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Trained for Safe Travel
When you see a Guide Dog out and about, it’s easy to admire their calm focus and loyalty—but their skills extend far beyond navigating footpaths and crossing streets. Guide Dogs are also trained to travel safely and calmly in cars, ensuring their handler can get from A to B without worry.
Calm, Comfortable and Car-Ready
From the early stages of their training, Guide Dogs are introduced to car travel. They’re taught to settle quietly in the front footwell of the front, where they can sit or lie down comfortably and safely. This spot keeps them secure during the journey and out of the way of airbags or driver distraction.
Because they’re so well-socialised and trained to remain calm, most Guide Dogs snooze or rest quietly while the car is moving. They’re used to traffic noises, sudden stops, and the general hustle and bustle of city or suburban travel. Their temperament and training mean they’re unfazed by the hum of engines, the sound of horns, or the ding of GPS instructions.
Distraction-Proof
Guide Dogs undergo rigorous training to prepare them for life as a working dog, and that includes managing distractions—whether on foot or in a car. They’re taught to ignore passing pedestrians, loud noises, other dogs, and unexpected changes in environment. The handler is also given specific training and skills in how to manage the dog in cases of extreme stimulation. This training makes them ideal travel companions who remain focused and calm regardless of what’s going on around them.
Toilet Trained
One of the most common questions people ask is, “What happens if the dog needs to go to the toilet during a ride?” The answer: they won’t—unless given the signal. Guide Dogs are trained to toilet on command, meaning they won’t relieve themselves in inappropriate places or at inconvenient times. This training helps ensure a clean, safe, and stress-free experience for both the dog and the handler during transport.
A Lifetime of Learning and Support
Guide Dogs aren’t just born ready for the world—they go through extensive training with professional Guide Dog Mobility Instructors to master everything from road safety to polite behaviour in public spaces and transport. Throughout their working life, they continue to receive support to ensure they stay healthy, happy, and ready to guide.
So next time you spot a Guide Dog hopping into a ride-share or resting quietly at their handler’s feet in a car, you can be confident they’re doing exactly what they’ve been trained to do—travel calmly, safely, and with purpose.
