Do Taxis allow Dogs?

When looking to take your dog in a taxi or Uber, the most important thing to remember is that the decision lies solely with the taxi driver. While this may seem daunting, there are some key things you can do to make sure you score that dog-friendly taxi ride.

1. Call a taxi company ahead of time. Most taxi companies are used to customers requesting to bring animals along for the ride. If you call ahead of time, the dispatcher can make sure to send a dog friendly taxi driver right to you. Make sure to be honest about the size and breed of your dog as some drivers might only be ok with certain types of dogs!
2. Utilize taxi stands. If there is a taxi stand near you, go up to the taxi driver in the front of the line and ask if it would be ok to bring your dog. If the driver says no, you have a whole line of cabs to go down and ask! Most cab drivers will see your dog behaving nicely as he walks beside you and won’t have a problem giving a ride to your friendly pal!
3. Show off your well behaved dog. If you do have to hail a cab on the curbside, make sure your dog is sitting very nicely beside you. If your dog looks calm and well behaved, drivers will feel more comfortable stopping and picking up you and your dog!
4. Bring a towel. If your dog is a big shedder or loves to dig holes at the park, make sure to bring a towel or blanket to put over the seat. Cab drivers are notorious for taking pride in their clean cars and if you try to hail a cab with a wet, muddy dog chances are slim that you will find a ride.
5. Bring a carrier. If your dog is small enough to fit in a carrier that you can hold or place beside you, definitely use it! Most cab drivers have zero problems giving a lift to a dog if it is contained within a carrier.
6. Tip nicely. If you get a driver who is happy to have your dog in their car, make sure to show them you appreciate it!

Does Uber allow Dogs?

If you are looking to travel via a rideshare company with your puppy like Uber or Lyft, the rules are more or less the same as taxis but with one major difference. Since you cannot call a rideshare vehicle ahead of time like you can with taxis, we recommend ordering your Uber or Lyft from your rideshare app as usual and then immediately calling your driver to inform them that you have a dog with you. Most drivers, we have found, will be happy to take your dog but some would rather not. If this is the case you can simply cancel your ride and request a new driver without the hassle of arguing with your driver once they have arrived at your pick up location.