not be carried otherwise. Guide dogs, hearing dogs and assistance dogs will be carried at any time.


This is from Stagecoach:

Animals

One accompanied, well behaved dog or other small animal which will not be a danger or a nuisance for other customers or our staff is allowed to travel with you on our buses at the discretion of the driver who may reasonably decide where on the bus the animal is best carried.

A fare may be charged for dogs and details are contained in the ‘Guide to Fares and Tickets’ of the local Stagecoach operating company available from company offices and our website at www.stagecoachbus.com

Where appropriate, dogs must be muzzled or put on a lead in accordance with the Dangerous Dogs Act. Small animals must be caged, boxed or kept on a lead. Any animal carried must remain under control and must not be allowed to sit on the seats.

If you bring an animal onto a bus, you will be held responsible for any damage, loss or injury arising from its presence on the bus.

Guide dogs or hearing dogs accompanying registered disabled persons are carried free of charge at any time.


No mention that all terriers must be muzzled that I can see.

No mentions of "terriers" but i assume he meant bull terriers. As far as i know the only dogs that must be muzzled are the banned breeds.

No, not as far as I am aware! Moo comes on the bus with me and we have also been to London/Portsmouth on the over/underground train. Sounds like a difficult driver to me.

thanks guys i will just carry a muzzle in my pocket in case

Do you pay any extra if you take the dog on the bus with you or do you just pay your ticket?

He is obviously yet another uneducated person and he refers to this

quote "Certain types of dogs are legally required to be muzzled and will not be carried otherwise"

Never had to pay for Moo

janey wrote:

Never had to pay for Moo

I'm guessing you don't have to pay extra for your dog to go on the bus then?

I never have been, but I think they could depends on the company.

Stagecoach in East Kent advise drivers to allow a maximum of two dogs on a bus and they must be on a lead.

I think Carylls hubby is a bus driver, maybe she will know something about it ???

Never taken any of mine on the bus have taken them on trains and underground and never had an issue with them being on the train.
I would think the driver was very uneducated and just assumed because hes a "bull terrier" hes a banned breed. I would just tell them hes a legal breed and dosnt have too be muzzled in public.

Travelled with Ledger on the train a crowded one so we were sat in the aisle only issues were people pushing to get the door at the the platform and nearly trampling him oh and a comment of 'are you having a nice walk?' to Ledger from the ticket chap! I wouldn't have minded but after walking from Crewe to Nantwich for a picnic along the canal I was a bit miffed not to be able to locate an open public toilet men have it so damn easy!

My oh is a driver for Stagecoach Northampton, which I think is part of the Stagecoach East Midlands section.

The rule here is that one dog may be carried at the sole & absolute discretion of the driver. You don't have to pay extra & you only have to have a dog muzzled if it's on the dangerous dogs list, so the bull breeds in general are ok.

Most of the drivers here are ok, and they will sometimes allow more than one dog on, but not often. So if you're unlucky & there's already a dog on the bus when you get on, the driver might not allow you on. That's mainly to stop fights as there are so many staffords in this area!

I don't get a problem because most of them know me (or know my husband, more to the point) and wouldn't dare not let me on!

The thing is, whichever company it is, the rules always say "at the absolute discretion of the driver", and quite rightly. By law, the driver is responsible if he has allowed two or more dogs on to the bus & a fight ensues or a dog gets out of control etc. They could lose their licence & therefore their job.

i think here they banned all dogs from travelling on the bus alltogether

My OH drives for travel west midlands. No mention of dogs having to be muzzled here.He said its probably just the driver being funny.