This is how service dogs learn to navigate OC Transpo buses and trains

OC Transpo is hosting a workshop to help service dogs learn how to navigate public transit. CTV’s Peter Szperling reports.

OC Transpo is hosting a workshop with a service dog training organization to familiarize the dogs and their human handlers with the transit system.

Sit N’ Stay has partnered with OC Transpo since 2023 to support the familiarization process.

“We’re here to kind of allow the service dog teams to practice going on a bus, on a train, off a bus, off a train,” says Sit N’ Stay owner and certified professional dog trainer Jessica MacGregor. “A lot of service dog teams rely on public transportation for getting around. So, being able to train their dog to help them to be able to get on the train -- desensitized to getting on a train, on a bus; helping the dog feel comfortable and safe when they are on public transportation.”

MacGregor says the event occurs about once a month and is open to all service dog and service dog-in-training teams for free.

There are many sights, sounds, smells and distractions for service animals on transit. OC Transpo provides an empty bus for the training to make everyone feel more comfortable getting used to the surroundings. “It’s a lot easier for them to feel comfortable in,” says MacGregor.

“Whether it’s with dogs or other service animals, we just like to provide the resource for this organization to be able to practice,” says Jason Ashton with OC Transpo.

“In the end, we want people to be barrier-free when they use public transit … It also aligns with our travel training initiatives within OC Transpo.”

CTV News joined three teams of service dogs and their human handlers Wednesday morning for the training. The group took turns getting on and off the bus before experiencing riding it from St. Laurent Station to Blair Station. Once everyone was comfortable, the group then took the LRT from St. Laurent to Hurdman Station and back.

“We’re trying just to get her to adjust to the noise and to get used to the people,” says Nathalie Gosselin, who is participating along with her service dog Lola. “It’s more about being comfortable and hearing different noises — the buzzers and stuff like that.”

Gosselin says she’s travelled on airplanes with Lola before, but this is good practice for taking transit while on trips in other cities too.

Regular transit rider Christine Vincent says she takes the training frequently with her dog, Heidi.

“I like doing the repeat training constantly off and on with her to remind her on the basis her manners and everything, and that I’m still up to par as well.”

Sit N’ Stay trains service dogs to assist their owners who suffer from psychiatric disorders such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They also train service dogs to assist their owners with physical disorders such as stability, light mobility, vision, hearing, medical alert, autism, counterbalance and bracing.