Gloucestershire bus company lends a helping paw to guide dog trainers

Pulhams has partnered with national charity Guide Dogs for the Blind Association to offer trainers of puppies’ free travel on its services.

The offer applies to all Pulhams bus services across the Cotswolds and in Oxfordshire and Wiltshire, with its fleet of 120 buses and coaches able to accommodate working guide dogs.

Volunteer puppy raisers who present their Guide Dog ID pass and have a puppy with them can access free travel, with the offer in place with immediate effect.

Alex Chutter, area director for Pulhams Coaches, said: “This is an important initiative we’re pleased to deliver in support of Guide Dog’s work training dogs which provide an essential service.

“Guide dog trainers play a significant role in this process, so recognising their work by allowing them to use our services for free is something everyone at Pulhams was keen to support.

“Those conducting training only need to present their Guide Dog ID pass – and have a puppy with them – to qualify for free travel. Our buses are spacious and will provide plenty of room for both our four-legged friends and loyal passengers so we can continue to deliver a smooth travel experience.”

Guide Dogs UK has matched 36,000 people with a guide dog since the charity’s launch in 1931. Today, the charity currently has over 1,500 puppies in the care of volunteer puppy raisers.

It is the only organisation to breed and train guide dogs in the UK with its work almost entirely funded by donations.

Haley Andrews, Head of Puppy Raising for Guide Dogs said: “We’re extremely grateful to Pulhams for offering free travel to our volunteers, meaning our dogs can gain experiences around public transport and continue to learn about the world around them.

“Our volunteer puppy raisers work hard to get our puppies used to all the experiences they may face as a working guide dog,” said Haley. “Learning to travel on a bus calmly and confidently is an important part of any guide dogs’ training, helping to prepare them for their future role as a life-changing guide.”

All puppies trained by Guide Dogs UK follow a comprehensive curriculum that includes learning 37 key behaviours, taught through marker training. This curriculum helps them develop into confident, obedient companions who remain focused and prevent any public distractions or interruptions while wearing their harness uniform in public transport settings.

To donate to The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, click here. 

Established in 1880, Pulhams Coaches operates bus and coach routes in the Cotswolds and surrounding areas, as well as being the area’s premier coach hire provider.

Pulhams Coaches is part of its Oxford Bus Group portfolio of operating companies owned by the Go-Ahead Group which also consists of Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, Carousel Buses and City Sightseeing Oxford.