Why Doggy Daycare Buses Are Winning the Internet

The backpacks are packed. The school buses are rolling. Everyone is settling back into a routine.

Including, apparently, dogs. Because dogs are people too.

Somewhere out there, while the rest of us are heading to work, sitting in traffic or trying to remember where we put our coffee, dogs are climbing aboard their very own doggy daycare buses for a day with their friends.

Yes. Doggy school buses are real.

And honestly? Dogs may have finally figured out how to make going back to school look fun.

Videos of dogs eagerly waiting for their ride, hopping aboard customized buses, settling into their assigned spots and heading off for a day of walks, play and sniffing have become social-media favorites. Some dogs appear to have preferred seats. Some greet their friends on the way in. Others are so reluctant to leave at the end of the day that they try to climb right back aboard.

It is basically elementary school without the homework.

And with substantially better snacks.

What Exactly Is a Doggy Daycare Bus?

A doggy daycare bus is pretty much what it sounds like: transportation designed to pick up dogs and take them to daycare, group walks, private dog parks or other supervised dog adventures.

But some businesses have taken the concept much further than simply loading dogs into a van.

There are actual converted school buses.

Ruff & Puff in Calgary, for example, operates specially modified dog buses that pick dogs up from home and take them to a private fenced-in park for supervised exercise and play. The company says its buses include individual areas, harness attachments and safety gates designed to keep dogs secure during transportation.

The business started with one school bus and has since expanded to three, along with training programs and private parks.

And it is far from the only one.

Dog buses and adventure vans have popped up in different parts of the United States and Canada, with businesses such as Mo Mountain Mutts, K9 Konvoy and others developing devoted online followings. The Washington Post reported on the phenomenon after videos of dogs riding these buses attracted millions of views.

It’s easy to see why.

A bus full of dogs on their way to play with their friends may be one of the few forms of morning transportation everyone can agree deserves more internet coverage.

Why Do Dogs Get So Excited About the Bus?

Watch enough dog-bus videos and you may notice something interesting.

Many of these dogs seem to know exactly what is happening.

The bus arrives.

The door opens.

And suddenly someone who needed twelve minutes of negotiations to get off the couch is apparently late for an important business meeting.

That enthusiasm makes sense.

Dogs are excellent at learning associations and routines. If the arrival of a particular vehicle repeatedly leads to friends, exercise, interesting smells, attention and adventure, the vehicle itself can become part of the excitement.

In other words:

Bus = good stuff is about to happen.

Dogs also tend to thrive when their days contain predictable routines and appropriate physical and mental activity. For some social dogs, a well-run daycare or group adventure can provide exercise, stimulation and interaction that they genuinely enjoy.

The American Kennel Club notes that daycare can offer dogs opportunities for play, exercise, mental stimulation and routine, although whether daycare is a good fit depends heavily on the individual dog.

Which brings us to an important point.

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A Little Back-to-School Lesson From the Dogs

Maybe September doesn’t have to mean returning to the grind.

Not Every Dog Wants to Ride the Doggy School Bus

Social media makes the dog bus look like the canine version of summer camp.

And for some dogs, it probably feels that way.

But your dog does not need to attend daycare—or love other dogs—to be happy, healthy or properly socialized.

Some dogs would enthusiastically board the bus before the driver finished opening the door.

Others would prefer to file a formal complaint with management.

A shy dog, senior dog, dog who becomes overwhelmed around groups, or dog who simply prefers quiet walks with one trusted human may be much happier with a dog walker or another form of one-on-one enrichment.

That doesn’t make them antisocial.

It makes them the dog who would rather eat lunch in the library.

And we respect that.

The AKC recommends considering your individual dog’s temperament, energy level and behavior when deciding whether daycare is appropriate. A dog who returns home relaxed and content may be thriving, while repeated stress or reluctance to attend can be signs that another arrangement would be better.

