Travelling with Dogs

Towards the beginning of the twentieth century, very few people had cars and so transporting dogs from one place to another was by no means as easy as it is today. Many of the dog-showing fraternity, however, were people of substantial means and when advertising in canine press of the day, were proud to portray themselves and their dogs sitting in the luxury of a four-wheeled vehicle, or even a large motorbike and sidecar. Most dogs traveled by rail.

For most, though, transport was restricted to traveling by rail and often dogs traveled to shows and to other destinations on their own. In the late nineteenth century it was generally thought that facilities for conveyance of valuable animals were wholly inadequate and in 1883 the public considered it quite unfair that a parcel could be transported from London to Plymouth for nine pence, whilst it cost five shillings for a dog to travel the same distance. Both took up about the same amount of space and both stood just as much chance of being crushed in the luggage van. Large dogs were required to travel in the luggage compartment but smaller ones could, if their owners wished, go in little lockers under the carriage seats, although these were considered 'miserable contrivances for the comfort of highly sensitive animals'.

The public claimed they would not have minded paying more to transport their dogs had the accommodation been more comfortable and safe, but many mistakes occurred, although the railway claimed this was often due to the fussiness or carelessness of the dogs' owners. In many instances some of the most valuable dogs in the country were transported in rotten old hampers from which dogs could all too easily escape. Often, the bottom had completely fallen out and the dog was effectively carrying the hamper, rather than the hamper carrying the dog. Another problem was that often the most flimsy of collars and chains were used. Worst of all, some dogs were not even in crates, but merely sent loose.

Conversely, sonic owners were far too pedantic in their requirements, giving precise instructions that were unlikely to be attended to by overworked, busy officials. Some owners who traveled with their dogs insisted that the approximate space of a second-class carriage should be devoted to them: woe-betide anyone who dared to object to such an arrangement.

Station kennels
At several railway stations in London there as kenneling for dogs and it would have been a mistake to think that the railway companies did not provide some comfort for canine travelers. Some of porters at stations were equally as good as kennel men and looked after their charges well. A particular porter at Euston station was considered the best and many of the dogs in his care acted as if they had known him all their lives.

At Kings Cross, the accommodation for dogs was also good. To the left of the arrival platform were comfortable little 'cribs' let in from the wall and these were both warm and clean. Officials on the Great Northern Line were also very careful and even dogs which had been left on the station for a week were said to look very well.

The worst accommodation for dogs was at Paddington station, where there were just two or three dingy-looking boxes for the dogs at the end of the platforms. Sometimes, dogs left at Paddington were housed in a nearby mews with access from a lane, so it was easy for someone to simply walk in from the street and steal any of the dogs.

At Liverpool Street, the kennels were safer for they were let in from the station wall. Although small, they had plenty of air and stout doors with locks. The porter there, too, was highly recommended and people with valuable dogs thought him quite capable of taking care of their canine companions overnight.

Waterloo and St Pancreas were also reputed to be good, but not as good as Euston, Kings Cross and Liverpool Street. Although the railway companies did not actually profess to lodge dogs, it was highly creditable that such accommodation was available when needed by travelers.

The rising cost of dog travel
The complaints about the cost of canine travel in 1883 were probably valid, for in 1931 the cost of conveying a dog via London and North East Railway was six pence for up to 15 miles, three shillings and sixpence for 76-100 miles and 10 shillings for any distance over 300 miles, with various prices in between. These were single fares but on certain days the same prices were charged for return journeys if dogs accompanied their owners.

In 1934, it cost three pence for a dog to travel in the guard's van for up to 10 miles but it was stipulated that such dogs had to be muzzled, although the guards did not always exercise this railway rule.