Four young Labrador puppies have been getting to grips with public transport at Oxford Bus Company’s Cowley depot as they continue their training to become guide dogs.
Freda, Peaches, Rodney and Tally visited the depot with their volunteer puppy raisers for a training session designed to familiarise them with the sights, sounds and smells they are likely to encounter when accompanying future guide dog owners.
The puppies successfully navigated the stairs and aisle of an airline coach alongside their puppy raisers. The volunteers also had the opportunity to experience life behind the wheel of one of the coaches.
For the dogs, the session provided an important socialisation experience and an opportunity to become comfortable travelling on public transport.
The session also produced an unexpected family reunion.
It was discovered during the visit that Freda and Rodney are siblings, despite having never met before. The pair live just a couple of counties apart but quickly formed a bond when they were brought together, playing happily during their time at the depot.
Peaches, aged 14 months, and Tally, aged 13 months, are further ahead in their development and are due to progress to advanced training in the coming weeks and months.
The training session forms part of an ongoing collaboration between sight loss charity Guide Dogs and Go Thames Valley, the public transport operator behind businesses including Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, Carousel Buses, City Sightseeing Oxford and the airline service.
Previous sessions have seen other young guide dogs introduced to bus travel. In September, four puppies experienced their first bus journey with Oxford Bus Company, completing a special route through Oxford city centre aboard one of City Sightseeing Oxford’s open-top double-decker buses.
Read more: Guide dog puppies take training ride with Oxford Bus Company
Earlier training in January 2025 saw two puppies take part in a one-hour session designed to teach them how to board and leave a bus safely, settle while a vehicle is moving and become accustomed to travelling alongside other passengers.
The partnership also enables volunteer puppy raisers to travel free on participating bus services, while trainee assistance dogs can gain valuable experience of public transport.
Mandy Jones, Puppy Development Advisor at Guide Dogs, said early exposure to different environments is an important part of preparing puppies for their future roles.
“Introducing our puppies to lots of different sights, sounds and smells early on is incredibly important,” she said.
She explained that the aim is to familiarise puppies with environments they may encounter alongside guide dog owners, including buses, while helping them respond calmly and confidently to unfamiliar situations.
Jones also highlighted the role played by volunteer puppy raisers, who provide the homes and foundations needed before dogs progress through their specialist training.
Guide Dogs is currently seeking more puppy raisers across Oxfordshire. Luke Marion, Managing Director of Go Thames Valley, said familiarity with public transport would be essential for the puppies when they eventually support people who are blind or visually impaired.
“Familiarity with public transport is essential for the puppies, who will later assist those who are registered blind or visually impaired to confidently travel to work, shops, and to visit family and friends,” he said.
Registered assistance dogs, including guide dogs, are welcome on the airline service as part of its accessibility provision. The coaches are wheelchair accessible, while drivers receive Oxfordshire County Council-approved Disability Awareness Training.
The airline operates day and night services between Oxford and Heathrow and Gatwick airports, with services also calling at Lewknor Turn and High Wycombe.
The latest training session demonstrates how familiarising guide dogs with public transport from an early age can help prepare them for the everyday journeys they will eventually make alongside their owners.
Those interested in becoming a Guide Dogs puppy raiser can find more information through Guide Dogs puppy raiser.