The Dogs Really Do Seem to Have Their Own Social Lives

Possibly the best part of the entire dog-bus phenomenon is watching the relationships between the passengers.

Some dogs appear delighted to see specific friends.

Some have regular riding spots.

There are excitable passengers.

Quiet passengers.

Dogs who want to be involved in everything.

Dogs who seem to believe the entire transportation system was created specifically for them.

And yes, sometimes there are doggy cliques.

Owners and operators of these services have described dogs developing friendships and routines within their groups, while viewers have become invested in watching familiar dogs board the bus together.

Which raises an uncomfortable question:

Does your dog have a better social life than you do?

Possibly.

Let’s move on.

Before Your Dog Gets on the Bus, Ask Some Questions

Cute videos should never replace good research.

Whether a daycare uses a school bus, van, SUV or no transportation at all, safety should matter far more than how adorable the Instagram account looks.

If you’re considering a dog daycare or adventure service, ask how dogs are evaluated before joining the group, how they’re supervised, how staff handle fights or emergencies, whether dogs are separated by temperament or play style, and what training staff receive in canine behavior.

If transportation is included, also ask specifically how dogs are secured inside the vehicle, how loading and unloading are handled, how temperatures are monitored and what happens if the vehicle breaks down.

The AKC recommends looking for trained staff, secure facilities, temperament evaluations, emergency procedures and clear communication with owners when evaluating a daycare.

A yellow school bus full of Labradors is undeniably adorable.

A safe yellow school bus full of Labradors is better.

What Kind of Doggy School-Bus Student Would Your Dog Be?

You probably already know.

The Class President:
Has never met a stranger and would personally welcome every new dog aboard.

The Overachiever:
Sits perfectly, follows every direction and would absolutely remind the teacher that homework was due.

The Class Clown:
Somehow loses a harness, steals a tennis ball and starts a wrestling match before 9:15 a.m.

The Cafeteria Specialist:
Could not tell you where the bus is going but heard somebody say the word “treat.”

The Back-Row Kid:
Here for the field trip. Not interested in participating in class.

The Homeschooler:
Would like it formally documented that Mom owns a couch, snacks and perfectly adequate walking shoes.

Every one of them is a very good dog.

Why the Doggy Bus Feels Perfect for Back-to-School Season

There’s something particularly funny about seeing these buses this time of year.

September has always carried a little fresh-start energy.

New schedules.

Earlier mornings.

Different routines.

Kids head back to school. Summer starts winding down. Calendars fill up again.

And then along comes a bus full of dogs who seem absolutely thrilled about Monday morning.

Maybe that’s why these videos make people smile.

Dogs don’t worry much about whether being excited is cool.

They don’t pretend they aren’t happy to see their friends.

They aren’t standing at the bus stop thinking:

Ugh. Another week.

They’re thinking:

THE BUS IS HERE.

MY FRIENDS ARE ON IT.

WE ARE GOING SOMEWHERE.

THIS COULD BE THE GREATEST DAY OF MY LIFE.

Which, when you think about it, is not a terrible approach.

A Little Back-to-School Lesson From the Dogs

Maybe September doesn’t have to mean returning to the grind.

Maybe it can simply mean returning to a few things that make life better.

A routine that gets you moving.

Something interesting to learn.

People—or dogs—you genuinely enjoy seeing.

A reason to get outside.

Something on the calendar you actually look forward to.

Dogs are remarkably good at finding joy in ordinary routines when those routines contain things they love.

The same walk.

The same park.

The same friend.

The same squeaky toy they’ve already disemboweled twice.

Still exciting.

So while the kids head back to school and a very lucky group of dogs waits for the world’s greatest school bus, maybe the rest of us can borrow a little of that energy.

Find something worth getting excited about.

Go somewhere interesting.

Spend time with your pack.

And when the bus to something good finally pulls up?

Get on.

Stay Woofy. 🐾

 

 

 

 

 

 

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