i live in scotland and in july i am travelling down to lichfield near birmingham are dogs allowed on trains and is the journey too long at 7 hours? i dont like to kennel her

Up to two dogs per person are allowed on the train, and you don't pay for them.

Having travelled to shows with dogs I would try and locate the one and only disabled seat on the train (assuming a disabled person doesn't neeed it). There is no second seat or table in this spot, and the seat folds up to be able to fit a wheelchair.

This is a good place for the dog, as it can stretch out comfortably and be visible and not get trodden on. If the dog is under the table and a passenger gets in to the bay, they can either get a fright or the dog get stepped on!

I suppose it would depend on your dog as to how well it will travel. I took my Cocker from London to Mallaig, in the West Highlands of Scotland, changing trains at Glasgow. We then did the return trip a couple of weeks later. She travelled extremely well and enjoyed all the fussing she got from other travellers.

When I lived in Soctland I used to regularly travel to England on the train with my Cocker. I always took a piece of bedding to put on the floor under the table and she always settled very well. She often received a lot of attention, from the oil workers in particular, who seem to enjoy a rather liquid breakfast shall we say :) One chap gave her the sausage he had been saving in his top pocket for when he fancied something a little more solid later - she liked him a lot :)

Hi I have travelled on longish train journeys with my Westies and they are happy in their crate under the luggage shelf near the doors of the train. There is a seat opposite. Once the train is moving I get them out of the crate and they happily sit on a blanket beside me and no conductor or passenger has ever minded. I guess this only works with smaller dogs. The last time I travelled with a dog there was a large cross beed also travelling which lay on a double seat, as good as gold, opposite his owner and no one minded. There were 4 dogs in "my" carraige, surprisingly and all travelled well, no barking or unsocial behaviour. On long journeys the train often stops at some statons for 5 or 10 minutes or longer which would be long enough to let the dog have a leg stretch. If you travel near the front of the train and can chat with the driver on one of these stops , I have always found that they are very helpful and wont leave without you if they know you are giving your dog a quick walkie, and will tell you when to be back by, - or perhaps I have just been lucky.

Whilst at home my dogs both spend as much time on the furniture as I do, I wouldn't allow them on somebody elses furniture in their home, nor would I allow them on bus or train seats, out of consideration for other uses - imagine a business man going to an important meeting and getting speckled with white dog hair? :-(

As you don't pay, and my breed being light coloured and hair being one of the problems, they are never allowed on the seats, and I try not to sit in the same set of seats as other passengers, in case they get hair on their clothes, are alergic to or frightened of dogs!

My dogs dont shed, are spotlessly clean and well groomed and were sitting on a clean blanket. If anyone had objected I would have put them back into their crate.

Hi no offence meant, or criticism intended as it all depends on size and kind of dog, and the effects on other passengers and their likely reactions.

That is basically what I was trying to say, that wih my hairy larger dogs travelling on the train or bus poses different problems for me them and others than a smaller dog that can be contained in a carrier, or takes up little room!

Now how is travelling on public transport with a Wolfhound or Great Dane. Also it gets very hot, how do the owners of breeds with short faces, or heavy dribblers cope!

If there are few stops I often sit on back pack stool in the area by the doors, as here the windows can be opened a little for air!

I took Loki on a train when she was about 6 months old to get her used to it. We only went from Huntly to Elgin (about an hour), but she was fine. She climbed into the luggage space between the seat backs and went to sleep. A little later on, she hoovered up under a small child and its biscuit.

She was no trouble and as long as you keep them out of the aisles where people are walking, no-one tends to mind. Just watch out when they bring the trolley - it can be very tempting at doggy eye level when stationary near you :D

As long as your dog has space and nobody can stand on your woof and has water, should not be a problem.

Julieann